On behalf of our entire school community, I am delighted to welcome you to Sharlston Community School. I am incredibly proud to be the Headteacher of a school that sits at the heart of its community and where our dedicated staff share a genuine passion for our children, our families and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to SHINE.
At Sharlston, we believe that every child deserves the very best. We are a happy, friendly and ambitious school with high expectations for everyone. Our aim is simple: to provide an excellent education within a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where children are happy, feel valued and are encouraged to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Our SHINE values – Supportive, Honest, Inclusive, Nurturing and Engaged – are at the heart of everything we do. They are much more than words; they shape the way we learn, the way we behave, the way we treat one another and the young people we want our children to become. We want every child who leaves Sharlston to have the knowledge, skills, confidence and character they need to succeed in the next stage of their lives.
As Headteacher, my first priority will always be the safety, happiness and wellbeing of our children. Alongside this sits an unwavering commitment to providing the highest possible standard of education. We are a forward-thinking and reflective school, continually looking at how we can improve what we offer and ensure that our curriculum, teaching and wider opportunities enable every child to thrive.
I passionately believe that every child can achieve great things. Success, however, does not look the same for everyone. It might be solving a challenging problem in maths, reading a book independently for the first time, performing on a stage, scaling heights on a residential, crossing the finish line at sports day, communicating with somebody for the first time or simply having the confidence to try something that once seemed impossible. Whatever success looks like, our responsibility is to recognise each child’s starting point, nurture their talents and give them the encouragement, challenge and opportunities they need to achieve their very best.
This is underpinned by our highly inclusive approach, high expectations for behaviour and attendance, an ambitious and engaging curriculum and a strong commitment to the personal development of every child. We want our children to achieve academically, but equally importantly, we want them to become kind, resilient, curious and confident young people who are ready to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
One of the things I value most about Sharlston is our sense of family and community. Education is a partnership, and the strongest outcomes for children are achieved when school, families and the wider community work together. We value the relationships we have with our parents and carers and want everyone to feel that they are part of our school. My door is always open, whether that is to celebrate something that has gone well, share an idea, discuss a concern or simply have a conversation.
We are also proud to be part of the Waterton Academy Trust family of schools. Being part of the Trust provides valuable opportunities for our children and staff while allowing Sharlston to retain the identity, relationships and community spirit that make our school special.
We hope that you enjoy your visit to our website, and that you find the everything you are looking for. Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information.
Mr L Oldroyd
Headteacher
Sharlston Community School