Vision and Mission
Vision
We aspire to be a vibrant and dynamic learning environment, in which every student is given the opportunity to fulfil their academic potential and be able to achieve their ambitions for the next stage of their educational journey; make a positive contribution to the school community and the wider community that we serve and develop socially and emotionally the skills and attributes needed to live happy, safe and productive adult lives.
We are resolute that we will achieve our vision through:
- Wide variety of art subjects on offer at KS3, with much curriculum time given to the Arts department
- Free peri instrument lessons for every KS3 student
- Every student will have the opportunity to visit a live theatre/musical show in Year 7
- Every student will visit an exhibition/gallery in Year 8
- Wide offer of arts based clubs after school
- Orchestra/school bands/choir open to all students of all musical ability
- Opportunity to opt for more than one arts option at KS4
- Scholarships on offer for our most gifted creatives
- One whole school musical per year open to all artistic abilities
- Termly art exhibitions and showcases for all creative abilities
- Artist in residence in place offering access to live art making
- Regular programme of arts celebration and showcasing in assemblies
- ‘Creative’ student leaders championing the arts across all year groups and in the local community
- Creative opportunities to make cross curricular links exploited across every subject area
- Creative approaches to curriculum planning and delivery
- TEEP model includes a CREATIVITY wheel
- Group of Arts based parent ambassadors championing the school in the local community and beyond
- Curriculum vision clearly outlines expectations for creativity across every subject area
- Arts immersion days once per term exploring key national and global issues
- Arts week at the end f each year
- Creative opportunities for staff development and parent involvement/engagement
- Creative approaches to whole school strategising and development.
Mission
Our mission statement of ‘ explore, dream discover’ play an important role in everyday life at Deptford Green.
What does our mission mean to us?
To explore at Deptford Green is to take risks, challenge yourself and find your purpose. It is to explore uncharted territory, relishing every opportunity in front of you. It is to not settle for what you already know, but to try new things, show resilience, and dive into unknown waters confidently.
To dream at Deptford Green is to be inspired and to inspire others. It is to realise that anything is possible, to cross borders and have the highest expectations of yourself and those around you. It is to continue to strive and move forward, tackling challenges head on with determination, opening many doors to your future as a result.
To discover at Deptford Green is to love what you learn and learn what you love. It is to discover yourself, who you want to be navigating your future with curiosity and wonder. It is to seek out and celebrate the differences and lives of others, to find your place in your community and develop a deep understanding about the world around you.
Promotion of British values
We have a firm commitment to helping our students to flourish academically whilst at the same time, embracing our wider role in preparing them for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum. Part of our role to help them prepare is to ensure that we promote and reinforce British values to our students.
In the 2011 Prevent Strategy, the government set out its definition of British values: democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. At Deptford Green School these values are reinforced in a comprehensive manner and they permeate the school community.
The examples that follow are an indication of some of the many ways we seek to embed British values at this school and should be seen as an indication of our approach rather than an exhaustive list.
Democracy
The democratic process is employed throughout the school for important decisions within the school community, for instance, elections being held for our School Governors, and for Tutor Group representatives, Restorative Peer mediators, School Captains and Mental health Ambassadors. Students at Deptford Green School have stood for election as Young Mayor of Lewisham and all students participate in the election process. This process is supported by visits to school by local and other MPs and student visits to the Houses of Parliament.
The rule of law
The importance of laws is consistently reinforced through our Behaviour for Learning policy which is implemented by staff and respected by students. School assemblies and the Student Leaders also address and reinforce behavioural issues. Students are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. At Deptford Green School we have a very experienced Safer Schools Officer who supports positive relationships with the police service.
Individual liberty
We actively encourage our students to make independent choices, knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. We educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and receive advice about how to exercise these safely, for example through our exploration of E-Safety in Computing and Ethics and PSHE.
Mutual respect
Respect is at the core of our school ethos and is modelled by students and staff alike. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning environments. In line with our commitment to democracy, students at Deptford Green School are always able to voice their opinions and we foster an environment where students feel safe to have differing opinions. Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum from the concept of ‘fair play’ in PE to a number of student-led programmes which promote mutual respect between students across different year groups within the school.
Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
We help our students to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and we give them opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community and outside. As a school, we are fortunate to benefit from a number of visitors who share both their language and culture with our students. Additionally, students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school.
Our Ethics and PSHE curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Our curriculum provides students with the opportunity to celebrate and experience faiths and beliefs in a safe, well-organised environment, linked to the SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) curriculum.
Should you feel that the school is not meeting this requirement, please contact the school and raise your concerns with the Headteacher. Likewise, if you feel that anyone working at the school is undermining these values we would be grateful if you would report this to the Headteacher.