Learning at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School is about equipping students with the knowledge, skills and experiences inside and outside the classroom which will allow them to flourish, not only in their academic studies but also in their wider lives and the relationships that they cultivate with their peers, their teachers, and beyond the school gates. With its origins in the work of Professor Guy Claxton and the work he published in his book Building Learning Power, Learning at Challoner’s encapsulates our firm belief that learning is much deeper than simply knowledge of facts and now champions five core learning habits which were agreed by students and staff which are:
Rarely do we find people who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
The best teamwork comes from people who are working independently toward one goal in unison.
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.
Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.
The principles of Learning at Challoner’s not only underpin our expectation of the attitude which students display when they come into the school each day but also our expectation for the opportunities to be presented by staff inside and outside the classroom through the broad range of co-curricular activities on offer at the school. The learning culture at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School extends to the staff too. Teachers are encouraged to engage in research activities and routinely visit colleagues’ lessons to inform their practice.
