At VLC every member of staff is fully committed and responsible for the ongoing transformation of each of our students, which is to see true transformation in the lives of our students through caring education.
‘Being image-bearers means that all humanity - all children and adults, all ethnicities and people groups, all able and disabled, all incarcerated and free people - have inherent and equal dignity, value and worth. Humans do not earn their dignity and value through work, culture, government, or society; rather their dignity, value, and worth is given directly by God’
Whilst VLC is not a faith based school, it is crucial to understand the Christian values on which our school is built and how this influences our ethos and approach. In a world where Christians profess many different and often conflicting things, the quote above reflects the foundation in which our beliefs are built, that all children and adults have ‘equal dignity, value and worth’ and our role is to emulate this to every member of the VLC community.
VLC is committed to transforming the lives of all students. By providing a safe, nurturing and loving environment, through trauma informed education and holistic care, all students irrespective of their barriers to learning excel in every aspect of their lives. We recognise that all of our students have experienced multiple barriers to learning and success, and the VLC relationship is at the core of our approach.
‘No matter where the oppressed are found, the act of love is commitment to their cause - the cause of liberation. And this commitment, because it is loving, is dialogical… if I do not love the world - if I do not love life - if I do not love people I cannot enter into dialogue.’ (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed)
This transformation occurs when a community shares the same vision and ethos and creates a culture which exists for the sole purpose to see individual students achieve their full potential, both academically and socially and emotionally, and will go above and beyond to ensure that happens in the lives of our students.
Our Ethos:
‘Being image-bearers means that all humanity - all children and adults, all ethnicities and people groups, all able and disabled, all incarcerated and free people - have inherent and equal dignity, value and worth. Humans do not earn their dignity and value through work, culture, government, or society; rather their dignity, value, and worth is given directly by God’
Whilst VLC is not a faith based school, it is crucial to understand the Christian values on which our school is built and how this influences our ethos and approach. In a world where Christians profess many different and often conflicting things, the quote above reflects the foundation in which our beliefs are built, that all children and adults have ‘equal dignity, value and worth’ and our role is to emulate this to every member of the VLC community.
VLC is committed to transforming the lives of all students. By providing a safe, nurturing and loving environment, through trauma informed education and holistic care, all students irrespective of their barriers to learning excel in every aspect of their lives. We recognise that all of our students have experienced multiple barriers to learning and success, and the VLC relationship is at the core of our approach.
‘No matter where the oppressed are found, the act of love is commitment to their cause - the cause of liberation. And this commitment, because it is loving, is dialogical… if I do not love the world - if I do not love life - if I do not love people I cannot enter into dialogue.’ (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed)
This transformation occurs when a community shares the same vision and ethos and creates a culture which exists for the sole purpose to see individual students achieve their full potential, both academically and socially and emotionally, and will go above and beyond to ensure that happens in the lives of our students.
Our Ethos:
- The VLC community work relentlessly to give all students the environment, tools, strategies and opportunities to ensure that they achieve their full potential.
- The VLC community is diligent and rigorous in the safeguarding and safety of our students, and will always seek to work collaboratively to ensure the ongoing protection of each individual student.
- The VLC community understands and recognises that any behaviour is a form of communication, and that there is always a reason, a solution and an opportunity for restoration and learning. This process is layered in patience, grace and compassion. We do not give up on our students.
- The VLC community commit to a continuous, creative and collaborative approach to responding to, flexing and adapting to the needs of each individual student
- The VLC community commit to ensuring that barriers to learning, prior trauma, disadvantage and vulnerabilities are not and do not become a barrier to their educational, social and emotional success.
- The VLC community will prepare, equip and empower all students for the challenges, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
- The VLC community will provide an inclusive and responsive curriculum, whereby all students receive outstanding teaching, which leads to accelerated learning.
VLC is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under the Charity No. 1184444.