Visions & Values

Darwen Vale High School became an Aldridge Academy in 2014

Prior to that the school had a rich history starting life in 1894 as Darwen Gammar school. We retained the awe inspiring façade of the old grammar school when the school received its multi million pound rebuild in 2012. We are very fortunate to boast some wonderful facilities from our 3G sports pitch to the brand new sports hall, fitness suite and designated dance studio.

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The school is on a trajectory of rapid improvement with results improving rapidly. In 2019 our English and Maths results rose significantly and are now in line with National average. Our progress 8 figure improved, and we are confident that 2022 will see a record improvement again. Our numbers have grown from 750 students to almost 1100 and we are oversubscribed in key stage 3. We have over 500 applications for 240 places in our year 7.

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Here at Darwen vale we have a clear and aspirational vision that sits at the heart of all that we do:

 

Students at Darwen Vale High School will achieve academically beyond personal expectations and prior attainment. They will experience an outstanding and enjoyable education.

 

This is simple but aspirational; we expect children to make progress from their starting points in year 7 to their end point in year 11 that is greater than that expected of them. We want students to achieve beyond what they believe is possible when they join us and we want students to enjoy their time at Darwen Vale.

 

• we do this through great teaching and learning

• we do this through providing great pastoral care

• we do this by providing an extensive enrichment programme

• we do this by helping them grow as individuals and citizens, by teaching them how to play a full role in society and be successful.

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That is our vision. Our ethos underpins this and reinforces it

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We aim high

"the great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim to high and failing but in setting our bar too low” Michaelangelo

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We work hard

"there is no substitute for hard work" Frederick Douglass

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We care

"nobody cares how much you know until they know you care"  

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We are vale 

we are all members of several communities and teach our young people how to be active members of those communities

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What are our values?

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As an Aldridge academy we align ourselves with the attributes that Sir Rod Aldridge prizes as the entrepreneurial traits. Being an entrepreneur is not about being a businessman it is about a mind-set. A mind-set and a set of qualities that all employers expect their employees to possess. Attributes that ensure that we are developing young people who will be successful in education or employment:

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• passion

• problem solving 

• creativity 

• risk taking

• determination

• teamwork

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In addition to the Aldridge attributes we also value the following qualities and traits in our young people and seek to actively develop these:

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• Resilience

• Questioning

• Optimism

• Bravery

• Initiative 

• Confidence

• Flexibility

• Vision

• Hard work

• Communication skills

• Humility

• Ambition

• Caring

• Responsibility

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We will, as staff seek to embody and demonstrate these attributes, traits and qualities and develop them in our young people.

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