The graphic above captures our vision for a holistic education. It breaks down further the School’s two main aims:
1) To deliver an excellent education
2) To have an impact on the world
Self-knowledge is a journey towards understanding who you are: your strengths and areas for development; how you learn, how you relate to others, how to stay well, and how to fit into the life of the KAS community and beyond. It’s a journey of discovery that never stops.
Knowing and understanding our community involves building great relationships with the people in it. It involves appreciating our social and cultural differences and embracing that diversity, as well as seeing what binds us together. It needs us to understand the history, traditions and values of KAS, as well as seeing the challenges that we face together. It means learning about and looking after the environment we share.
Knowing and understanding the world has many aspects: an appreciation of nature and how it works; learning about different societies, languages, histories, and value systems; finding out how people have expressed themselves musically, artistically, dramatically; grasping how maths can describe the world; getting to grips with the way life outside of school works, politically, economically, environmentally.
Creative thinking is using your imagination to come up with new and original ideas. It involves problem-solving, risk-taking and learning from mistakes. It can involve seeing the connections between subjects, or combining the ideas of other people, Creative thinking can happen in any subject and any kind of challenge.
Collaboration is individuals working together towards a common goal by communicating, negotiating, and drawing on the different strengths of the whole group. It happens well when people recognise their role, do it to the best of their ability, and respect the contribution of others in the process.
Communication is about sharing information, ideas, thoughts and emotions with others. It can be verbal or non-verbal. Good communication helps us to understand the world around us, as well as one another’s perspectives. It helps us work together, too. It’s important to be a good listener, ask questions and be clear when we’re communicating with others.
Independence at KAS means:
Taking charge of your own learning by setting your own goals, managing your time well, going beyond what you’re told to do by exploring further;
Thinking for yourself: be curious and critical; ask probing questions and recognise that some sources are more reliable than others; stand up for what you believe in and don’t be swept along by the crowd;
Having a go: take risks; embrace mistakes; be resilient; don’t wait to be told.
Mutual respect is the cornerstone of the KAS community. It means treating everyone with consideration and kindness, whether we agree with them or not, and regardless of their age, status, gender, race or beliefs. It means listening attentively to the views of all and being open to learning from anyone in a healthy, safe environment.
A good contributor is an active and engaged member of the school community, who uses their strengths to make a positive contribution to its success, both inside and outside the school gates. This is for their own benefit, and for the benefit of others.
Contributors have a sense of purpose, and responsibility for their actions inside and outside the classroom. They are committed to helping KAS have a positive ‘impact on the world’.