The importance of evaluating “ethos”: What is the nature of institutional ‘experienced’ ethos and how can it be improved?

A strong and vital school ethos has the potential to raise the levels of students’ school engagement. Yet what is “ethos”? It can be described as institutional “core values, attitudes, beliefs and culture”, or, more simply, the welcome of the office staff, the positive attitudes of teachers and students, or as a “subliminal smile index.”

I will report on a new adaption of a Scottish Government initiative in my university to investigate “intended” and “experiential” ethos. My findings may not be fully generalizable, but should be a springboard for discussion about ethos where you work, whether in a high school, language school or a tertiary establishment.