st laurence school
London
It is a great privilege to be the Headteacher of such an inspirational school.
St Laurence is a thriving and successful comprehensive academy where great and
equal value is placed on both academic excellence and developing the whole
person. We work hard to create opportunities for every student to achieve to
their full potential and have the best possible preparation for adult life. In
the words of our mission statement: we care, we inspire, we succeed. As one
visitor commented, “a school with head and heart working together”. We benefit
from a dual foundation status. One of these is the Diocese of Salisbury, meaning
that we are a Church of England school. While we are fully inclusive, welcoming
students of all faiths and none, we believe that our Christian foundation
provides a context within which to foster a sense of understanding and
compassion for others, and the courage to act on our beliefs. We are proud to
have the Lord Fitzmaurice Educational Trust as the other part of our foundation.
The Trust links us firmly to our community and Lord Fitzmaurice’s vision of
creating opportunities for all local young people through education is very much
alive today at St Laurence. Over several years, GCSE exam results remain
excellent, with student attainment well above the national average. We have a
strong and successful 6th Form, with a very high proportion moving on to
university including Oxbridge. Following their visit in June 2017, Ofsted
inspectors commented on our commitment to high standards: “…improving the
quality of teaching, learning and assessment is at the very heart of the work of
the school. You have created a clear vision of teaching and learning that is
based on two pillars: firstly, that teachers must ensure the tasks they set
accurately meet the needs of their pupils. Secondly, that pupils understand what
they need to do to improve their work”. Despite the extremely challenging times
we have faced in education over the last year, the relentless commitment to
ensuring that our young people thrive and achieve their best has not changed. We
have a great reputation for the many opportunities for personal development our
students enjoy: superb Performing Arts productions, a huge programme of clubs,
sport, overseas expeditions, exchange programmes and residential “challenge”
weeks. In all of these, the development of confidence, enjoyment and leadership
are as important to us as high levels of performance and achievement. As a
Headteacher, I am aware that the years our young people spend in secondary
school are extremely precious. We are not a start or an end point, we are one
part of the journey that a young person takes to become the best they can be. I
believe secondary schools are in the business of opening doors. Whether that be
by ensuring that young people gain the best qualifications they can to move on
to their next step or by building their character and opening their minds to new
opportunities My staff work with huge commitment, professionalism and passion to
make this a reality for all our youngsters. That said, we can be most successful
when we work in close partnership with parents. We are committed to developing
trust, openness and support so that together we can enable your children to
flourish. Whether your child is already with us or you are thinking about
joining us, you are most welcome to contact us to arrange a visit.
