Our vision and values

Educational Philosophy

At Skipton Girls’ High School, we believe education should inspire, challenge and empower. Our highly able learners are encouraged to think boldly, ask questions, explore ideas and grow as confident, independent young people who are curious about the world and their place within it.

Our values — Care, Community, Curriculum and Cultivation — shape every aspect of school life. They guide us in creating a welcoming environment where students feel known and supported, a curriculum that stretches and excites them, a community where everyone belongs, and opportunities that help every learner flourish.

British Values

We embrace the Department for Education’s five-part definition of British Values:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Students at Skipton Girls’ High School encounter these principles throughout everyday school. Our promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding has been described by Ofsted as being ‘Outstanding’.

Listed below are some examples of how we promote these values in our school community:

Democracy

Our school leadership groups play a strong role in our school. They are elected by students and contribute to school improvement through authentic and meaningful opportunities and activities.

Student voice feedback and questionnaires are conducted throughout the year and as part of our Faculty Review Process. We believe that the active participation of our students will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.

The Rule of Law

Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our students to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the local community or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to.

This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through Gatherings and our curriculum. The involvement of our students in the understanding of the school rules helps them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider public. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the rule of law for our students.

Individual Liberty

We have created a culture of safety, where choices and freedoms are encouraged for all members of our community. In lessons, enrichment and extra-curricular activities, we encourage students to reflect and make choices.

Faculties build in options and guide students to make choices which challenge them. We offer a broad range of enrichment activities and pupils have the freedom to choose to participate, based on their interests. We educate students in their rights and personal freedoms, as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. This encourages students to value the right of individual liberty and develop a strong foundation for later life.

Mutual Respect

Respect is paramount as a citizen of the UK and the world.

Students learn to treat each other and staff with great respect as this is our central ethos. Respecting the rights of others, including their right to their own opinions is fundamental to learning.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

At Skipton Girls’ High School we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected and all students in Year 10 complete a full GCSE in Religious Studies. Tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding . Our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life demonstrate tolerance and help our school community to become knowledgeable and responsible British citizens.