Reasons to Choose St Chris
St Christopher School is an independent day and boarding school for young people aged 3-18 in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire.
We’re also something unmistakably different from the moment you arrive…
St Chris is an outstanding, modern school with an important, progressive heritage.
St Chris has been - from its very inception in 1915 - acutely aware not only of the world around it, but the direction in which that world was travelling.
As the incredible transformation of the world through the 20th Century played out, we were among the first to see that humanity, understanding, kindness, and ‘progress’ must be the pillars on which education - and childhood - should stand.
A ‘progressive’ educational heritage is the unshakable emphasis on knowing and believing in each individual child for who they are.
The value of learning by doing rather than theorising from the pages of a book. The importance of working as a team, of critical thinking, and of lifelong learning.
All of this, and more, has been the beating heart of St. Chris since 1915. Others have followed us, but we are still progressing and still innovating. The flame of a progressive heritage still burns brightly in our outstanding, modern school.
We believe in a simple but powerful idea. In being open to doing things differently if - and only if - it makes things better for our students.
From a lunchtime menu to the core of our curriculum, this ‘rule’ is always applied.
A great school should be a place of restless innovation.
Of being willing and able to try ‘it’ fully prepared that ‘it’ might not work. This time. But it might if we changed ‘it’, if we worked together on
‘it’, if we explored how others across the globe had tackled the same ‘it’.
This applies as much to a four-year-old as it does a forty-four-year old; in both learning, and in shaping how that learning happens.
Suddenly ‘it’ seems very exciting - and rightly - because education should be.
In our learning we are willing to give children something of which they are often deprived – time.
Children do not all progress at the same time or at the same speed. The skill of the teacher is to create a space in which progress can and will happen.
Our young people produce phenomenal academic results because we help them to, not force them to.
There is a lovely irony that learning for intrinsic - not extrinsic - reasons often produces far better extrinsic results.
Outside the classroom we want our children to explore everything the human experience has to offer. This might be sport. It might be musical, artistic, or dramatic excellence. It might be animal husbandry. It might be Lego robotics. Co-curricular activities should build confidence in the self and make children excited to try something new throughout their lives.
We understand our privilege in society but use that understanding to fuel our service to others.
An excellent modern school is a socially responsible school. Since our inception, we have been active participants within our local community and global society. We are a community inherently aware of its position in society an understand that it is our responsibility to share what we can with those that are in need. Our students grow with the understanding of their privilege and how to use this to best serve the world around them. Service is at the heart of all that we do.
There are no unnecessary barriers to being yourself at St Chris.
You will see us for who we really are; dressed in our own clothes and not all made ‘uniform’.
You will hear us for who we really are; with first names used between staff and students to build openness and trust.
These things may seem small - they may even seem unusual - but they matter for what they mean. We’re in this together.
When barriers are taken away, and replaced with trust, incredible success often follows.
At St Chris you can dive into anything safe in the knowledge that you’ll never ‘hit the bottom’.
You’ll know someone is watching, you’ll know you’re safe, you’ll know you’ll always come back to the surface.
The adults in our community become a ‘critical friend’ to our students. They act as a ‘friend’ should - they listen but they are willing to challenge, they advocate without question but will point out mistakes where they’ve happened, they will be a safe haven whenever they are needed.
When young people have this security, they can have a true zest for life.
We believe in ‘relevant excellence’. We’re looking for excellence that means something in the real world.
Excellence by a standard that isn’t applicable to the real world isn’t really excellence at all. We’re looking for excellence that’s relevant to the world in which our children will live.
Without question, this means academic excellence, about demonstrating we can step up when challenged, and achieve the results that give
our young people ‘tickets’ to the next part of their journey. But it also means infinitely more. It means building a set of personal skills and
character traits that transcend any mark or grade. Integrity, self-awareness, the ability to listen, to lead and to be good at being led, to be
distinctly memorable as a good person.
The world no longer needs memorisers; we all have more information in the palm of our hands than our ancestors could ever have dreamed of.
The world needs self-starters, self-motivators, self-innovators. It needs problem-solvers and conflict resolvers. It needs people who care about others and can look after themselves.
Our educational philosophy is far more in tune with the global pioneers and international employers of the 21st Century than it is with rigid examination halls of the Victorian era; and we’re proud of that.
We want everyone to belong and understand the importance of fostering a strong, caring and inclusive community.
A sense of belonging and mutual respect is at the heart of everything we do, and we strive to create a nurturing space where everyone can thrive. Everyone at St Chris has a voice and one that is listened to, respected and championed.
We build on our rich heritage of student ownership and decision-making to ensure that students play an active role in the development of their school and their futures. We work best as a community.
We are committed to providing education that is practically and emotionally relevant to the world around us.
We want our young people to crackle with potential and be at peace with themselves at the same time.
We want them to achieve more than they ever thought they could and be truly happy at the same time.
We want our community to respect each other, care for each other, laugh with each other, and challenge each other; all at the same time.
St Chris is something unmistakenly different from the moment you arrive.
Those who have visited St Chris will have felt its unique atmosphere. The corridors are calm and peaceful, classrooms are bright and spacious, not overcrowded and rowdy, and you will find students and staff that are happy, fulfilled and engaged. It is not until you see the school for yourself, when you put your finger on the pulse of St Chris, that you can understand what this feels like. St Chris is a special place unlike any other. Students feel unwaveringly supported throughout their studies both academically and emotionally. Adults and young people work collaboratively for the betterment of each other.
Once you’ve experienced the St Chris culture, it’s hard to imagine how else a school should be run.
- We are committed to bringing together informed progressive attitudes and the best of modern education.
- We are committed to creating a respectful, supportive, high achieving, and happy community.
- We are committed to providing education that is practically and emotionally relevant to the world around us.
Book a visit today and come and see for yourself.
