Madras
College
St Andrews

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Statement of Aims
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Although the process of education must always be
responsive to change if it is to meet the demands
placed on it by a society which itself is
constantly changing, there are three broad
principles on which the aims have to be based and
these remain essentially the same.
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The first of these relates to learning
itself. Within the framework of providing
appropriate education for all, the school aims:
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(a)
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to develop the full potential of each pupil by
providing courses which:
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(i)
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give all pupils a common core of knowledge about
the key areas of human experience;
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(ii)
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cater for all levels of ability;
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(iii)
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offer a wide range of subject choice to take
account of individual interests and aptitudes.
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(b)
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to ensure that in the choice of subjects there
is no discrimination between the sexes;
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(c)
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to foster intellectual curiosity; a spirit of
enquiry and a belief in the value of learning as an
on-going process;
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(d)
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to give pupils appropriate experience of modern
technology and its impact on society;
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(e)
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to make pupils aware of social and moral
problems and of the cultural and spiritual aspects
of life;
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(f)
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to provide opportunities for pupils to acquire
skills and interests that will enable them to use
their leisure purposefully;
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(g)
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to provide systems of testing and measuring
achievement to ensure that pupils acquire the
training and qualifications nesessary for their
future careers without placing undue emphasis on
mere examination success;
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(h)
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to employ methods of teaching that combine
sensible innovation with the best of established
practice.
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The second principle is that the school
should be a caring environment.
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Here the aims are:
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(a)
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to respond sympathetically and quickly to the
needs of the individual, and provide support with
problems and difficulties;
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(b)
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to ensure that:
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(i)
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each pupil is known and valued as a person in
his or her own right;
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(ii)
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decisions affecting individuals are taken on the
basis of personal knowledge and an understanding of
what is best for each.
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(c)
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to create a climate within the school which
promotes good working relationships and from which
all pupils can derive positive attitudes and sound
values based on ideas of mutual co-operation,
toleration and consideration for others;
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(d)
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to make pupils aware of the need for rules as a
fundamental element in any organised society and
encourage them to practice codes of conduct which
seek to maintain clearly defined and generally
accepted standards;
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(e)
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to help pupils to develop personally and
socially and to acquire the self-discipline and
sense of responsibility which will enable them to
face the demands of adult life with confidence;
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(f)
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to see the school as an extension of the family
unit and to maintain close links with parents,
secure their support and understanding and ensure
their involvement in decisions about their
children.
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The third principle concerns the school's
place in the community of which it forms an
integral part.
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The aims under this heading are:
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(a)
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to encourage pupils to see the school as a model
for the larger community outside and to take proper
pride in belonging to the school and the community
it serves;
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(b)
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to encourage pupils to take an interest in the
history and traditions of the community, its
present welfare and its future development
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(c)
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to involve pupils, wherever possible, in the
life and work of the community through suitable
projects and schemes of service;
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(d)
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to promote good relationships between the school
and the community and develop close links between
the two to the mutual benefit of both
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