Our Vision & Values - Active Citizenship
Our vision is that students who attend Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich will leave us with the Master Key to their future, giving them the opportunity to open any doors they encounter on their journey in life.
They will do this by achieving excellent academic outcomes which we know open doors to further education and employment.
However, we would be failing our young people if we cared just about outcomes, and our vision is so much more than this. We want students to develop as Active Citizens who make a positive impact in their local community. We want students to develop our Active Citizens characteristics and leave us as good young men, and in our Sixth Form, as role models for others.
We are in a position of real privilege and if we can raise the next generation of leaders in our local community, on a national scale or even get someone to go on to have a positive influence on a global level, that would be a great achievement. Why can’t the next Prime Minister, the person who cures cancer or the person who grows up to support their family and raise more children in the right way in the future, be someone who attended Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich.
We want to be the number choice for students in our local area as people buy-in to the values and uphold. We care so much about our local community and I am honoured to make the positive impact we do.
Chris Brett, Principal
The school’s work to develop pupils’ character is exceptional." Ofsted, November 2023
What is 'Active Citizenship'?
‘Active Citizenship’ is a vital part of the ‘Master Key’ that will unlock opportunities to students in future.
Active Citizenship is about students becoming better people and making a difference to their community on a local, national and global scale. Being an Active Citizen means:
- Caring about the local community and wanting to make it a better place
- Embracing Fundamental British Values
- Taking responsibility for our own actions
- Understanding our rights; freedom of speech, press and religion
- Wanting to make a difference and have a say through democracy
- Knowing about the nature of justice in the UK
- Believing in championing Equality and Diversity
- Understanding Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural ideas about the world we live in
How do we become Active Citizens?
We help students develop the five key character traits that are essential to becoming an Active Citizen.
Confidence
Believe in your own ability to succeed and chase your dreams.
Curiosity
Ask challenging questions and do not accept everything you are told.
Respect
Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.
Resilience
Do not shy away from challenges and always come back from failure stronger.
Ambition
Desire to be successful and achieve what you want – no excuses.
