The Quaker ethos permeates every aspect of the school - in particular the way in which pupils and teachers relate to one another. This lends a sense of calm and a quiet pace to the working of the school that enable individuals to flourish, confident that they are valued and respected as people. Pupils have a range of opportunities, both within the curriculum and in activities, to provide them with knowledge and insight into values and beliefs important for their own development and for understanding the opinions and beliefs of other people. High quality music, art and craft abound and contribute to the personal, social and cultural development of the pupils.

What makes Bootham different?
How would you describe its distinctive character?
To answer this question we need to understand the Quaker Christian principles, which are at the very heart of the school.
The Quaker ethos eschews fashion, and a quietness - such as we have each day in Meeting - enables us to think through matters so that we can try to reach the best possible solutions to our needs.Values are not susceptible to fashion, though it is true that values can subtly change as time moves on. Quaker values of truth, hard work, peaceful resolution of conflict and the real power of love over hatred give us at Bootham a coherent touchstone for all that we do, and these values neither change nor lose their currency, however madly the world moves.
The quality most remarked on by visitors, new pupils and staff is the friendliness within the school, the importance and respect accorded to the individual, the tolerance of differences and people's openness, courtesy and honesty. The Quaker ideal of seeking out and addressing 'that of God in each person' is a difficult one at times, but continues to underpin people's progress towards unselfish responsibility. Today most staff and pupils are not Quakers themselves but it is the belief in these principles which guides and informs the working of the school.