Catholic Life of St Joseph’s
At St. Joseph’s Primary School, the Catholic faith is integral to every part of school life, providing rich opportunities for children to encounter God and deepen their relationship with Him as a loving, compassionate Father. Through prayer—both traditional and informal—liturgies, and dedicated Religious Education lessons, children are guided in their faith, while relationships within our welcoming, caring community reflect Christian values of support and compassion. Our Catholic identity is expressed in our learning environment, chaplaincy support, and the strong community bonds we share, fostering a space where all members, students, staff, and parents alike, are valued and encouraged to reach their full potential as children of God.
At St Joseph’s Primary School, we believe in creating a safe environment where all our pupils can maximize their learning potential and grow into virtuous, successful young people. To achieve this, we uphold the highest standards of pupil behaviour.
We foster exemplary behaviour by investing in the character formation of our young Catholic pupils, rooted in our Ethos, Values, and Culture.
At the heart of our ethos is our Catholic Faith and the kingship of Jesus Christ. Christ is central to everything we do—how we learn, interact, and live as a community.
Grounded in our Catholic Ethos, we embrace Gospel values, which are the principles most important to us. These values, inspired by the Gospel and Our Lord’s commandments, include Love, Forgiveness, Compassion, Gratitude, Hope, Service, and Justice.
When our pupils practice these Gospel values daily, they develop virtues. Virtues are positive habits that, over time, become second nature to our children.
These positive habits shape the character of our pupils and form the Culture within our school, becoming the behaviours we most frequently display. Our culture—what we practice here every day—is the collective behaviour of all members of our school community.
Catholic Character Formation: Gospel Values and Virtues
Gospel Values
Gospel values are derived from Jesus’ teachings, notably the commandment to “love one another” (John 13:34). These include love, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, hope, service, and justice. Students explore these values through study, prayer, and reflection, and look to the lives of the Saints for inspiration. By understanding and practicing these values, children learn how these are signs of their Faith.
Virtues
Virtues are positive behaviours or “good habits” that improve life and character, contrasted with vices, which are negative behaviours. Practicing Gospel values cultivates virtues, shaping character and school culture.
- Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity):
- Faith (CCC 1814) – Belief and trust in God.
- Hope (CCC 1817) – Trust in God’s promises, looking forward to eternal life.
- Charity (CCC 1822) – Loving God and others genuinely.
- Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance):
- Prudence (CCC 1806) – Making wise, morally sound decisions.
- Justice (CCC 1807) – Fairness towards God and others.
- Fortitude (CCC 1808) – Courage to pursue good despite challenges.
- Temperance (CCC 1809) – Exercising self-control and moderation.
Together, these virtues enable individuals to live disciplined, positive lives, focusing on God and the good of others. When passions and desires are balanced, believers can fully embrace the supernatural virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Each week, St Joseph’s focus on a virtue and embed this in their daily behaviours.
