A values-led education

Student chatting with classmate

Quaker ethos

130 years ago Leighton Park was founded on Quaker principles that today are considered best educational practice for any school; respect, integrity, simplicity, equality, peace, truth, and sustainability.

Quakers call these principles “testimonies” and do their best to live by them, actively living out their values rather than obeying a set of beliefs. They recognise no barriers of colour, class, or gender and are accepting of those of all religions or none. Quakers believe in the immense potential of each individual.

Picture from 1890 at Leighton Park

Giving our values currency and purpose

Leighton Park leads the UK for its commitment to outreach and partnership work, winning the prestigious national Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for Outstanding Community Involvement in 2021 and 2020, the only time a school has won an ISA award two years running.

Developing kind and compassionate leaders for the future is an important part of how we give our Quaker values currency and purpose. Our mutually beneficial partnerships with community and educational organisations give us insight, strength and courage to look within and strive for a fairer, better society.

Read more about our outreach work +

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Leighton Park stands against everything to do with discrimination, exclusion, harassment, bullying and hatred in whatever form it takes, actively promoting fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance.  Leighton Park seeks to be a leading school in this regard, which delights in being diverse, open-minded and with a culture of equitable inclusion. Leighton Park is a place where everyone is respected, yet we recognise that tolerance is but a step on the journey to acceptance and celebration. We aspire to do our best by remaining agile and not complacent about the barriers and challenges to inclusion that can arise over time in schools and wider society.

Our seven Quaker values embody our commitment to the well-being of our School community and in particular, we seek to safeguard and support people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act (2010).  We also pledge to uphold the rights of all diverse young people not to be discriminated against as enshrined in Article 2 of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We encourage applications from young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and others who would benefit from the transformative impact of our full bursaries.

If you have ideas to share with the Leighton Park Equality. Diversity and inclusion Steering Group or would like to discuss equalities, diversity and inclusion at Leighton Park, please contact our Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Shaun Dellenty at shaundellenty@leightonpark.com

Quaker roots

Although only a small number of students and staff are Quakers, it is our Quaker roots to which we owe our forward-thinking approach to education. These values provide the foundation for some of the long-standing, distinctive aspects of Leighton Park life, such as our holistic curriculum, the value placed on individuality, our strong sense of community and the collective moments of silence that punctuate the school day, offering students a much-needed opportunity for reflection.

An academic paper from Bristol University evaluating the Quaker approach to education in 2016 concluded: “Quaker schools are authentically Quaker. It is clear that the shared Quaker values translate into a learning environment in which students feel they are respected and listened to. This in turn helps to create positive relationships with teachers which results in a greater orientation towards ‘deep-learning’.”

Notable Quakers

The Obama family sent their daughters to a Quaker school and some better known Quakers include the actress Judi Dench and the confectioner John Cadbury, whose family helped establish the School in 1890. The inimitable James Dean was raised in a Quaker family. The Quakers won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.

Decorative stone work at Leighton Park

"It remains a Quaker-run school as the majority of governors are Quakers and, although no member of the Friends remains on the staff and only penny numbers of pupils are Quakers, the school lives by and exudes those gentle, civilised and socially responsible values. Few who leave here take nothing of those with them, and many see them as a guide for a healthy life."

Good Schools Guide

Our Quaker roots
Take a look +

It is our Quaker roots to which we owe our forward-thinking approach to education, hear Faye talk about her experience.

Hear what other students and parents say +
Play
Faye talking about the Quaker values

related articles

November 18, 2021

Four Primary Schools Meet the Author: Steve Cole +

We were delighted to welcome four local primary schools to Leighton Park on Thursday 18th November to meet our Patron of reading and popular children’s author, Steve Cole, during National … Read More +

November 17, 2021

Undertaking Ethical Audits at Local Businesses +

On Wednesday 10th November, the Business and Economics Department met with two local companies creating solutions to the contemporary issues faced by organisations today. After working with the visiting professionals … Read More +

November 16, 2021

COP in the Curriculum +

As the curriculum continues to reflect the topical issue of environmentalism, across the course of COP, subject departments have come together to show the collective impact that education plays in … Read More +

How can we help?

Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.

Shinfield Road
Reading
Berkshire, UK
RG2 7DE
+44 (0) 118 987 9600
schooloffice@leightonpark.com
Request a prospectus Arrange a visit Make an application
Contact Us
I agree with your terms & conditions and privacy policy *
I would like to receive updates from Leighton Park, including updates about upcoming events