Our Values and Ethos

Our three core values — Integrity, Creativity and Excellence — sit at the heart of everything we do. We want our students to have the integrity to make positive choices and do the right thing, the creativity to think boldly and see possibilities, and the ambition to strive for excellence in all that they do. These values are not simply words on a wall; they are qualities we seek to develop every day in the way we learn, behave, work together and contribute to our community.

We also believe that education should be joyful. School should be a place where young people are excited to learn, where they feel safe to be themselves, where curiosity is encouraged and where achievements — both big and small — are celebrated. It is a privilege to see our students grow in confidence, discover their strengths, overcome challenges and realise that they are capable of more than they perhaps first imagined.

At the heart of this is a commitment to excellent teaching and learning. We combine high expectations and strong standards of behaviour, attendance and attitude with innovative practice, modern resources and evidence-informed approaches. Our five learning habits — Positive Response, Punctuality, Correct Uniform, Correct Equipment and On-Task Behaviour — provide the foundations that enable every student to learn successfully and make the most of every opportunity.

We place particular importance on reading because we know that reading opens doors. It develops vocabulary, imagination, knowledge and confidence, while giving young people access to ideas, experiences and worlds beyond their own. We want every student to develop a love of reading and the literacy skills they need to succeed not only at school, but throughout their lives. Our One Education Reading Award at Silver level reflects our ongoing commitment to making reading a central part of our school culture.

We are proud to be a genuinely inclusive school where everyone counts. We celebrate the diversity of our community and work hard to ensure that every student feels respected, valued and able to be themselves. Our Rainbow Flag Award, Young Carers Charter accreditation, Durham Local Authority Anti-Bullying accreditation and Healthy Schools Award recognise aspects of this commitment. We are also proud to hold the International Schools Award at Intermediate level, reflecting our ambition to broaden our students' horizons and help them understand and engage with the wider world.

Our students are at the centre of our school. We listen to their views and give them meaningful opportunities to shape school life through our Student Leaders, who contribute to areas such as fundraising, school meals and staff selection. We work closely with parents and carers too, because the strongest outcomes for young people are achieved when school, home and community work together.

We are ambitious not only for our students, but for every member of our school community. We want our staff to continue learning, developing their expertise and bringing their very best to the classroom and beyond. We believe that when adults model curiosity, integrity, creativity and excellence, young people see the power of those values in action.

Ferryhill is a school with a strong sense of community and an exciting future. Through our partnerships locally, nationally and internationally, we continue to create opportunities for our students to learn with and from others, to experience new perspectives and to discover possibilities beyond what they may have imagined for themselves.

Most importantly, we never lose sight of the young person behind the data, the uniform or the timetable. Every student has a story, talents to discover and a future to shape. It is a privilege to be part of that journey.

We want every young person who leaves Ferryhill to look back with a sense of belonging, pride and joy — knowing that they have been supported to become their best self, and equipped with the confidence, character and ambition to build a bold future.

Welcome to Ferryhill School. We look forward to sharing the journey with you.