Mission, Aims and British Values

 

Mission Statement

 

“I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

 

The Academy Council and school staff at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, VA, believe that education is an on-going process and is a partnership between all the home, church and school. Our aim is for all children at St Paul’s CPS VA to be happy and feel truly valued so that they can reach their potential spiritually, socially, personally, physically and academically.

We aim to:

1. Safeguard the well-being of each child and protect them from harm.
2. Ensure that the curriculum we deliver, in all its aspects, will reflect the fact that God’s love, through the message of His Son, is at the centre of all that we do.
3. Provide a high-quality education, through a broad and balanced knowledge-based curriculum, which promotes skills for life and supports spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development.
4. To develop children’s initiative, imagination and creativity and their ability to question critically preparing them for adult life and life-long learning.
5. Provide a stimulating, safe and comfortable working environment for all members of our community.
6. To promote the development of the whole person and ensure each member of our school community reaches their true potential, irrespective of prior ability, race, gender, beliefs or disability.
7. Promote the British Values.
8. Live out the Virtues and ensure they are central to everything we do in school.

 

 

Living out the Virtues

 

Our Mission Statement is lived out through the theological virtues of: Faith, Hope and Love. The children in school know these three key words really well and can relate to them in their work and in their play.

 

 

Rationale

 

St Paul, the patron saint of our school, said in 1 Corinthians 13, “What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete- as complete as God’s knowledge of me. Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

 

Our Mission Statement was developed a number of years ago and remains central to our vision, philosophy and purpose. Bishop Marcus, in his Christ at the Centre document (2005) says that; “schools have the potential to promote the ‘fullness of Christian life’ through an ‘educational philosophy in which faith, culture and life are brought in harmony”

 

At St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, VA, through our virtues, celebrated every day, we strive to become saints and follow the perfect example of Jesus Christ. We did not choose faith, hope and love for our key theological virtues, they simply emerged from our day to day practice and school mission. The children love to talk about how these virtues shape our lives. We have added the additional wording of; “Journeying together in faith, hope and love” as we love the idea of a journey and that we are all travelling in our own different directions with our own different challenges.

 

In every classroom and shared space, the words, faith, hope and love are displayed. This acts as a reminder to the staff and children, but it also informs any visitors to school, who we are.

 

To wear the shield of faith (Scutum Fidei) means you are a member of St Paul’s community and being part of that community means being part of a wider family. We all work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children.

 

Virtues to Live By and Character Education

 

The Diocese of Leeds working group developed the ‘Virtues to Live By” scheme and vision for all Catholic Schools. This work is rooted in our own Mission Statement, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” taken from John 10:10. The following information is taken from the Diocese of Leeds website. (https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/education/re-catholic-life/character-education/)

 

“Catholic character education promotes a shared vision of life based on Christ centred virtues that seeks the flourishing of pupils, young people and all members of the school community. This shared vision, embodied in the ethos of the school from which all educational activities proceed, calls pupils, young people and all members of the school community to grow in positive personal strengths called virtues. These virtues are broad and balanced and include the theological, moral, civic, intellectual, and performance based virtues.

 

“Character education and the formation of all aspects of the human person through the pursuit of the virtues not only enhances the education of the individual and respects their dignity, it promotes the common good and the flourishing of human society in the world. Much of the report’s vision for ‘growing in the virtues’ is already incorporated into and spearheading my vision for the education and formation of our children and young people for vocation and leadership in the schools and parishes of the Diocese of Leeds. I encourage all Catholic leaders and staff to reflect on the research and the recommendations of this report and to discern how the Church’s vision for education in the virtues can, in collaboration with families and parishes, be embodied within the context and life of each Catholic school.”

(Rt. Rev.d Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds, Foreword, Catholic Character Education, 2018)”

St Paul’s is a Catholic primary school which seeks to live out the values of Jesus Christ. We promote these values by our words and deeds; Catholic doctrine and practice therefore permeates every aspect of school life.

 

“As parents, you are depositories of the duty and of the primary and inalienable right to educate your children, and in this regard to give the school positive and constant help with the task. It is your right to demand proper education for your children, an education that is integral and open to the most authentic human and Christian values.” (Pope Francis 2015)

 

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.

Our educational system is rooted in the teachings of Christ. We endeavour to teach Jesus’s word through all of our lessons and activities. We recognise the importance of the Catechism, the advice we receive from our Parish Priests and the overarching governance from Bishop Marcus Stock. RE lessons are supplemented with sacramental preparation, collective worship and daily prayer. We are proud to be distinctive.

We provide a wide range of sporting and extra-curricular activities. We have strong pastoral support and we regularly revisit our policies on behaviour, rewards and sanctions. We 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?

• Through an effective and purposeful School council;
• voting for class representatives to the School council;
• studying the development of sovereignty and government in Britain over time;
• raising awareness of current affairs with the children at an age appropriate level;

Through 'The way, the Truth and the Life’ RE scheme of work:

• Through servant leadership and respect for all.
• By recognising where people were called through vocation and democracy.
• Becoming aware of our God-given gifts and reflecting on how we can use them to help others.
• MP Fabian Hamilton has strong links to the school.

• adopting and embedding a strong Positive Behaviour/ Anti-bullying policy which contains clear rewards and sanctions;
• arranging visits from the Police service to reinforce the message of right and wrong
• Working closely with our Alwoodley cluster of schools to share advice and support.
• Excellent working links with the AIP for North Leeds.
• Annual Visit to Houses of Parliament for Year 6.
• Working with local MP Fabian Hamilton.

Through 'The way, the Truth and the Life’ RE scheme of work:

• The teachings of Jesus Christ.
• The word of God, through the Holy Bible.
• The Old Testament Commandments, recognised and shared by Moses.
• Jesus’s teachings on his neighbour and service.
• Identifying wrong-doing, sin and the power of forgiveness.
• Action and Consequence.
• Rulemaking and breaking.

 

• The power of collaboration. Effective allocation of roles and responsibilities.
• The ability to speak out and be heard.
• What it means to be listened to.
• Debating and agreeing to disagree.
• What it means to be a member of a school, a community, a group.
• Pupil voice through school council, projects and social media.
• Mentoring and supporting others. Eg. Year 6 and Reception “buddies”

Through 'The way, the Truth and the Life' RE scheme of work :

• The family of the church
• Being part of the St Paul’s family.
• The family at home and how each family is different.
• Stewardship of the World and looking after our resources.
• Enabling Catholic students to know and understand what they believe about their Catholic faith

• Through our school mission statement, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
• A clear system of behaviour, planned and devised by all staff, children and governors.
• A rewards and sanctions system that has been devised by the children.
• A shared vision of what St Paul’s is like and why we respect each other’s attitudes and values.
• marking 'Remembrance; through assemblies, lesson study and charity.

Through 'The way, the Truth and the Life' RE scheme of work :

• Comparing scenarios and discussing possible outcomes/reactions/feelings.
• The Mission of the Church- what it means for us.
• The power of forgiveness and the challenge to forgive.
• Justice- through inspirational role models like MLK and Oscar Romero.
• Knowing we are called to justice and asked to speak out against injustice.
• Actions and what are the consequences?

• visiting places of worship for other faiths and receiving visitors from other faiths in school;
• recognising and celebrating cultural celebrations for children from different countries within our school;
• Visiting and sharing festivals and celebrations with other Faiths local to St Paul’s.
• Identifying how different Religions have common values and beliefs.
• raising money for those in need locally and internationally i.e. Save the Children Christmas Jumper, The Good Shepherd Appeal, the CAFOD harvest appeal and Children In Need;

Through 'The way, the Truth and the Life' RE scheme of work :

• Refugees, the struggle through war and the difficulties faced due to beliefs.
• Judaism, taught through focused lesson study and local visits.
• Islam, by sharing our work at the Leeds Grand Mosque.
• Sikhism, through project work and inviting specialist speakers into school.
• Loving our neighbour- who was Jesus and what did he believe?
• Discipleship and living out the Beatitudes.
• MLK- why was his work so important for discipleship and togetherness today.
• Rosa Parks- inequalities and justice.
• The gifts from God and how we should use them wisely.