Aims and Ethos
Welcome to the Arete Partnership website.
The word ‘Arete’ was originally bound up with the Classical notion of the fulfilment of purpose, the act of living up to one's full potential.
The Arete Partnership was established between Gordon’s School and Woking High School in June 2015 with a commitment to providing opportunities for our staff and students discover and develop their talents and interests to the highest standard possible, to lead healthy lives and to make a positive difference to the lives of others. Such people are more likely to enjoy well-being and lead happier lives. In 2023 the partnership welcomed Robert May's School, Odiham and Blenheim High School, Epsom.
The partnership schools work together in the spirit of collaboration and innovation to:
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improve pedagogy and practice
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provide high quality nationally endorsed and bespoke educational training and enterprise. This is available within the partnerships and beyond, for staff and students
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create opportunities for students to work and compete together.
In all that we do, there is a shared belief that how we act is as important as what we achieve. Character matters. We expect staff and students to behave with courtesy, diligence, enthusiasm, resilience and have the integrity to uphold fundamental British Values, every day.
As we look to the future, we invite you to involve yourselves in our outreach programmes, such as the ILM qualifications and hope that our website will encourage you to contact us for further details.
Partner Schools
Gordon's School
We are an Ofsted Outstanding State Boarding School based in West End, Woking.
Our primary aim is to develop in all our students the confidence, character and capabilities to become the best they can be.
Our students discover and develop their talents and interests to the highest standard possible and go on to lead fulfilled lives, enjoy healthy lifestyles and make a positive contribution to the lives of others. Such students lead happier lives.
Robert May's School
Robert May's School is a coeducational secondary school with academy status, located in the village of Odiham, Hampshire. Proudly serving the local community since 1694, we are a community seeking excellence for all.
In 1694, Robert May, a local merchant, donated money for the purpose of educating twenty-five boys to be taught at the school. This act of philanthropy set in motion a school which has had a long and vibrant journey to become the high-achieving comprehensive it is today. Our aim is to continue the work of our Founder, to strengthen his legacy and to be both the anchor and kite for the community we serve.
Woking High School
Woking High School is proud to be a highly successful and popular 11-16 academy serving the needs of our community. Woking High School provides each and every student with the opportunity to flourish and succeed in an inspiring, academically challenging and nurturing environment.
We offer an exceptional, holistic education enabling all our students to achieve the very highest standards in all aspects of school life. Our strong core values enable our students to achieve even more than they thought possible.
Blenheim High School
Blenheim is a dynamic, innovative and supportive secondary school in Epsom.
Blenheim revolves around a growth mindset where all members of the school community are expected to value and develop the characteristics of hard work, resilience, innovation and improvement. There is a constant expectation of ‘wanting to get better’.
As a community, with British values at its heart, we strive to ensure that Blenheim students are afforded every opportunity to reach their potential both inside and outside the classroom and students are actively encouraged to be the best version of themselves every day.
Vision
Purpose
Our purpose is to provide an environment and structure within which affiliated schools can better achieve their common aim to provide every child with a thorough preparation for life and maximise staff development. Emerging evidence suggests that it is networks and an evidence-led profession that are creating the kinds of environments in which schools can respond to the challenge in education and wider society and develop healthier communities for all.
For this reason the partnership seeks not to be an exclusive arrangement between schools but to bring together secondary and primary schools, higher education institutions and local businesses under the common principles of innovation, sustainability and cooperation on areas of mutual interest. Affiliations already established by partner schools will continue and only strengthen the activities and impact of the partnership. The partnership is not hierarchical, has no legally binding structure and is designed to facilitate the meeting of equals on areas of mutual interest through a Memorandum of Understanding. The strength of the partnership is in its equality and the attraction of engaging in ideas and activities that, through collaboration, are more richly delivered to the benefit of more young people, leading to better life chances for all.
Expectations
The partnership seeks to bring like-minded schools together and has ambition to increase the number of partner schools as opportunities allow. To this end schools that join the partnership are expected to have the following characteristics:
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Be non-selective.
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Place academic rigour at the heart of their teaching and learning practice.
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Insist on high expectations of staff and students with regard to aspiration, behaviour and contribution to wider school and community life.
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Committed to character education and developing key attributes that equip pupils to make the best of their talents and make good choices in life.
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Provide a thorough preparation for life through a wide range of spiritual, moral, social, cultural, intellectual, vocational, emotional and physical experiences.
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A place where pupils enjoy learning and teachers enjoy teaching.
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Committed to high quality staff development for both teachers and non-teachers within the school.
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Value selflessness, the well-being of their communities, the flourishing of individuals and families.
