HEAD’S WELCOME
Welcome to Lavington, a member of the Equa Trust.
Here at Lavington you will find us in a quiet, idyllic setting in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, but cross the threshold and you will find a school which is big on aspiration, and one which ensures every child is set up for a lifelong journey of learning.
Our long-standing reputation as a high achieving school is based on the consistent provision of an outstanding, holistic education to the rural community we serve. Our staff know each child as an individual and get to know and grow their talents and ambitions.
The school's ethos is one that retains traditional values around behaviour, appearance and conduct, but equally we are a forward thinking and progressive school that focus on providing the very best opportunities for all students, both inside and outside the classroom.
We will develop resilience, resourcefulness and knowledge in your children whilst maintaining the characteristics of kindness, empathy and respect in all that we do. We take pride in the secure, stable and well-ordered environment provided and make no apologies for the high expectations of all pupils.
The wellbeing of all young people is critical to their educational journey, and we have established high quality pastoral provision which ensures all students feel safe and consistently well supported.
Our students leave as confident young people; ready and well equipped for a fast changing and often challenging world. They benefit from a broad and varied range of enrichment activities and opportunities to develop leadership skills.
These range from a hugely popular Duke of Edinburgh programme to cadets, the performing arts, creative subjects and, of course, through sport. Throughout the journey with Lavington our students have access to an exciting range of visits and residential trips in both the UK and overseas.
By choosing Lavington School you are choosing a school that has a rich extra-curricular programme. However, our core purpose is to deliver the consistently high-quality teaching and education that enables our pupils to excel. We do this by providing specialist and experienced teachers who share this passion for learning. Teachers at Lavington believe passionately in their profession and this infectious drive enables us to attract the highest calibre teachers available. Our teachers pride themselves on the quality of education they deliver, day in, day out.
At Lavington School we have the highest hopes and ambitions for all our pupils, consistent with the Equa ethos - every child, every chance. The curriculum remains broad and balanced but also aspirational for all. Academic outcomes are consistently strong in core areas of Maths, English and Science where students achieve significantly above national and regional averages. The performance of students is equally strong in the diverse range of subjects offered, encompassing the creative and performing arts, design, humanities, languages, sport and social sciences.
Our link with Devizes School as a satellite sixth form is firmly established, with students staying on to continue their studies with the teachers they trust, whilst accessing a broad range of A level and Level 3 qualifications. Expectations and outcomes are, of course, high and the students who stay on are challenged to be the well-rounded learners needed to be successful in the next stage of their careers or development, whether that be at Oxbridge or Russell group universities, apprenticeships or other forms of high-quality employment and training.
Lavington’s reputation as a school of choice for our rural community is built on a foundation of strong teaching and a commitment to focussing on the things that make a difference. We ensure that these principles are shared with all that are connected to the school, no matter what. We would like to invite you to come and join our community, to learn and achieve with us.
A successful school with a supportive environment
We are proud of the achievements of our students with results and student outcomes consistently and significantly above national averages.
Our focus is not purely academic, and we deliver high quality pastoral care, SEND provision and an individual approach to support all students. We recognise the importance of students’ personal development as well as their academic progress and encourage all students to take on leadership responsibilities, and, as a result, pupils are self-assured and confident. The welfare of our students and staff is paramount and we take the safeguarding of children incredibly seriously. Students must feel safe to thrive and at Lavington we are very aware of the pressures facing young people through social media and other such external pressures. All staff within the school are committed to working with all students, whatever their ability, in an inclusive and positive environment. Whatever their role, we expect all staff to support, challenge and celebrate in your children’s achievements.
The effectiveness of the school was recognised by Ofsted in November 2017 with the school being judged as remaining ‘good’, with many considerable strengths identified. The school has a strong reputation for its successes in sport and outdoor pursuits as well as excelling in art, music and drama. Additionally, we encourage our students to support charitable causes and community projects, both within school, and the wider community.
Growing and succeeding together
From my experience of school leadership, I know that a successful and happy school depends on a strong partnership between school and home. Choosing Lavington School is an investment between all parties. A strong and shared approach is key to the individual success and happiness of every child. As a result, we try to get to know you as parents and fully involve you in your child’s education and development.
Lavington is a fantastic school in which to learn and work. However, we are consistently looking to improve what we do in order to provide the very highest quality curriculum and excellent teaching. Like the wider world, education is constantly evolving, and we prioritise innovations in teaching and improvements in our classroom practice to enhance the education we provide. As a member of the Equa Academy Trust the school is entering an exciting phase as our vision for education is supported across the trust and across our partner schools. We look forward to growing and succeeding as part of this wider community.
I hope the website provides you with the information you need and gives you a sense of the school that we are so proud of. However, please do contact us with any questions that are not covered in the information available.
Ralph Plummer
Head of School
Lavington School – every child, every chance.