Dhoon School has been described as “small but amazing”. Its status as a Flagship School confirms this description. With 3 mixed-year group classes, the staff at Dhoon School provide a superb experience for every one of their 79 pupils. There is a strong commitment at Dhoon School to provide the best education possible, with individuality and uniqueness celebrated by staff and pupils alike. A parent described to our assessor that “all children feel seen and included”, and this is evident from the moment you walk through the doors of the school. The physical space is used to promote inclusivity and a sense of community. Dhoon-themed weeks result in vibrant works that are displayed along corridors, promoting a sense of belonging within the local community. History and geography also play an important role in student identity. As well as communal achievement, individual achievement is celebrated at weekly assemblies that engage and encourage participation from pupils.
A key to inclusion at Dhoon School is the opportunity for younger and older children to mix and learn from each other, forming a support system built on friendship. Parents speak enthusiastically about this friendship between years, and how older and younger pupils alike benefit from this bond. The sense of school community, with everyone contributing to it, is reinforced by staff. Twice a year, pupils are brough together for special themed days to allow mixed-age group activities and camaraderie. This commitment to a whole school community was recently seen in the decision to keep one shared playground, rather than separate playgrounds for older and younger children. There was a unanimous decision to keep one communal space so that younger children can benefit from seeing role models on the playground. This sense of inclusive community was reinforced by a parent, who shared that Dhoon School is “warm, friendly, and welcoming. It gives children so much confidence; they’re asked to participate all the time and their opinion matters”.
Pupil voice plays an important role in life at Dhoon School. The Student Council is an inclusive group of Year 2 to Year 6 children, who apply annually to sit on the council. They can participate in a committee role or as a class representative. Their work plays an integral role in the school – organizing charity fun days, extra-curricular activities, competitions, and a games club. The Student Council is inclusive to its core, involving the whole school in their endeavours. A vote was held within the school as to which Christmas tree would be chosen for the season – the three potential trees were published, and an election was held to decide the winner. The importance of every single voice in the school is reinforced daily. One parent told our assessor about how the encouragement of vocalizing your opinion has allowed their child to enter secondary school with more confidence. They now feel that even if you are quieter than others, your voice is still important. The parent reinforced that “the school staff accept who a child is and let them flourish”. Plenty of opportunities are provided beyond the four walls of the classroom for students to use their voice. The Forest School provides an excellent opportunity for students to expand their horizons and show independence. When our assessor visited the school, Year 6 were discussing creating a club for younger pupils to share the craft activity they were enjoying, showing that including others is always on the minds of Dhoon School pupils.
The ‘Dhoon Values’ embody the very nature of inclusion – Happy, Kind, Ambitious, Inclusive and Honest – and the High 5 learning dispositions of Creativity, Curiosity, Independence, Determination and Collaboration form the “bedrock of every day here”, says the Head of School. From the youngest to the oldest in the school, pupils are proud of the Dhoon values and can recall how they are used throughout the school, from playtime to classrooms. When new staff arrive at the school, there is encouragement for the values to be revisited and refreshed, so that everyone feels involved in the ethos of the school and that the values are relevant. The Dhoon Values extend beyond the school, as it positions itself as a heart within the local community. The Head of the School stated that “it’s important that [the community] feel this is their school as well”. Members of the community are welcomed into the school to participate in Stitching Club, Forest School and Tag Rugby. Joint events with the Maughold Social Club, regular assemblies in the church and events put on by local commissioners are all valued by parents and the community alike.
What is clear is that Dhoon is more than just a school – it is a community. Parents note that teachers are always available at the beginning and end of the day, every day, and each child is greeted by name. There is a strong commitment to an inclusive educational environment in every aspect of school life. The pride in their school extends to families, school cooks, established and new staff, and the local community. It is the children themselves who sum up the values of Dhoon School most accurately: “no-one is left out; everyone has a place and a role. Teamwork is one of the specialities of our school”.