Exploring your school’s ethos and culture

In schools which are well-led and where learning and teaching thrive and relationships are handled quite naturally, inspectors comment on the spirit, the ethos and underlying culture which promote positive and purposeful relationships throughout the school community.

In carrying out critical friend reviews, I keep asking myself questions such as:

In evaluating ethos and culture I am drawn to Professor Andy Hargreaves (Changing Teachers, Changing Times, 1994), who argues that the ideal culture for an improving school is one which balances academic pressure and social cohesion: “Expectations of work and conduct are high – the leaders’ expectations of staff and the teachers’ expectations of pupils. Yet these standards are not perceived to be unreasonable; everyone is supported in striving for them and rewarded for reaching them. For both teachers and pupils, school is a demanding but very enjoyable place to be.”