Catholic Life
This is a Catholic school which seeks to live out the values of Jesus Christ. We promote these values by our words and actions, and our Catholic practice therefore permeates every aspect of the school’s activity. We are guided by our mission, which states ‘Let your words teach and your actions speak’.
We provide a Catholic curriculum, which is broad and balanced, recognising that every pupil is unique and is created in the image of God (Gen 1: 27). Our curriculum is designed to enable every pupil to discern their vocation and to be well-equipped to follow it as active citizens in service to the world.
Catholic Religious Education is the “core of the core curriculum” (Pope St John Paul II – 26.3 92) and the foundation of the entire educational process.
We also provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities and strong pastoral support. We incorporate democratic principles, value the rule of law, support individual liberty and foster a community in which different faiths and beliefs are respected.
How do we promote British Values in our Catholic Curriculum?
Democracy
- having a school council;
- taking part in debating activities in literacy, history and PHSE;
- highlighting the development of democratic ideas in history lessons;
- allowing pupils to vote for house captains;
- ensuring all pupils are listened to by adults;
- inviting MPs and other speakers to the school;
- visiting parliaments, assemblies and local councils;
- holding mock elections;
- participating in the UK Youth Parliament;
- through our R.E. scheme, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’,
- many ways to serve others;
- becoming aware of our God given talents.
The Rule of Law
- class creating “class rules”;
- having a clear behaviour policy that is explained to all;
- organising visits from the police service to reinforce the message of right and wrong;
- highlighting the rules of the Church and God in the RE curriculum, for example the 10 commandments and the Precepts of the Church;
- teaching about the development of the Rule of Law in English Law, a legal system created uniquely in a Catholic England, inspired by Christian values and becoming a major influence across the World;
- promoting Restorative Justice;
- through our R.E. Scheme, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life”,
- the great Commandment
- the teaching of Jesus
- the Ten Commandments
- the New Commandment
- what is sin and reflecting on the consequences.
Individual Liberty
- encourage pupils to be independent in their learning;
- provide regular opportunities for reflection as they take responsibility for their behaviour and learning;
- developing the idea; “We have choices” through our R.E. scheme, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’,
- actions and consequences;
- know we are called to work for justice;
- the mission of the church;
- forgiveness takes courage.
Mutual Respect
Learn to love and love to learn.
- having a mission statement that is inclusive, “Let your words teach and your actions speak”;
- constantly promoting respect for others as good manners;
- reinforcing the value of everyone’s opinions in class debates;
- having an effective anti-bullying policy;
- emphasising in RE and PSCHE lessons that every person is unique and “created in the image of God”;
- having active educational links with other schools;
- supporting charitable works;
- promotion by school chaplain and liturgy group.
Tolerance of those with different Faiths and Beliefs
- highlight how Religious Education provides pupils with a deep understanding of their own faith as well as awareness of the faith and traditions of other religious communities as a basis for understanding and respecting them;
- show how Jesus encouraged tolerance in stories such as the Good
- Samaritan and The Women in the Well;
- raising money for those in need locally and internationally;
- embracing our growing multi-cultural community and learning from each other;
- through our R.E. scheme, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’,
loving one’s neighbour; - to be a disciple of Jesus;
- Judaism, Islam, Sikhism;
- the gift of God’s grace is free.
- through our R.E. scheme, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’,
