We all know that young people today face pressures that educational leaders never experienced during their school days. As pupils nationally are driven to fly higher, schools and families must do as much as they can to strengthen the wings needed to keep them in flight. Educators must look several decades ahead: the society in which we want those currently in our care to thrive will be very different from the society we know today. Today, we must prepare young people to rise to challenges we cannot fully imagine.
The white water of growing up is hard enough to steer through at the best of times. The best way to allow a child to fulfill their potential is to throw them into as many real, collaborative experiences as possible. The obvious point to make about good school life is that it will take you outside as often as not, for physical, psychological, and spiritual reasons – and this is what we passionately endorse at Mowden Hall. Education should not start and stop at the classroom door.
At Mowden, we believe that everyone can, and will, improve. Without exploration and freedom of expression, children will not be developing resilience and a sense of self. Our school focuses on kindness to others, something I believe should permeate every member of a school’s community from support staff, teachers, and leaders through to the very hearts of the pupils themselves.
Rather than encouraging us to cling to the past, tradition and experience should make us look back, evaluate, consider and then develop what we do. Change brings with it glorious opportunities. We are not afraid of change at Mowden Hall and constantly strive for excellence in all areas.
Education is a complex web of opportunities and priorities, yet we aim to create an environment in which pupils are willing and inspired to take these risks, imagine the unimaginable and exploit unknown territories. After all, great things never came from within comfort zones.
There is nothing in the universe, without exception, that is not interesting if looked at from the right angle. Especially people. Everyone is interesting. Everyone has a story. Every conversation is a chance to learn something new.
Mowden Hall aims to provide a first-class education, in which every child is allowed to achieve his or her potential within a broad range of academic, cultural, and sporting pursuits. Above all, we believe that our high ideals, excellent pastoral care, and traditional family values help Mowdenians to grow up happily and honorably, with self-respect, confidence, and a strong sense of responsibility and consideration for others and the wider community.
Mowden Hall is committed to maintaining our reputation as a caring, happy, and creative school wherein each child is valued and encouraged to maximize all opportunities on offer. We aim to do this by:
- Providing a safe, secure environment
- Developing a sense of community in which staff and children respect one another and self-discipline and responsibility are important
- Creating, through example, an atmosphere where not only excellence is valued, but also commitment and effort
- Working to give children a love of learning and an enquiring mind
- Constantly evaluating what we do
- Helping children to understand that they have a part to play in the community and the wider environment including their impact upon it
- Preparing children for the next stage in their education, and successful and happy life in the wider world
- Considering the whole child and making provision for intellectual, physical, emotional, social, and moral development
