Aston University Engineering Academy and Sixth Form hold the key University Technical College ethos of education through a business environment, influenced and supported by our linked employers.
Skills and Attributes.
Our values focus on the skills and attributes each of our students should obtain with us to ensure that they maximise their progress and progression to University, Apprenticeships and Employment.
Our Core Values.
Students are trained from day one to be effective learners and all lessons are constructed to drive our Core values
The ethos for our learning community is built upon our core values (7 R’s) of:
- Resilience
- Resourcefulness
- Reflectiveness
- Reciprocity
- Role Model
- Readiness
- Respectfulness
Resilience.
The emotional aspects of learning - Feeling
Absorption
Being able to lose yourself in learning - becoming absorbed in what you are doing: rapt and attentive in a state of flow.
Managing Distraction
Recognising and reducing distractions: knowing when to walk away and refresh yourself. Creating your own best environment for learning.
Noticing
Perceiving subtle nuances, patterns and details in experience.
Perseverance
Keeping going on in the face of difficulties, channelling the energy of frustration productively. Knowing what a slow and uncertain process learning often is.
Resourcefulness.
The cognitive aspects of Learning - Thinking
Questioning
Asking questions of yourself and others. Being curious and creative with ideas. Diving beneath the surface of things.
Making Links
Seeing connections between disparate events and experiences. Building patterns and weaving a web of understanding.
Imagining
Using your imagination and intuition to put yourself through new experiences.
Reasoning
Calling up your logical and rational skills to work things out methodically and rigorously. Constructing good arguments and spotting the flaws in others.
Capitalising
Drawing on the full range of resources from the wider world, e.g. people, books, past experience and future opportunities.
Reflectiveness.
The strategic aspects of Learning - Managing
Planning
Thinking about where you are going, the action you are going to take, the time and resources that you may need and the obstacles.
Revising
Being flexible, changing your plans in the light of different circumstances, monitoring and reviewing how things are going and seeing new opportunities.
Distilling
Looking at what is being learned - pulling out the essential features.
Meta-Learning
Knowing yourself as a learner - how you learn best; how to talk about the learning process.
Reciprocity.
The social aspects of Learning - Relating
Interdependence
Knowing when it’s appropriate to learn on your own or with others, and being able to stand your ground in debate.
Collaboration
Knowing how to manage yourself in a team, respecting and recognising other viewpoints: adding to and drawing from the strength of teams.
Empathy & Listening
Listening to them to understand what they are really saying, and putting yourself in their shoes.
Imitation
Constructively adopting methods, habits or values from other people whom you observe.
Role Model.
The Leadership aspects of Learning - Demonstrating
Responsibility
Thinking about the things you could take responsibility for both individually and as a group.
Mentoring
Supporting and encouraging others to manage their own learning in order that they maximise their own potential and improve performance.
Service
Volunteering your time to support others and the community. Giving back.
Inspiring
Inspiring others to follow your example or uptake opportunities they would not have otherwise done.
Readiness.
The career prospects of Learning - Preparing
Employability Skills
Gaining high standards in Communication and Literacy, Application of Numeracy and effective use of ICT.
Work Related Learning
Maximising opportunities to gain industry related knowledge and skills both in lessons and via direct work experience.
Self Management
Working well under pressure by being organised, efficient and demonstrating the ability to meet deadlines.
Problem Solving
Analysing facts and circumstances and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.
Independence
Directing your learning into new areas and extending your thinking. Going beyond what is expected of you.
Respectfulness.
The courteous aspects of Learning - Understanding
Religious Awareness
Understanding and tolerance of other people's faiths and beliefs.
Self Esteem
Understanding you - ensuring you respect yourself, your body and your opportunities. Promoting self confidence.
Good Manners
Being courteous and polite to others at all times. Acting in a socially acceptable manner.
Understanding Others
Being sensitive to and accepting other people's feelings, race, sexual orientation, and lifestyles.