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Ethos and Values

Vision for Crookhorn College

At Crookhorn College we believe in ‘Excellence as Standard’

  • Excellence in teaching and learning
  • Excellence in the learning environment
  • Excellence in ethos and enrichment

We have four levers through which we strive to achieve the vision. Lever 1 and Lever 2 are all about the delivery of the vision. Lever 3 and Lever 4 are all about the support for the vision:

The focus within the four levers is the effective development of Blended Learning and an ethos within the College to close the attainment and opportunity gap and provide extensive enrichment for students and staff.

Lever 1 - Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment

Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment Key focus areas:

  • Improvement of progress of SEN students
  1. Quality Assurance of training, alternative curriculum and the deployment of the TA in subject areas.
  2. Planning for adaptive teaching in MTP’s for SEN students.
  3. Providing a broad and balanced curriculum for the alternative curriculum and alternative provision.
  • Improve the Blended learning experience for all students across the College
  1. Feasibility of 1 to 1 device scheme for students.
  2. Development of the use of AI to reduce teacher workload.
  3. The quality of the week-by-week revision plans to encourage confidence in independent learning.
  • Improvement of progress for all students through the effective use of assessment and feedback
  1. Developing key pedagogical strategies
  2. Developing KS3 assessment

Lever 2 - Ethos and Environment

Ethos and Environment Key focus areas:

  • Attendance and Go West
  1. Culture - signage around the site and the role of the tutor.
  2. Parental Partnership - adjusting the language used, parent/carer support workshops, signposting to external support.
  3. Managing persistent and severe absence - consolidating support streams.
  4. Partnership between staff - termly behaviour and attendance report.                                 
  • Behaviour - Cornerstones
  1. Rewards - streamlining system and developing intrinsic motivation.
  2. Development of executive functioning skills.
  • Ambition - OPEN MIND
  1. Student leadership in the College - KS3 roles and review of KS4 roles and effectiveness.
  2. Student leadership in the community - Youth Parliament and #Beewell.
  • Crookhorn Engineering Academy
  1. Pathway in place for engineering students.
  2. Developed relationships with local companies.
  3. Developed relationships with post 16.
  • Further Education
  1. Expand range of experiences that students have of FE.
  2. Stretch and Challenge - Oxbridge/Russell Group.

Lever 3 - Staff Training

Staff Training Key focus areas:

  • Development
  1. Induction training - audit, mapping process, introduction of extended induction plan.
  2. ITE centre of excellence - embed changes, train mentors, build strong partnerships with training providers.
  3. ML Development - deep planning and forensic review
  4. Governor Training - skills audit, effective visit and liaison training, SEN
  • Pedagogy
  1. SEN training - TSEND modules
  2. Training linked to the empowerment approach and Executive Function Skills.
  • Project Management
  1. Training to support the development of the College site.

Lever 4 - Leadership

Leadership Key focus areas:

  • Logistics
  1. Timetable - staggered lunch.
  2. Canteen/lunchtime - change to contracts and improved business management.
  3. G Block re-clad - management of phase 1 and phase 2.
  4. Resource provision - Planning internal structure, recruitment of staff, resourcing.
  5. Sale of Scratchface Lane - permission to sell the land.
  • Accountability
  1. Consolidation of support staff middle leadership.
  2. Consolidation of teaching staff middle leadership.
  3. Managing the deficit.
  • Safeguarding
  1. Safeguarding - pastoral support tiers, designated caseworkers for high profile students, transition
  2. Staff welfare.
Three year strategic development plan:

Strategic Development Plan 2021-2024.pdf

The College Ethos

Everything we do at Crookhorn is underpinned by our four fundamental cornerstones of RESPECT, COMMITMENT, ACHIEVEMENT and RESPONSIBILITY, which are embodied in our Cornerstones Code:

THE CORNERSTONES CODE

  • I will RESPECT that at Crookhorn learning in the classroom is the priority.
  • I will be RESPECTFUL, polite and considerate at all times and follow the teachers’ directions in a positive manner.
  • I will show RESPECT for the College by wearing the College uniform in the correct way.
  • I will RESPECT other people’s property and listen and value their opinions.
  • I will RESPECT the College and class environment by eating only at lunch and break time and putting my rubbish in the bin.

  • I will take RESPONSIBILITY for my own learning.
  • I will take RESPONSIBILITY for the care of my environment, buildings, College grounds and community.
  • I will take RESPONSIBILITY for my actions and consider how they may affect the learning, health and safety of others.
  • I will take RESPONSIBILITY for how I move around the College.
  • I will act RESPONSIBLY by leaving valuables at home.

  • I will show COMMITMENT to my learning environment by keeping noise and disruption to a level that does not disturb the learning of others.
  • I will show COMMITMENT to my education by arriving on time to registration and lessons.
  • I will show COMMITMENT to my House team by supporting them through my participation in College and community events
  • I will ACHIEVE my potential by always bringing the correct equipment to each lesson
  • I will ACHIEVE my potential by making sure my behaviour enables me to focus on my personal achievement targets
  • I will work hard to ACHIEVE my potential in classwork and homework

Build resilience - go west

GO WEST has been developed to encourage our students to understand how they can build their resilience through four key daily activities; Walking, Eating, Sleeping and Talking.

Walking Eating Sleeping Talking
Taking regular walks and staying active can help increase self-esteem and improve your mental wellbeing and mood. Eating a well-balanced diet can help improve memory and provide you with the energy you need to keep active and healthy. A good night’s rest and a regular sleeping pattern can help reduce stress, increase happiness and make you more alert. Talking to someone about your worries can help put things into perspective, release tensions and help with finding solutions. 

Open mind

During the course of each year, we work hard to embed our Crookhorn philosophy for learning which is summed up in the acronym of OPEN MIND. Each strand of this is an essential element of what makes an independent, successful learner for life. We would expect to see our students embody these principles in day to day Crookhorn life and develop these skills as they progress through the College.

Both OPEN MIND and GO WEST are fundamental to the way Crookhorn College promotes well-rounded, independent and successful learners.

Promoting fundamental British values

At Crookhorn College we recognise the importance of actively promoting the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. In doing so, we intend to fulfil the DFE priorities which set out that schools should:

  • enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence
  • enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England
  • encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
  • enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England
  • further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures
  • encourage respect for other people
  • encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England
  • challenge opinions or behaviours in College that are contrary to fundamental British values.

Aims
At Crookhorn College we aim to develop the understanding of the fundamental British values through the following actions:

1. Democracy:

  • Provide students with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services
  • Teach students how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process
  • Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain
  • Encourage students to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in College
  • Hold ‘elections’ for key roles within the House system so students learn the importance of exercising their right to vote.
  • Help students to express their views
  • Teach students how public services operate and how they are held to account · Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged

2. Rule of law

  • Ensure our College Code of Conduct and the associated expectations are understood as clear and fair
  • Help students to distinguish right from wrong through the application of the Four Cornerstones
  • Help students to respect the law and the basis on which it is made
  • Help students to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
  • Teach students aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws
  • Develop restorative justice approaches to resolve conflicts

3. Individual liberty

  • Support students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Encourage students through the Four Cornerstones to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights
  • Model freedom of speech through student participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable individuals and promoting critical analysis of evidence
  • Challenge stereotypes
  • Implement a strong anti-bullying culture

4. Respect and tolerance

  • Promote respect for individual differences
  • Help students to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life
  • Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
  • Develop links with faith communities
  • Develop critical personal thinking skills
  • Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers

The Prevent Strategy
Crookhorn College takes its responsibility to challenge extreme views and uphold the principles of the Prevent Strategy seriously. Our recent risk assessment shows the College to be at low risk of extremism. We are confident that our numerous activities to promote British values, tolerance, charity and respect allow our students to develop into global citizens. In order to maintain awareness key staff have recently completed an online training module on the ‘Channel’ aspect of the Prevent Strategy. 

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