At Sherwood High, the most lasting lessons are often the ones not written on the board.

Beyond the structured syllabi and formal assessments, there exists another curriculum — one that is neither timetabled nor graded, yet quietly shapes every student who walks our corridors. At Sherwood High, we call it the hidden curriculum. And while it may not be found in textbooks, its presence is unmistakable.

It reveals itself in the pauses — the moments between lessons — when a student picks up a fallen book that isn’t theirs. When someone slides over on a bench so another can sit. When a child gives space to a differing opinion, not because they agree, but because they understand respect. These are the unscripted lessons. Learned by example. Lived by habit.

At Sherwood High, we observe how this hidden curriculum is woven into everyday interactions. It is in the way students listen — not merely to respond, but to understand. It is in how they navigate conflict with grace, or how they instinctively include the quietest voice in a group task. These are not skills one memorises. They are dispositions cultivated over time — through observation, through culture, through care.

This invisible curriculum teaches more than social behaviour. It teaches discernment. Humility. Empathy. The ability to step forward when needed, and to step aside when someone else deserves the moment. It reminds our students that doing the right thing is most meaningful when no one is watching — and most powerful when it becomes second nature.

At Sherwood High, we believe education must extend beyond academic excellence. It must prepare students to live thoughtfully, act responsibly, and lead with conscience. And so, while we value performance, we also pay close attention to personhood — to the many quiet choices that reveal strength of character.

So, the next time your child shares a story from their day — a small moment, almost an afterthought — pause. It may just be a glimpse of the hidden curriculum at work. And in that glimpse, you will see the deeper learning Sherwood High holds dear.