Statement of Ethics and Values

1. Purpose of this Statement

This statement sets out the ethical principles and values that underpin the work of The Henry Box School as a member of The MILL Academy Trust. It is published on the school website in line with governance good practice set out in the National Governance Association's guidance and the Department for Education's Academy Trust Governance Guide, which recommend that schools and academies publish a statement setting out their ethos and values. It applies to all Trustees, Local Committee Volunteers, Staff, Pupils, Volunteers and Visitors, and informs how decisions are made and relationships are conducted across the school and the Trust.

Mission: “Transforming lives through inspirational education.”

Vision: Every child has the right to attend a good school and to have the opportunity to transform their life, whatever their starting point. The Trust exists to enable each of its schools to grow, to serve their communities well, and to support one another while maintaining consistently high standards.

The MILL Academy Trust's values are expressed through the acronym MILL, which guides the culture and conduct of every school in the Trust, including The Henry Box School.

M — Motivate: we inspire enthusiasm for learning and encourage every member of our community to strive for their best.

I — Inspire: we lead by example, model high standards, and nurture ambition in pupils and staff alike.

L — Learn: we are a community of learners; we reflect, adapt and continually improve our practice.

L — Lead: we take responsibility for our own actions and for the wellbeing and success of others.

At The Henry Box School, our values are expressed day to day through three core principles:

Kind: we treat one another with compassion, courtesy and consideration.

Respectful: we value the dignity, views and differences of every individual.

Ambitious: we hold high expectations of ourselves and each other, and we do not settle for less than our best.

These values are reinforced through our behaviour framework, which asks every member of our community to be Ready, Respectful and Safe — ready to learn and contribute, respectful towards people and property, and safe in their conduct towards themselves and others.

In pursuit of our mission, the school and Trust are guided by five ethical commitments:

• Equity: we work to secure equity of opportunity and outcome for every child, regardless of background or starting point.

• Improvement: we ensure that leadership at every level is focused on driving improvement and is held to account for doing so.

• Curriculum: we provide a broad, engaging and ambitious curriculum that meets the needs and interests of our pupils.

• Evidence-informed practice: we base our decisions on evidence and established good practice, rather than fashion or assumption.

• Stewardship: we manage public funds and other resources honestly, efficiently and in the best interests of our pupils.

 

The MILL Academy Trust is a home-grown, locally rooted Trust, proud to serve rural, town, community and Church school communities across the Witney area. We value diversity of setting and character among our schools while working collaboratively for the benefit of all. We are committed to continuous improvement and are not complacent about past success, recognising that “progress is impossible without change” and that effective leaders must be willing to adapt their thinking to improve outcomes for children.

This statement reflects the standards expected of everyone associated with The Henry Box School and The MILL Academy Trust, including honesty, integrity, openness and a primary focus on the interests of pupils. It should be read alongside the Trust's Scheme of Delegation, Code of Conduct, and safeguarding and equality policies, which set out these principles in further operational detail.

This statement is reviewed periodically by the Headteacher to ensure it continues to reflect the values and ethical standards of the school and Trust.