Values and Ethos
The education culture at SST Maidstone is based on 3 key principles:
Exceptional Care
Every student thrives as a member of a cohesive and tolerant community with the highest possible future aspirations for themselves and each other. The key features of Exceptional Care are:
- Attendance: care focused on the relationship between outstanding attendance and outstanding educational achievement
- Wellbeing: care to develop a happy student, highly motivated to learn
- Behaviour: care to foster outstanding behaviour as the key to taking full advantage of education
- Academic Progress: care to ensure that every student’s progress is tracked with intervention as necessary to ensure all students achieve beyond their potential
- Individual Educational Needs: care based on a belief that all students have individual needs that we identify and to which we will respond
- Individual Health Needs: care for students with specific health needs.
Exceptional Education
At SST, we believe that education is more than just imparting knowledge—it's about nurturing a well-rounded, resilient, and responsible individual ready to thrive in the 21st century. Our curriculum is carefully designed to foster cultural capital, respect for diverse ideas, people, and faiths, and to prepare students for the world beyond the classroom.
Respect: Building Cultural Capital and Respect for Diversity
Our curriculum is intentionally crafted to develop not only academic excellence but also a profound respect for the world around us. We integrate lessons that celebrate cultural diversity, promote understanding of different faiths, and encourage an appreciation for varying perspectives. Through this, students gain cultural capital, equipping them with the knowledge and respect needed to engage meaningfully in an increasingly interconnected world.
Resilience: Challenging and Expanding Knowledge
We understand that growth comes from facing challenges. That's why our lessons are designed to be appropriately challenging, pushing students to expand their knowledge and develop a resilient mindset. By encountering and overcoming academic hurdles, our students learn to persist in the face of difficulties, preparing them for both academic and personal success.
Responsibility: Fostering Independent Learners
At SST, we emphasise the importance of taking responsibility for one's own learning journey. We encourage students to become independent learners, guiding them to take ownership of their education. This approach not only prepares them for future academic endeavours but also instils a sense of accountability and self-motivation that will serve them throughout their lives.
Reach: Maximising Potential in All Areas
We believe every student has the potential to excel. Our education philosophy is centred on reaching that potential, both inside and outside the classroom. With a broad and balanced curriculum, we provide opportunities for students to explore and excel in various fields—be it academics, arts, sports, or community service—ensuring a holistic development that nurtures all facets of their abilities.
Readiness: Equipping for the 21st Century
The world is rapidly evolving, and so must our educational approaches. Our curriculum focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and succeed in the modern world. From critical thinking and problem-solving to digital literacy and global awareness, we prepare our students to be future-ready, adaptable, and innovative thinkers.
By focusing on these core values, SST is dedicated to providing an exceptional education that prepares students not just for exams, but for life
Exceptional Opportunities
The Opportunities Programme helps students identify, develop and explore their personal interests and aptitudes. The key features of Exceptional Opportunities are:
- The Arts: Opportunities to learn a musical instrument, to visit galleries, museums, theatre, concerts and live performance, and to participate in live performances of their own.
- Leadership: Opportunities to lead and influence others.
- Sport: Opportunities to develop individual skills and a healthy lifestyle alongside a love of competitive sport and games.
- Internationalism: Opportunities to interact with global cultures.
- Service to others: Opportunities to help others and volunteer as a member of a team.
The key principles are underpinned by a set of core values:
Respect: Our school fosters a culture of respect, where every student learns to value themselves, others, and the diverse community around them, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.
Resilience: We cultivate resilience in our students by encouraging them to face challenges with determination and adaptability, preparing them for a lifetime of overcoming obstacles with confidence.
Responsibility: At our school, students learn the importance of responsibility by taking ownership of their actions, decisions, and learning. We encourage our children to adopt an array of leadership roles.
Reach: We inspire our students to be aspirational, to reach beyond their limits, striving for excellence in all endeavours, whether academic, artistic, or athletic, ensuring they achieve their fullest potential.
Readiness: We endeavour to prepare our young people to be successful in adult world they will join. An understanding of what being ready for learning or work means and the benefits will ensure future success.
