From my very first visit, it was clear that this is a community built on care, ambition, and a shared commitment to providing the very best for every young person. I believe it is the responsibility of school leaders and educators to ensure we ‘get it right’ for every child, and this is a duty I do not take lightly. Children only get one chance at their education, and we must provide the guidance, opportunities, and support they need to learn, grow, and flourish. Woldgate School’s vision already reflects these beliefs, and I am committed to upholding the values that underpin the school community. The leadership of the school will, just as we ask of our pupils and students, be built on acts of ‘great merit, great character, and great value,’ fostering a culture where academic excellence goes hand in hand with character development and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Over the past 15 years in education, I have been fortunate to work in schools serving diverse communities, where children have always been at the centre of every decision and action. I began my leadership journey as Head of English, before progressing to wider roles as Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning, and more recently as Vice Principal at St Mary’s College, Hull – an outstanding school with a strong record of excellence. One truth has remained constant: when we combine high expectations, expert teaching, and genuine care, all children can flourish. This belief drives my leadership and is the philosophy I am committed to bringing to this role.
Woldgate is a school with a distinct vision for education. Our view of an outstanding school is based on shared values, where every child is known and cared for as an individual. To cultivate this, we build a supportive and caring community, where a child’s talents can grow through academic study and the opportunity to participate in the many activities, productions and visits that make Woldgate School unique. We are a school with a positive, welcoming, warm atmosphere, in which pupils take pride in their achievements and where each individual pupil achieves academically through consistently good teaching, in an environment that seeks to nurture their love of learning and challenges them to excel.
Founded in 1958, Woldgate’s original school motto celebrated the distinct education the school sought to bring. This motto is, for me, an integral part of our school life; it defines who we are as a community.
“Everything you do should be worthy, of great merit, character and value.”
Of great merit:
The quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially deserving of praise or reward.
Of great character:
The moral qualities that define an individual.
Of great value:
The principles or standards of conduct we work to; our judgment of what is important in life including the British Values of Democracy, Individual Liberty, Respect and Tolerance and the Rule of Law.
I truly believe that part of what makes this community so special is the Holistic Education we provide for our pupils. Our extra-curricular clubs, sporting activities, the arts and House competitions, combined with our wonderful visits programme, provide pupils with a unique opportunity to appreciate the world around them. I have long believed that the creative arts provide an exceptional platform upon which pupils can develop new skills, grow in confidence and, as people, develop qualities, in an environment where their talents are nurtured and then celebrated. This holistic approach to school life, for me, is integral to a good education and wonderful preparation for future life.
In 2017 and 2019 Woldgate School was presented with an ‘Outstanding Outcomes Award’ from the SSAT for our academic results. Achievements such as these are testament to the hard work and dedication of pupils, parents and teachers, and they draw upon a combination of academic rigour, pastoral care of the highest quality, excellent teaching and learning, complemented by structures that monitor progress and intervene to provide individual support for each and every pupil.
As we look to the future, I am absolutely committed to ensuring Woldgate School continues to develop with a clear, confident and strong identity based on shared values and with each pupil known and cared for as an individual. Our culture of collaboration and success will be matched by our determination to do the very best, both pastorally and academically, for the children in our care.
- A School where each child is known and cared for as an individual.
- An environment in which our pupils feel valued, safe and enjoy school.
- A School where every child is challenged and supported to succeed academically.
I would encourage you to speak to our current parents, download our Ofsted Parent View page, our recent Ofsted Report and, of course, visit our school.
Mrs Lauren Adams
Headteacher