ISI Inspection Comments Donhead is a purposeful school, which successfully fulfils its stated aims and clearly reflects its Jesuit foundation. Pupils’ spiritual development is extremely good and it is evident in all age groups. This is a ‘prayerful school’, where opportunities to pray and reflect calmly occur regularly. Pupils are courteous and well-mannered and have learned to recognise and respect other’s views and values, and treat one another kindly.   Pupils show a strong appreciation of moral values.

Donhead is a Jesuit school. The Jesuits are members of a religious order in the Catholic Church known as the Society of Jesus, founded in 1540 by St Ignatius Loyola. From the first the Jesuits were involved in the education of young people. 

A Jesuit Education:

• Believes in the total formation of each individual within the human community
• Insists on individual care and concern for each person and emphasises the importance of pastoral care
• Emphasises activity on the part of the student
• Encourage life-long openness to growth
• Proposes Christ as the model of human life
• Celebrates faith in personal and community prayer, worship and service
• Seeks to form ‘men and women for others’
• Serves a faith that promotes justice
• Manifests particular concern for the poor

The spirit which animates us here at Donhead is a spirit of generosity:

• Generosity in hard work
• Generosity towards each other
• Generosity in the service of those who need us most

This too is the spirit of the Jesuits and is summed up in St Ignatius’ Prayer of Generosity:

“Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous, teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to seek reward, except that of knowing that I do you will.”

Mission Statement

1. To follow Christ as the model for human life.
2. To weave prayer and worship through the school day.
3. To welcome and include everyone.
4. To care for everyone.
5. To value community
6. To respect everyone.
7. To help those who need our help most.
8. To strive for excellence in all things.
9. To celebrate the gifts and talents of everyone.
10. To respect our environment.

Chaplaincy

At the heart of our educational mission is the Jesuit ideal of finding God in all things. All that we do at Donhead reflects that commitment and is expressed in the enthusiasm and generosity with which staff and pupils actively seek to build a community of shared faith, in which individuals are valued for what they are. All this is encapsulated in the Jesuit motto ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’ which translates as ‘To the Greater Glory of God’.

Ignatian Spirtuality is at the heart of all that we do at Donhead. It may be visible through our liturgical celebrations, Religious Education Programme, retreats, chaplaincy services and, most importantly, in the everyday moments. Igantian Spirituality is a spirituality of service and as such it is a lived experience which characterises the way we show love, respect and strive to do our best.

Non Catholic pupils and pupils of other faiths and their families are warmly invited to share in our worship and to make their own valued contributions in our spiritual journey. Opportunities exist for daily prayer and the celebration of the Mass is regularly available. 

We hope that the pupils and staff live out their faith by the way in which they conduct themselves as they go about their daily business at Donhead. As a result, the school is a living and caring extended family, ready to help others within the school or in the wider world. 

Chaplaincy support is provided by the Jesuit Community at Wimbledon College and Sacred Heart Parish and co-ordinated by a member of staff at Donhead.