4.1 Identify ethos, mission, aims and values of an educational setting

This. guide will help you answer 4.1 Identify ethos, mission, aims and values of an educational setting.

When working in a school or other educational environment, it is important to know the ethos, mission, aims and values of the setting. These four elements guide how the organisation works, the way staff behave, and the standards learners are expected to meet. They also influence policies, teaching methods and the way the school community interacts.

In this guide, we will look at each term. This will help you to identify them in your own workplace, understand their role, and see how they link to your day-to-day duties in supporting teaching and learning.

What is Ethos?

Ethos describes the character, spirit and culture of an educational setting. It reflects the overall atmosphere and the way people are expected to behave towards one another. Ethos can be felt the moment you enter a school. It shapes how staff talk to learners, how learners act towards each other, and how relationships are built.

In practice, ethos can be shown through:

How staff greet and interact with learners
How behaviour is managed
How the school celebrates achievements
The expectations for inclusion and respect
The approach to discipline and fairness

For example, a school with an inclusive ethos will encourage all staff and learners to show respect for different cultures, abilities and backgrounds. This might be seen in classroom displays, the choice of resources, and the way diversity is discussed and celebrated.

Ethos is not just a written statement; it is a lived experience. It is reinforced by daily routines, language used in communication, and how people respond to challenges.

What is Mission?

The mission of an educational setting is a clear statement that describes its core purpose. It tells you why the organisation exists and what it tries to achieve overall. A mission statement is usually short, memorable and written in a way that inspires the community.

Examples of mission statements include:

“To provide a safe and supportive environment where every learner can reach their potential.”
“To prepare learners for life by promoting academic success and personal development.”

A mission statement can guide decision-making. For example, if a school’s mission is to support personal growth alongside academic learning, it may choose enrichment activities and mentoring schemes to develop social skills and confidence as well as subject knowledge.

Understanding the mission will help you align your work to the school’s broad purpose. It will remind you why certain priorities are set and why policies are shaped in a certain way.

What are Aims?

Aims are broad goals that show what the educational setting wants to achieve in the long term. They are linked to the mission but give more detail. Aims often cover both academic and personal development. They give direction to school improvement plans and influence the curriculum.

Common examples of school aims include:

To help all learners achieve high academic standards
To promote positive attitudes to learning
To develop learners’ confidence and independence
To encourage respect for self, others and the environment
To prepare learners for life in modern society

Aims set the direction for everyone in the school. They help staff make choices that support agreed priorities. For example, if one aim is to build independence in learning, staff may plan activities that encourage self-directed study or problem-solving.

Your role in supporting teaching and learning will often connect directly to these aims. For instance, helping a group of pupils to understand how to work responsibly on their own links to the aim of developing independence.

What are Values?

Values are the principles and ideals that guide behaviour in the educational setting. They act as a moral compass for staff and learners. Values are often linked to qualities such as honesty, respect, kindness and fairness.

A school’s values may include:

Respect for self and others
Tolerance and appreciation of diversity
Trustworthiness and honesty
Responsibility and self-discipline
Cooperation and teamwork

Values are often discussed in assemblies, displayed on walls, or referred to in lessons. They can be taught through social and emotional learning programmes. They are reinforced by rewards for positive behaviour and by how adults act as role models.

When values are clearly promoted, they influence the whole school climate. Staff and learners start to show those values without being reminded. For example, if kindness is a value, pupils may naturally help each other without being told.

How These Elements Link

Ethos, mission, aims and values work together as part of a school’s identity. They are not separate ideas but connect to create a shared vision.

The mission is the main statement of purpose.
The aims break down that purpose into long-term goals.
The values define how everyone should behave while meeting those goals.
The ethos is how all of these are experienced in everyday life.

For example, if a school’s mission is “to nurture confident learners who respect others”, an aim might be “to provide opportunities for collaborative learning and leadership”. Values linked to this could include cooperation, responsibility and respect. The ethos would be an environment where learners feel safe, encouraged and able to participate fully.

In your role, you can support these by modelling the values, helping learners work towards aims, and contributing to a positive ethos through your behaviour and professional approach.

Ways to Identify These in Your Setting

If you are unsure what your school’s ethos, mission, aims and values are, there are several practical ways to find them:

Read the school prospectus or handbook
Check the school’s website, especially the “About Us” section
Look at policy documents such as the behaviour or equality policy
Notice the language and themes in assemblies and events
Observe how staff and learners interact daily
Listen to how leaders talk about the school’s purpose in meetings

Display boards or posters often show values. Your induction training may have included this information, but it is useful to revisit it and see how it works in practice.

Examples from Different Types of Settings

Primary School

A primary school might have a mission “To inspire a love of learning from the earliest years”. Aims might include high standards in literacy and numeracy, strong links with parents, and a safe and supportive environment. Values could include respect, curiosity and kindness. The ethos could be warm, encouraging and focused on each child’s individual progress.

Secondary School

A secondary school might have a mission “To prepare students for adult life through academic achievement and personal growth”. Aims could include a broad curriculum, good career guidance, and opportunities for leadership. Values might be respect, perseverance and responsibility. The ethos could be one of high expectations with strong pastoral support.

Special School

A special school might have a mission “To provide personalised learning that promotes independence and self-worth for all learners”. Aims may include developing practical life skills, increasing communication ability, and building confidence. Values might be patience, inclusion and respect for individuality. The ethos might be one of understanding and celebration of each learner’s achievements.

Why It Matters to Your Role

Knowing the ethos, mission, aims and values means you can work in line with the organisation’s expectations. It helps you:

Support the teacher’s plans and activities in the right way
Interact with learners in a way that reflects the school’s values
Make choices in your work that match the school’s aims
Contribute to a consistent approach across the team

For example, if promoting independence is a key aim, you might encourage learners to try tasks on their own before asking for help. If respect is a core value, you will model respectful language at all times.

Linking to Policies and Procedures

Policies in schools are often based on the mission, aims and values. For example:

A Behaviour Policy might link to values like respect and responsibility
A Curriculum Policy may reflect aims of high academic achievement
An Equality Policy will link to an ethos of inclusion and fairness

By recognising these links, you can see why certain rules or routines are in place. It also helps when explaining to learners why a policy exists.

Personal Reflection

It can be helpful to reflect on how your own values match those of your school. Think about questions such as:

Which of the school’s values do I already show in my work?
Are there any I could focus on more?
How do I contribute to the school’s aims each day?
Does my behaviour help create the ethos the school promotes?

This reflection can strengthen your professional practice and make your contribution more positive.

Impact on Learners

When ethos, mission, aims and values are clear and practiced:

Learners know what is expected
There is a sense of belonging
Behaviour is more positive
Achievement can improve because everyone pulls in the same direction

If these are unclear or not followed, it can lead to confusion, mixed messages, and lower standards of behaviour or achievement.

Role of Leadership

School leaders play a big part in establishing and promoting ethos, mission, aims and values. They communicate these clearly to staff, learners and families. They model the expected values and hold others to them. They make strategic choices in line with the mission and aims.

As part of the wider team, your support helps keep the vision alive in daily routines and small interactions, which over time build the culture of the school.

Observing the Ethos in Action

If you spend time in different parts of the school, you might notice evidence of the ethos. For example:

Lively conversation and participation in lessons show active engagement
Displays with children’s work show pride in achievement
Clear routines at break times show a value for safety and respect
Celebrations of festivals from different cultures show inclusion

These observations can confirm that the ethos is real, not just words on a page.

Final Thoughts

Ethos, mission, aims and values are the backbone of any educational setting. They guide decisions, shape behaviour, and give everyone a shared purpose. As a member of staff, recognising and working in line with these makes your contribution stronger and more consistent with the rest of the team.

When you understand these aspects, you can see how your daily duties connect to the bigger picture. You can help create an environment where learners feel safe, respected and motivated. That benefits the whole school community and supports every child in reaching their potential.