Steering the ship at Bradfield School, one in every of Britain’s most revered impartial colleges, Dr Chris Stevens champions a management type deeply rooted in character growth, holistic schooling, and particular person potential.
With a sturdy legacy relationship again to 1850, Bradfield has constantly set benchmarks in educational excellence and private development, and Stevens’ ethos amplifies these values, bolstering a neighborhood the place each pupil thrives.
For Chris Stevens, schooling is greater than only a profession; it’s a calling. “Encouraging young people to develop their enquiry, to develop their character, to prepare themselves for the next stage of their life … is a privilege and a joy,” he says. With a long time of expertise throughout numerous age teams, his journey by schooling has been marked by a development from instructing people to influencing establishments. At Bradfield, this interprets right into a dedication to nurturing the “whole child,” guaranteeing that educational achievements are paralleled by private and social development.
This precept, which Stevens dubs “education for life,” is not any empty slogan. It displays Bradfield’s custom of graduating well-rounded people geared up to overcome the calls for of an unpredictable world. As Stevens places it, “Bradfield walks the walk … helping young people grow in every sense, knowledge and virtue. Neither’s optional.”
Bradfield School’s Method: Custom and Innovation
Bradfield School thrives on a fragile steadiness of custom and forward-thinking innovation. Its campus, nestled within the picturesque Berkshire countryside, affords an surroundings that Stevens describes as “beautiful, kind, and gentle,” which he believes inherently helps college students’ well-being. The verdant setting gives greater than aesthetic appeal; it encourages reflective studying away from the hustle of city life.
But, the School is much from static. Beneath Stevens’ stewardship, Bradfield has embraced progressive strategies, together with an built-in 12 months 9 curriculum that emphasises essential pondering, creativity and transferable abilities. This method displays Stevens’ perception that success lies in producing “lifelong learners” who can adapt and thrive in an period dominated by technological developments. “Being a good learner and being a lifelong learner is the key,” he asserts, stressing that schooling should put together college students for challenges they maybe can’t but foresee.
Central to Stevens’ philosophy is the cultivation of resilience — a trait he argues is greatest discovered by significant challenges and real enjoyment. “You develop resilience if you really want to be the best footballer in the school,” he explains. The persistence honed on sport fields or within the arts usually spills over into educational and private spheres, instructing college students to persevere by setbacks.
This attitude is mirrored in Bradfield’s co-curricular actions, the place college students are inspired to discover numerous pursuits. From music to athletics to volunteer work, every avenue affords alternatives for development, mastery and self-reflection. “The exposure to as many different opportunities as possible … speaks volumes to a young person,” Stevens displays, underscoring the significance of experiential studying.
Effectively-Being as a Core Worth
Bradfield’s dedication to pupil welfare is clear in its plans for a state-of-the-art wellness centre, a challenge Stevens considers important to the varsity’s mission. The centre will combine bodily and psychological well being sources, reflecting a holistic method to well-being. “Wellness is not a single building — it’s woven into everything we do,” Stevens explains.
This ethos is additional supported by Bradfield’s pastoral care system, which incorporates boarding homes designed to provide neighborhood and particular person care. The aim is obvious: create an surroundings the place college students really feel supported and revered, permitting them to succeed in their fullest potential.
Stevens’ imaginative and prescient for Bradfield extends past its gates. The college’s partnerships with native and worldwide organisations, such because the Oscar Basis in India, exemplify its dedication to world citizenship. These initiatives present college students with alternatives to interact meaningfully with numerous communities, experiencing empathy and mutual understanding. As Stevens eloquently places it, “Partnership work is anything but condescending or patronising … it’s a true meeting of equals.”
Such experiences go away indelible marks on Bradfield college students, lots of whom cite these interactions as transformative moments of their schooling. These efforts align with Bradfield’s acknowledged values of inclusivity, kindness and respect, guaranteeing that college students graduate as not solely well-educated people but in addition compassionate world residents.
Dr Chris Stevens Builds a Legacy of Excellence
Stevens’ management type is as nuanced as his philosophy. He strikes a steadiness between sustaining excessive expectations and fostering a supportive surroundings. “Higher expectations for our pupils … is fundamentally at the heart of it,” he shares. These expectations are coupled with encouragement, constructing confidence moderately than imposing stress.
This method has borne fruit: Bradfield’s exemplary examination outcomes and thriving extracurricular programmes testify to a tradition of excellence nurtured below Stevens’ steerage. Nonetheless, he stays clear that educational achievements are however one measure of success. “What personal skills and attributes do [students] have that go with those portable grades?” he asks, emphasising the broader function of schooling.
As Bradfield School continues to evolve, Dr Chris Stevens’ philosophy ensures that its core values stay steadfast.
In Stevens’ personal phrases, “It’s about helping young people grow up in every sense.” And at Bradfield School, this philosophy is way more than aspirational — it’s the inspiration of each lesson, each interplay, and each achievement.
