Our school values will drive the character traits we want our children to develop and use as members of our community:

St Joseph’s School Values are: Love, Joy, Peace, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Justice, Respect

The benefits to the child:

Research suggests that there are enabling character traits which can improve educational attainment, engagement with school and attendance.

  • High self-belief, is associated with better performance, more persistence and greater interest in work;
  • Highly motivated children (linked to tenacity) driven internally and not by extrinsic rewards show greater levels of persistence and achievement;
  • Good self-control is associated with greater attainment levels; and
  • Having good coping skills (part of being able to bounce back) is associated with greater well-being

In addition other studies suggest schools which develop character will help drive equality and social mobility for the children.

What kind of a school are we?

  • Articulate the school through our mission our Light values (Love, Inspire, Greatness, Happy, Teaching) and connect to Catholic Social Teachings.
  • All members of the community have been involved in this over the past year.
  • Children have a sense of belonging to the school and appreciate St Joseph’s.
  • Creation of school song with the lyrics we give our all in everything we do and also we are unique and precious in his eyes illustrate the wonderful school that we belong to and our aspirations to be the best version of ourselves always.
  • Our values are rooted in the Gospel and are lived out and modelled by staff and governors so they are role models to our community.
  • This is why pupils and parents are proud to belong to St. Joseph’s community – they share our values.

What are our expectations of behaviour towards each other?

  • Reviewed behaviour policy with children.
  • Development of the Rewards
  • Consideration and courtesy to others through You’re welcome.
  • Positive attitude rather than attainment in rewards at the end of the week.

How well do our curriculum and teaching develop resilience and confidence?

  • Curriculum is unapologetically ambitious
  • It teaches substantive and disciplinary knowledge.
  • The cultural capital is woven through the curriculum
  • It is logically organised and sequenced using a strong pedagogy so pupils gain a sense of progress and grow in confidence
  • Development of essential skills builder programme.
  • Development of PSHE curriculum and scheme.
  • Skills Builder programme launch Sept 23 with 8 essential skills for employment.

How good is our co-curriculum?

  • Offer wide variety of educational trips from residentials to local.
  • After school clubs concentrate on sports and other life skills eg cooking.
  • Sports partnership encourages teamwork and competition.
  • Annual Easter performance with Christmas nativities so that all children can perform.
  • Skills builder with 8 key skills.
  • Careers week

How well do we promote the value of volunteering and service to others?

  • Mini Vinnies huge impact on this
  • Termly acts of charity.
  • Running of lunchtime clubs.
  • School Council Head Boy and Head Girl
  • Headstarters
  • Open to suggestions eg homeless and clothes

How do we ensure that all our pupils benefit equally from what we offer?

  • Use of Pupil Premium to make sure have total engagement in key educational visits.
  • All our activities enable children to feel like they belong and are valued.
  • Young carers (3) within school are supported by the Junction termly.

Character Education at St Joseph’s

Link to Skills Builder Programme: here