Foundation and Ethos
Our Foundation
Claremont Fan Court School is owned and run by an educational foundation with charitable status. The School was established to provide an education of the highest order inspired by the principles of Christian Science.
Like many independent schools we began from small but very important foundations. The first families in the then separate girls’ school were Christian Scientists who wished to establish a school that espoused the seeing of good in all. Those parents wanted an education that rested upon a ‘spiritual basis, but its effect was to meet the human need’. They wanted their daughters to be pushed along a path of self discovery, to value strong morals in their children’s education but also to express their individualities and abilities through independence in their learning.
Several teachers who were Christian Scientists established Fan Court, a boys’ preparatory school, in Chertsey. They chose ‘Be Strong’ as the School motto. An early Headmaster said:
‘We like to think of our boys as going out into the world feeling themselves greatly beloved of God, unafraid, at peace with themselves and their neighbours, and spiritually strong.'
Both schools emphasised each child’s ‘God-given potential,’ a principle that continues to guide the ethos and teaching within the School. From 1978, we have been coeducational on this site as Claremont Fan Court School whilst maintaining a strong English tradition.
The Christian Science Church
Although the School has no formal connection with the Christian Science Church, you can find out more about Christian Science on the Church website. If you have any questions, you may find that visiting a Christian Science Reading Room can provide answers. The Reading Room in Esher High Street is the closest one to the School.
The School teaches religious education classes that are multi faith in nature and study religious thought from the major world religions. We use the Anglican Church in Esher for our Christmas service.
Our Mission
Character qualities underpin the moral education at this school and contribute to the atmosphere of this school in which your child will thrive. The Mission Statement guides the ethos of the School and is a primary document for all who work at the School:
- To provide an environment where the God-given potential of every individual is recognised and valued. With this recognition comes the expectation of high personal achievement and moral standards and a developing awareness of our individual responsibility to each other and our world.
- To maintain a broad and forward-looking curriculum in which pupils are encouraged to think independently to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
- To encourage our pupils to awaken to all that is good and true around and within them in their spiritual journey of self- discovery.
- To equip our pupils with a strong set of values for future decision making.
- The following values are fundamental to everything we do:
Courtesy Respect Trust Moral integrity Self discipline Love for God and man.
- To promote the role of the family by developing a strong interaction with the home.