Sidcot School

At Sidcot we understand how difficult a decision selecting a school can be. We recognise that, just as all children are different, so too are schools. To help you decide if Sidcot is the right school for you we have identified a number of things that make us different.

Sidcot's approach is different to other schools. The environment we live in, the way in which we teach and our Quaker values and heritage make Sidcot distinct.

What matters when you’re choosing a school?

Let us tell you a little about what matters to us. Curiosity, simplicity, equality, empathy, personal responsibility, speaking up and being heard. These are all part of the Quaker philosophy that underpins life at Sidcot School.

At Sidcot we are justifiably proud of our students’ academic record. We are equally proud of their social skills, their emotional intelligence, their resilience and their determination to make a difference in the world.

It’s no surprise that these personal qualities go together with academic excellence. It’s our experience that curiosity and the confidence to enquire fearlessly - to live adventurously, as our Quaker philosophy puts it - leads children to be better motivated and more at ease with themselves as thinkers and learners. We don’t cram children at Sidcot, because we don’t have to. This is a kind, purposeful place where we educate the whole person for a life of active, responsible citizenship.

From an early age Sidcot students experience a community where it is clear that independent thought is encouraged and curiosity is a way of life.

We aim to educate the whole person, to equip them with practical and personal skills alongside their qualifications. We know we’ve succeeded when our students go out into the world with an insatiable interest in all that life has to offer.

Our teaching staff are themselves motivated by curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. They want to pass that enthusiasm on. They use imaginative teaching methods that encourage students to see learning as an exciting creative journey which everyone can take part in. A journey that doesn’t end when they leave school or university.

We want our students to have interesting lives. We want them to have the confidence and motivation to develop their talents and the desire to put those talents to good use in the world.

Sidcot students live and learn in an environment that is beautiful, well cared for and rich in experiences.

We encourage them to see school as a place to explore and experiment, to follow their instincts and develop their interests. Every day brings opportunities, and the resources to make the most of those opportunities. In arts, sport, sciences, music, students have access to top quality facilities and excellent teaching.

They learn in small classes in an atmosphere of optimism and enquiry. Often they’ll work with students from other year groups, learning from each other and developing a sense of community and shared responsibility. We are proud that our graduates are often described as people who can ‘talk to anyone’. Lifelong friendships are made at Sidcot – and a lasting love of life.

In keeping with the ethos of its Quaker founders, Sidcot School has always been outward looking and pioneering.

It is part of our educational approach that we enrich learning by increasing awareness and sensitivity to local and international matters. Social and ethical issues around social responsibility and peace and sustainability are live topics within the school. Students examine and discuss them, and reflect on their own intellectual and emotional responses. In doing so they come to understand how their actions can make a difference, and to appreciate the value of making a purposeful contribution to the world.

Our students choose a wide range of occupations and most go on to study at University. Along with their academic success, we also expect them to leave us as confident individuals with open minds and hearts. In the words of the Quakers values we want them to have learnt to ‘Let your life speak’.

Equality is one of the key Quakers values and it is central to life at Sidcot.

During their time at Sidcot students learn to speak up for their own opinions and values, and to listen with interest to the views of others. In lessons and in school activities everyone is encouraged to contribute to discussion and debate: not taking over, not opting out.

In this way students develop an enthusiasm for collaboration and co-creating. Their fellow students are often people whose stories are very different from their own: people from different backgrounds, different countries, races and religions, and people with different abilities. In this rich social environment, students come to take pride in their individuality and to enjoy the individuality of others.