Headteacher L23 - L29

New Mills School; a place where a culture of high expectation, dedication and commitment ensures our students develop into well-rounded individuals with a love of learning and an enthusiasm for life.

Our knowledge-rich curriculum and highly-qualified staff enable all students, regardless of their starting points, to make the progress they need to develop both academically and personally. We stretch and challenge them to achieve their very best academically and in all aspects of school life.

We are committed to enrichening their personal development by developing their talents and interests in and out of the classroom by providing a wide range of pastoral and extra-curricular opportunities. Our Student Development Programme, based around the school’s five core values of respect, responsibility, resilience, resourcefulness and reflection, equips our students with the life skills needed to carry them beyond their school years as they go out into the world to make their contributions to society.

We are especially proud of the positive relationships between staff and students which extends to our excellent pastoral care and provision for our SEND students.

Headteacher

Heather Watts

Values and vision

We aim to empower everyone to be the best that they can be, optimising their future success, well-being and contribution to their community and society.

NMS Values – The 5R’s

At NMS we believe in doing things the right way; starting and ending the day with the right attitude, the right ambitions and ultimately, achieving the right results. The school’s role is to maximise students' achievement and well-being along this journey, to help them succeed and thrive in the future; long after they have left. To do this we champion five core values, which are at the heart of how we think, interact and behave throughout the school.

Respect

• For      the truth; with honesty and integrity.
• For      others; by demonstrating compassion, generosity and empathy when      confronted with difference or need – and by valuing and celebrating      diversity.
• For      the team; through collaboration, consideration and recognition of      leadership, expertise and experience.

Reflectiveness

• Demonstrate      self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses, using growth mind-set      approaches to change for the better.
• Have      self-belief in long-term aspirations and recognition of the sacrifices      required to achieve these.
• Offer      curiosity and thoughtfulness; seeking out new knowledge and weaving it      into our understanding of a complex world.

Resilience

• Show      motivation and determination in the face of adversity or when ‘playing the      long game’.
• Recognise      the importance of a strong work-ethic; that endeavour is necessary to      achievement and sometimes gratification needs to be deferred.
• Understand      that optimism can be cultivated and is fundamental to success

Resourcefulness

• Demonstrate      self-reliance and independence.
• Proactively      seek solutions to problems, answers to questions and not passively accept      barriers to progress.
• Be      flexible in approaches, know the value of leadership, collaboration and      co-operation.

Responsibility

• Organise      ourselves and be steadfast and reliable.
• Communicate      skilfully and sensitively so we understand others’ viewpoints and can      represent our own effectively.
• Ask      first what we could change about ourselves rather than place blame on      others.

Ofsted

“Governance is good. Members of the governing body hold senior leaders, including the headteacher, to account for their work and they are well informed about the school’s areas for development, including teaching and achievement. The gap between the achievement of disadvantaged students and their peers has narrowed significantly since 2013.”

View New Mills School’s latest Ofsted report