Ethos, Values and Aims

St Teresa’s Ethos

There is no ‘one size fits all’ at St Teresa’s; our girls are individuals and valued as such. No one is invisible, and we know who needs to be stretched and who needs extra help. This commitment to individual care underpins our whole ethos and approach to teaching each and every pupil within our care. We believe that happy girls thrive.
A ‘can-do’ attitude is encouraged at all times, and a wide range of opportunities both within and beyond the curriculum enables girls to develop and discover new abilities, interests and talents while they study towards achieving first-rate GCSEs and A levels.

No-one is pigeon-holed. Talent and achievement of all types are praised and confidence blossoms as a result. Our primary aim is, of course, to educate, but to do so in the true meaning of the word; St Teresa’s is not an academic hothouse but aims to draw out the talents latent in every girl so that at St Teresa’s she will become the best she can be. Girls are supported, but encouraged to think independently and to take responsibility for their own learning. This leads to excellent A level and GCSE results from a broad-ability intake.

St Teresa’s Values

St Teresa’s offers a strong, caring community based on its Catholic traditions, but remains an inclusive environment that welcomes pupils from all backgrounds. Our core values knit the school together, resulting in an atmosphere of mutual support, vibrancy and kindness.

St Teresa’s Values:

  • Faith
  • Character
  • Community
  • Compassion
  • Intellect
Faith

St Teresa’s is a Catholic School which welcomes pupils of all faiths and of none. We encourage our girls to live out Gospel values of love, trust and respect and help them to explore their beliefs and spirituality.

Community

We are a loving community where all care for and respect one another. We encourage our pupils to develop an awareness and appreciation of different cultures around the world; to celebrate and cherish our differences; and to promote qualities of tolerance and kindness that are actively demonstrated.

Character

We aim to affirm and celebrate the uniqueness and worth of each individual member of the school community.

We provide opportunities for self-development, personal formation and self-knowledge, and encourage the sharing of gifts and talents in a mutually supportive and appreciative environment

Compassion

We instil appropriate knowledge, values, skills and opportunities for the girls to foster kindness, and be aware of the plights of others.

We empower our pupils to effectively address injustice in their community, wider society and around the world, and to encourage moral conviction that impels to action.

Intellect

We create a stimulating learning environment where academic study and intellectual pursuits are valued and celebrated.

We seek to enable pupils to become questioning, reflective young people who can appropriately use their knowledge to understand, interpret and interact with today’s world, and thus become effective and useful contributors to wider society.

St Teresa’s Aims

At St Teresa’s Effingham we aim:

  • to encourage pupils to rejoice in and do well through the pursuit of academic excellence across the curriculum and beyond
  • to provide support, encouragement and challenge so that pupils realise their potential and are well-prepared for the future
  • to promote high standards of personal behaviour and the development of moral and spiritual values