Our intent for every child at Wilsthorpe School is captured by its motto: ‘be the best you can be’.

As soon as you walk through the main entrance and into our wonderful building, you come face-to-face with the school’s mission statement, which elucidates how this simple motto is lived out by our 1,200 students and 120 staff: every student’s time at Wilsthorpe should be “an inspirational journey … in a climate of dignity and respect”. This mission statement, in turn, shapes the two guiding principles that underpin everything we do at Wilsthorpe:

  • “An inspirational journey” speaks of academic rigour, attainment and progress. It requires a strong, stable team of highly-qualified teachers and support staff, who are our most valuable resource as a school. It means taking every opportunity for assessment, whether through expert questioning or formal examinations. We call this uncompromising focus on results and high expectations “Excellence in Learning”.
  • “A climate of dignity and respect” means that academic achievement can only be built on a firm foundation of positive relationships: with self, others and with the wider world. Our staff aim to be “100% kind and 100% consistent”, to “catch students being good”, to encourage self-discipline and to offer a fresh start when required. We call this approach “Relationships First”.

Our intent is that these two pillars – “Excellence in Learning” and “Relationships First” – will enable Wilsthorpe to truly become a “100% school”, in which 100% of students are confident that they have a trusted adult to whom they can turn; 100% of students should participate in at least one co-curricular activity beyond the classroom each year that develops cultural and social capital; 100% of students are read to by their tutor every week to as part of the ‘Wilsthorpe Reads’ programme; 100% of students achieve a positive destination at the end of Year 11 or Year 13.

Families play a central role in realising our school’s intent. As parents and carers, we sometimes worry that our children don’t listen to us. In fact, the truth is that our children are watching and listening to us incredibly closely. When they see their parent or carer placing their trust in staff, they experience security and certainty. They perceive the parent-teacher relationship as a source of trust and stability. Education isn’t something “done to” a child; rather it is something “done together with” a family, so we work hard to develop this vital partnership.

Beyond our immediate community of students, staff and families, we work with local employers, charities and universities, to give our students a truly rounded experience, which enables them to grow spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. And we work with our wider family of schools, The Two Counties Trust, guided by our 3 shared values of Ambition, Honesty and Teamwork.