We believe, given the right circumstances, all children are capable of extraordinary things.
The ambition at Houstone School is to ensure that the school provides excellence. Excellence in terms of a world class education and personal development. Opened in 2022, the school aims to be a beacon locally and nationally, achieving the highest outcomes and enabling our pupils to make unrivalled progress. The local community and families deserve such a school. This is why the school works closely with the community to make its aims a reality. The focus on an academic curriculum for all which will include a sixth form, adds diversity of provision and parental choice to the local area and particularly to Houghton Regis.
The school’s work is subject to “the Sophie test” – named after the daughter of the founder of Advantage Schools -which means, simply,
“if it isn’t good enough for our own children, it isn’t good enough.”
The school embodies these values to complement our Trust values of Integrity, Ambition and Excellence.
INTEGRITY – we believe that tolerance, understanding and knowledge are underpinned by respect for others and their achievements. We are transparent, honest, open and clear in what we are doing and our achievements. We cultivate this in our pupils and our approach to education and collaboration.
AMBITION – we aspire for our pupils to have the best opportunities in their lives and achieve extraordinary things given the circumstances that we will provide.
EXCELLENCE – we aspire to be the very best that we can be, setting new standards for achievement and quality for our pupils, their families and the local area.
It is expected that every individual at Houstone will:
1. Commit to very high expectations of our pupils, including pupil outcomes, via a curricular focus
We believe in a broad, balanced, academic curriculum. A curriculum is only a curriculum if it is learnt, and while we will not be led by outcomes, we know that a great curriculum will mean that ‘the score takes care of itself’. (Bill Walsh)
2. Have leaders who ‘sweat the small stuff’. Our leaders do not pass the buck and ensure that learning is desirable, demanded and achievable in our schools.
Behaviour at Houstone is managed by systems that all follow and that leaders prioritise. Leaders are highly visible and hence know their staff and pupils. Leaders look after their staff and prioritise their wellbeing.
3. Employ people that do their job, and do it well
We do not tolerate underperformance. We have professional candour and we support our colleagues to get better. We value colleagues who marry efficiency and quality in all they do.
The unique features of our school includes: