What is School Ethos - and Does it Matter?

28 Feb 2026
Good Schools Guide Forum
Parent Briefings
School ethos shapes everything from uniform policies to chapel attendance to how children address their teachers - but what does it actually mean for your child's education? Three heads from schools with distinctively different cultures discuss what ethos means in practice. From secular to chapel-centred, uniformed to progressive, these outstanding schools attract very different parent bodies - yet all deliver exceptional outcomes. Learn how to identify what matters most to your family.
Chairperson
Melanie Sanderson
Melanie Sanderson, Managing Editor - Good Schools Guide
Speakers
Adam Pettitt
Adam Pettitt, Head
Mark Beard
Mark Beard, Headmaster - University College School (UCS)
Kath Bransby
Kath Bransby, Education Coordinator - Waldorf UK