Values & Ethos

Our Vision

At Thames, we take pride in developing outstanding teaching and learning by holding the highest expectations of all our pupils and knowing the children well. We challenge all children to strive for academic, creative, sporting and personal accomplishment within a broad, vibrant and enriched curriculum. Our children are given time to explore a broad range of subjects and develop deep understanding.

We celebrate perseverance, resilience and risk-taking, ensuring children welcome challenge and are not frightened to make mistakes.
We encourage children to take ownership of and responsibility for their learning and have the confidence and curiosity to ask questions, solve problems and respond to quality feedback. Children are praised for hard work, determination and having a positive attitude, in order to create an inclusive school where everyone can flourish, whatever their background.

Inspirational | Supportive | Encouraging | Effective | Ambitious | Imaginative

We promote an ethos of respect and empathy, where diversity is valued and celebrated – both within the school and the wider world. Safeguarding and welfare are extremely important and pupils are taught the virtues of kindness, appreciation and what it means to be courageous. Special care is taken to educate everyone in the Thames community about the needs of others and how best to meet them. We foster open and honest communication with parents, carers and specialists and actively seek to engage with all members of our community in a positive and supportive manner.
High-quality teaching is a key priority at Thames and the relationship between staff and children underpins inspirational, supportive and effective teaching and learning. Staff are actively involved in identifying their support and training needs and this leads to careers with clear progression. We ensure that there is a wide range of quality training available and that staff are able to learn from each other and share good practice.
It is our aim for all children to leave Thames as independent learners with self-belief and abiding respect for others. We aim to instil a lifelong love for learning and a strong grounding for future success.

We aim to:

Ignite imaginations through exciting, innovative and inspirational teaching, in a climate that encourages risk-taking in learning.

Work together in a supportive and inclusive environment, rooted in mutual respect, in which everybody feels safe and valued.

Foster a sense of morality, personal value and pride, encouraging responsibility, tolerance and citizenship in our school community and beyond.

Monitor and evaluate pupil progress, to personalise effective learning experiences that ensure pupils attain and achieve well.

Raise aspirations of all, celebrate achievement and nurture ambitious and resilient life-long learners.

Promote curiosity and creativity through imaginative, relevant, vivid and varied learning experiences.