School Vision and Ethos

School Vision

'To be recognised as an outstanding school at the heart of the community; a place where great leaders and inspirational people work together to provide the broadest possible school experience and ensure that all Blenheim students achieve their full potential.'

School Ethos

Blenheim operates on a Growth Mindset where the characteristics of hard work, resilience, innovation and improvement are modelled and expected each day. Growth mindset combined with well researched teaching and learning strategies and student expectations, supported by the characteristics of the #TeamBlenheim community, ensures that Blenheim continues to maximise its potential and develops into an outstanding school.

The following are the fundamental pillars of Blenheim's Ethos;

1. Growth Mindset

“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work; brains and talent are just a starting point. This view creates a love of learning and also a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment” - Dweck, 2015. The characteristics of work ethic, resilience, innovation and improvement are central to our work.

2. #TEAMBLENHEIM

The Blenheim community is comprehensive and co-educational with its whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The British values of tolerance, mutual respect, liberty, democracy and the rule of law all inform our daily practices. All students are cared for, unique and equally different.

3. Teaching, Learning and next steps

High quality teaching and learning coupled with clear, consistent next steps advice ensures that every student is afforded the best chance of realising their academic potential, and developing into an independent learner. In addition, clear, consistent use of up to ten “typical best practices” in each lesson optimises the Blenheim learning experience.

Triangle 24 low res

In order for Blenheim to realise its vision, the 2024-25 academic year has the following 6 priorities.

1. Teaching and Learning

For there to be a persistent focus on continuing to raise the quality of Teaching and Learning. The ten typical practices will continue to inform Blenheim's pedagogy complimented by focused and innovative Personal Professional Development (PPD). A deliberate and sustained focus on literacy will compliment this work.

2. Attendance

For whole school attendance levels to continue to improve. Aside from Safeguarding, nothing is more important than students' attendance at school. A culture that insists on, and expects, high levels of attendance will continue to pervade. Bespoke work will persist with the relatively small number of students who are severely and persistently absent.

3. The Arete Partnership

As a single academy trust, Blenheim staff and students will continue to benefit from the collaborative opportunities that the Arête Partnership provides including staff networking and PPD opportunities as well as student cooperation and competition.

4. Co-curricular

To effectively deliver a comprehensive Co-Curricular programme comprising high levels of provision outside of the classroom, ensuring that through strong levels of attendance students develop into 'good people' as well as achieve 'great grades'. Competitive Sport, the House system, the High Performers' Programme, the Chelsea FC Blenheim Academy, the Blenheim Ambition Dance Academy, the Blenheim Golf Academy, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Scheme and specific school trips will all contribute to the Co-Curricular experience.

5. Sixth Form

Blenheim Sixth Form continues to benefit from a number of unique features with a student population of c.200 students. The Sixth Form, under new leadership, will be thoroughly audited to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of learners.