Mill Hill Primary School joined Areté Learning Trust in March 2023 and works closely with Trust colleagues at Richmond School & Sixth Form College, Stokesley School & Sixth Form College and Northallerton School & Sixth Form College. As a Trust, we are one organisation, united in a common purpose but respectful of the unique nature of each of the schools and the communities we serve. We collaborate in a number of ways focused always on school improvement, the most effective use of resources and providing the best possible experience of learning for our students.
We were delighted to welcome Mill Hill Primary School into our Trust in March 2023. Mill Hill is a highly inclusive and positive place to work and learn in and brings much to our Trust which is beneficial to pupils and staff alike.
Our Trust’s name Arete was chosen because of the values represented by the Greek word ἀρετή which encapsulates striving for excellence, fulfilling our purpose and becoming the best we can be: it is associated in mythology with bravery, with generosity of spirit and with moral courage, as well as with achievement – aspirations we hold dear for all students in our Areté Learning Trust schools.
The concept of Areté implies that as individuals and as a community, our actions matter: in a complex world, human value and meaning can be judged by our contribution, our efforts, behaviours and self-improvement. The word is analogous to deep learning – the pursuit of knowledge, in terms of self-awareness as well as academic study: the belief that studying is the highest form of happiness is particularly appropriate for our schools.
Our shared vision is that every child, whatever his or her circumstances and starting point, has unique skills and qualities and given the support, encouragement, opportunity and challenge to achieve, can do so. It is our task to create a context for them to thrive, academically, personally and socially, to experience the real joy of learning, as well as preparing them for the adult world.
I am delighted to have Mill Hill Primary School in our Trust and have been privileged to meet many supportive parents, work with the staff and pupils and to share in so many wonderful experiences, which showcase the qualities and talents of the young people and their teachers.