At St. Jude’s High School, teaching and learning happens in a happy and purposeful environment where each and every member of the school community is valued. We are privileged that our teachers and students represent many different cultures; this creates a richness and diversity within the school. Students experience a variety of teaching styles within which there may be formal teacher led lessons, group work, and investigation style and child-centred approaches. Information Technology is a central part in the learning process. St. Jude's High School Aims - To create a happy, caring and ordered environment in which pupils can feel secure and work to the best of their ability. - To provide opportunities for pupils to be involved in many independent and inter-dependent areas of learning and experience. - To help pupils develop lively, enquiring, imaginative and creative minds. - To help pupils develop communication skills. - To instil in pupils a sense of achievement. - To help pupils develop a reasoned set of attitudes, values and beliefs. - To encourage respect for others regardless of colour, creed, , personal or cultural background. - To help pupils understand and respect the society and world in which they live. The School's Mission Statement Knowledge, Character, Community The Mission Statement means Knowledge, Character, Community raised achievement of all students through: - Developing the full potential of each child - Maximising the opportunities for all to flourish - Pursuing Excellence - Valuing the individual - Working together - Preparing each child for a fulfilling role in a changing world. Statement of Curriculum Aim St. Jude's High School is striving to be a successful centre of excellence with care for the individual as its cornerstone. This care for the individual is expressed through high expectations, high standards of behaviour, and achievement. Most of all we want students to succeed to the best of their ability. We want students to have the confidence to uplift their ambitions for themselves. Focus on the individual: The Mission Statement means Knowledge, Character, Community raises achievement of all students through: - Developing the full potential of each child. - To consistently raise individual and whole-school levels of attainment. - To help students in the development of their own individuality and independence. - To help students acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and employment in a rapidly changing world. - To provide quality education within a secure and stimulating environment, this ensures success and recognizes achievement. - To recognise the equality among all students. Continuity and Progression - To promote continuity in students' education by effective liaison with primary school, further education and employers. - To value and extend the skills, experiences and knowledge that students bring with them from primary schools and the outside world. - To help students develop interests and skills which will enable them to enjoy and make the best use of leisure time. - To help students develop the appreciation of education as a lifelong and enjoyable process. Environment of Learning - To provide a caring community where individuals are valued and where they are encouraged to develop their abilities to the full and to have a positive self image. - To help students to understand the multi cultural nature of society, to foster respect for those with different religions, beliefs and ways of life and to develop an attitude which is opposed to discrimination against a person or group. - To provide a well resourced and equipped school with excellent facilities for teaching and learning. - To extend students' experience of the outside world by offering varied opportunities such as excursions and work experience. Partners in Learning and Assessment - To promote active and responsible partnership with parents through effective communication and supportive involvement. - To develop positive partnerships with the wider local community through mutual cooperation and interaction. - To use assessment as a continuous process of recognizing achievement and development, both inside and outside school, so that it can be the basis of further progress. - These aims embrace all aspects of the learning process and should be achieved through a broad and balanced curriculum within the National Curriculum framework, yet relevant to the needs of each individual.