What is ethos?

Ethos is defined as the characteristic spirit of a community, as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. Our characteristic spirit or ethos permeates every interaction, influences our decision making and guides our plans and policies.  The ethos of our school impacts strongly on the kind of education delivered to our pupils through the values, attitudes and quality of relationships experienced daily. At METNS our ethos follows the four guiding principles of the Educate Together Charter:

• equality based
• co-educational
• child-centred
• democratically run

What is unique about ET schools?

• We have signed up to deliver an education in this particular context, i.e. we are obliged to translate these principles into our mission.
• Ethical education is a process that continues throughout school life and, as such, is a shared responsibility between parents, staff and members of the school community.
• As a learning community, while we share this collective responsibility our roles as staff/ parents are complimentary but different. The key to success is communication and co-operation.
• The Learn Together ethical education curriculum is taught in place of religious instruction in our school. There are four strands in the Learn Together curriculum:
  • Moral and Spiritual
  • Equality and Justice
  • Belief Systems
  • Ethics and the Environment