Our identity as a Catholic school and our school’s distinctive Salesian ethos is based on St John Bosco’s vision that ‘it is not enough for every child to be loved… they must know that they are loved. We are proud to be a Christian community where everyone can flourish and every child is known by name.
St John Bosco’s educational philosophy was rooted in faith and has been summarized as ‘reason, religion and kindness. We educate our pupils with these three words in mind, focusing on their academic and spiritual development and modeling the values of love and forgiveness found in the gospel.
“Pupils mix well in this harmonious environment and benefit from personalized support and guidance” Ofsted May 2017 Our curriculum is carefully designed to make sure it meets the needs of all our students with a good range of options at both GCSE and A-Level. Students enjoy being at the school and appreciate the care and guidance given to them by staff to support them as they grow into young adults.
“The school’s vision that ‘it is not enough for young people to be loved, they must know that they are loved’ permeates the school’s culture” Ofsted May 2017
Developing Young People is the Essence of our School: Our purpose is to fulfill the extraordinary human and spiritual potential of each student. As they grow up we offer them the knowledge and skills necessary to engage creatively in the lifelong task of growing to human and spiritual maturity.
Educating the Heart is the Key to All Excellence: Only when a school radiates an atmosphere of deep appreciation, mutual respect, and genuine affection can excellent academic, spiritual, moral, and physical education take place.
Education to the Faith Marks us as Different: We see education as fundamentally part of a spiritual quest, to which all teaching and learning contributes. We offer our students the experience of being part of a living Catholic community, where faith, life, and learning are integrated. We prepare them to become valuable members of society, able to earn their living and contribute to the common good. Prayer, worship, and the sacraments form the context for Religious Education and encourage the engagement of students in practical outreach to those less fortunate than themselves.
Highest Academic Standards: Our school is committed to achieving the highest standards of learning and teaching for all its students. Every student will be offered the teaching, guidance, and support necessary for them to achieve the highest standards that they are capable of. Regular assessment, target setting, and reviews will enable students, parents governors, and staff to check on their progress and promote the highest standards.
Education is Wider than Just the Classroom: Extra-curricular activities promote genuine inter-personal dialogue between adults and the young and are the key to an excellent education. Both staff and students will be open to listening and learning, engaging together in exploring their knowledge and deepening understanding of the new horizons that our world constantly presents.
At the heart of the ethos is the teaching of the Catholic Church and the educational approach of Saint John Bosco. The educational philosophy of Don Bosco can be condensed into three words: reason, religion, and kindness. The basic principle of his system was a deep understanding and love for young people and their problems. His motto, 'it is not enough for every child to be loved, they must know that they are loved' embodies his approach perfectly.
Our school ethos is summed up by RUAH: Respect, Understanding, Affection, and Humour. These four principles underpin every aspect of our school life and together spell out the Hebrew word for 'breath of life' or 'spirit'.
Pupils enjoy a school life that is supported by prayer, worship, a celebration of the Eucharist, and excellent chaplaincy provision. Also, high-quality personalized learning helps all pupils to achieve their potential, whether they need excellent academic training or a more vocational approach.
The aims of the Curriculum are:
- To ensure that all students develop and fulfill their potential.
- To provide opportunities for students to achieve good outcomes and move onto the next stage of learning successfully.
- To provide an education that is appropriate to the demands of the future.
- To encourage our students to adopt a problem-solving approach to their studies.
- To provide an educational framework appropriate to each student's age, ability and aptitude i.e. to meet the needs of all learners.
- To provide students with the skills to aid their progress into independent, self-motivated learners within a framework of clear expectations and an appropriate code of behavior.
- To encourage in those we teach independence of mind, and enjoyment of learning and confidence in their potential, sharing and celebrating success and achievement whenever possible.
- To provide a curriculum that focuses on children's core skills in Mathematics, English, and Science.
- To enable each student to become a sensible and responsible adult, developing self-esteem, self-discipline, and respect for others.
Saint John Bosco College believes that effective assessment systems enhance progress and ultimately achievement. Rigorous assessment allows all pupils to be supported and challenged for all subjects in all years.
All students are set aspirational yet realistic targets for all subjects in all years. Targets are set based on a variety of information including end of Key Stage 2 scores for English and Maths, FFT D, and internal benchmarking. Targets are reviewed every half term to ensure pupils are set appropriately and no ceiling is placed on achievement.
