The power of a values-led school to create a better future

South Bank University Academy have a vision for the future

Many schools have a specialism, normally related to a subject: ‘a specialist maths college’ or ‘a science and technology specialist school’. At South Bank University Academy, until last year, we were part of this club with our own specialism in engineering. However, the message this was projecting to our local community bore very little resemblance to the reality of our school. So, as a staff body we reflected on our own personal values and why we worked in this school. What was our vision for the school we wanted to be?

We serve a diverse community in which many families face a plethora of barriers that prevent them and their children from living a fulfilling and rewarding life. For them the world is not a fair place and the status quo is not good enough. This reality was reflected in the values of the 100 staff in the school. We looked for common threads and derived a vision and a set of school values that we all believed in.

Our vision:

Our students gain knowledge, build character and have the experiences that lead them to be the changemakers in their world; living a good life and improving the lives of others.

They will create a better future.

Our values:

Social justice

Achieving - this is about ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in access and participation.

Kindness and Empathy

We try to understand others’ perspectives and meet them where they are. We approach all our interactions from a position of goodwill.

Endeavour

We expect and recognise effort and perseverance from staff and students.

Community

We aim to be a driver of community cohesion where we live in each other’s lives and understand the circumstances and perspectives of each individual. We want our students to have a real sense of belonging in our school and work in partnership with parents in the development of their children.

It has never been more important to equip our young people to be guided by strong, positive values, to be positive citizens and to secure a strong future in an uncertain world. This is also evident in our distinctive, enriched curriculum which is designed to support our students in developing high levels of social and cultural capital regardless of their background or family circumstances. We are serious about our students becoming changemakers in their world and intentionally train them how they could do this.

We are now looking further outwards, seeking to be a driver of community cohesion, building partnerships and engagements locally and beyond. We are already working with partners to begin to deliver adult education and employability skills, and working with businesses to understand and help address their own skills gaps.

John Taylor, Principal, South Bank University Academy. www.southbankua.org.uk

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