What is the culture of our school? The culture of a place is itself intangible, but represented by so many displays and actions – rather like a breeze, which is invisible but known to exist by how it moves objects around it. The outward show of culture is made up of stories, of behaviours, of displays and celebrations, of how we communicate and what we prioritise. Each of us is shaped by and also shapes our culture.

So what is the culture of Stoke Newington School? We are proud to be high achieving, creative and inclusive. We have outcomes and progress significantly above the national averages in almost all areas; we have some of the most outstanding creative subject outcomes in the country and have continued to champion creative subjects in the face of political decisions; we are renowned for the work we do with students with particular special needs and for championing diversity. We are proud of this. Our values are writ large when you enter the school and displayed in each room: “all together: achieving excellence, committing fully, enjoying creativity, understanding each other and always learning”. These values underpin our culture. We expect our staff, our students, and our visitors to support and promote this. We want our culture to be strong: so strong that our students grow into our values and, when they move on, they take with them their own long-lasting possession of this culture. I want this to be a powerful part of our school.

A key aspect of our Stoke Newington School culture is that all our students must experience the positive benefits of it. Every student knows that these are our values. Every student knows that we celebrate, via assemblies (like those at the end of the spring term) and through how all staff praise and acknowledge (informally and via the achievement point system), behaviours which build towards these values. We reward and acknowledge commitment, achievement, inclusion and creativity. We tell stories about these positive activities – in our school magazines and papers (Spotlight and Spotlighter), via our website and via blogs and twitter. These are part of the outward face of our school and align with our culture. I am committed to every student gaining from and giving to our culture.

So where does space for individual expression and views fit in? We often discuss how what is sometimes viewed as a liberal ethos could be at odds with the highest standards and consistency for all. Being liberal is defined as being willing to accept views and opinions different from one’s own. Part of our values is to have the highest standards for students and staff (achieving excellence, all together, committing fully). Could liberalism diminish high standards? I think there is no question about which comes first for us. To be clear, when we talk about individuals we want the highest standards for each individual child, and for and from each individual staff member. No one would dispute this. We commit to the highest standards for each of us and each other. No one’s individuality can come at the expense of the loss of standards for themselves or another. We want to support our school community individually and together to excel – with no one left behind. Therefore when we make decisions this wish for each and all to excel is always foremost. We will not allow selfish behaviour to prevent others’ learning. That space for individual expression and views comes into our pedagogy and our caring for our students. We absolutely make an effort to treat each student as an individual, and to draw on their individual strengths in lessons and school life. We treat each student as an individual whom we fully expect to achieve the best.

We also want to embed further all of us living the values daily everywhere: in every classroom, in our playgrounds, in our corridors, on school visits and when travelling to and from school. That requires a different level of communication, as it requires everyone in our school to be aware that during the smallest informal interaction, our school values will to be exhibited and promoted. We want our students to be ever more active promoters of our culture – at all times.

So what are the key actions for us at Stoke Newington School to ensure we further promote and extol our culture? We will refer to our culture and use it to underpin and justify our actions. All our staff will promote it and our students will be inculcated into it so that they too can lead within school and beyond school. Senior staff will work with other staff; all staff will work with students; older students will work with younger students. I will commit training and time so that we can all do this and support each other to do this.

Culture does not change or develop by accident. Our desired culture, which I have spelled out above, is a key part of the education of all our children: present and future. We will make sure it remains strong and becomes lived by all our community.