Pate’s is a unique and special place to learn. This doesn’t happen by accident. We take a holistic view of learning, emphasising the rewards of deep understanding of the subject, instilling a love of learning and its challenges. We aim to cultivate in our students lifelong skills of aspiration and resilience, setting challenging but manageable tasks and using appropriate praise to build pupil self-esteem. We ask students to see failure as a key part of the learning journey. Students and staff alike are encouraged to take risks and to try new things, to be creative, solve problems and to inspire others around them. We recognise the importance of metacognition and reflection, and we encourage students to use a wide range of thinking approaches. We have high expectations of staff and students alike; our students are encouraged to take responsibility, articulate views, ask questions and lead their peers. Collaboration, feedback and support also sit at the heart of our ‘Pate’s Learning Framework’, our community’s agreed definition of world class learning that sits visibly in every classroom. 

Learning is not, however, restricted to the classroom environment; our students equally develop their skills in the broader contexts of co-curricular activities and self-study. We do not believe in setting homework for the sake of it, but instead, when the time is right and when it helps pupils make progress in their learning, whether that be in their knowledge, skills and understanding or in their own personal growth. Please take the time to read our Homework Philosophy. 

For students looking for stretch and challenge in a particular area, our Broadening Horizons Booklet (KS3)and Broadening Horizons Booklet (KS4 & 5) facilitate independent research and enquiry at the highest level. Please do take the opportunity to explore further the ‘Academic’ and ‘Co-Curricular’ pages of our website, which outline the many varied learning opportunities that are available to pupils at Pate’s. There can be few schools where learning is perceived by staff and students alike to be quite so much fun. 

In July 2022, Pate’s was delighted to be re-accredited as a High Performance Learning (HPL) World Class School in recognition of our learning ethos. This award recognises those at the forefront of educational thinking, highlighting some of the very best schools in the world. HPL’s Founder and CEO, Professor Deborah Eyre said: “I am absolutely delighted to confer HPL World Class Award Status upon Pate’s Grammar School. This recognises Pate’s commitment to embedding HPL as part of the school’s DNA, as part of its quest to develop world-class learners. Their adoption of HPL, building on past success, is ensuring that Pate’s students are impressive and flexible learners, who I have no doubt will leave Pate’s college-, career- and life-ready.”