Virtues Education at St Patrick's
Virtues
What is a Virtue?
A virtue is a personal quality that is good. Something that makes us a better person. Something that makes a positive difference in our lives as well as the lives of others.
Something you do because it is the right thing to do – even when no one is watching.
We teach and follow 'the virtues to live by' because they are part of our CHARACTER EDUCATION, supporting families in nurturing our pupils into the best version of themselves that they can be – and of course we lead by example at school and at home.
We have looked at the life of St Patrick, our patron saint and decided together which virtues were clearly important in his life. We have found that the three main virtues of:
BE FAITHFUL BE LOVING BE COURAGEOUS
are very important in order to try and reflect the life our patron.
From these three main virtues we have looked at how we can live faithfully, live lovingly and live courageously in our lives both at school and at home.
We are growing in our understanding of how to be the best version of ourselves through the "Virtues to Live by" programme, where we focus on a different virtue every three weeks. We learn about the virtue through story and looking at the lives of Jesus and the Saints.
Our 'Virtues to live by' focus:
“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10
“Virtues to Live By” enables the pupils and staff to explore each virtue over a three week period (two per half term) to improve the school community’s virtue literacy and to deepen understanding and appreciation of the essential role the virtues play in the education of the whole person towards human flourishing. The virtues chosen are common across cultures and faiths, but are sourced from the Christian tradition.
“Virtues to Live By” is a resource was created by the Diocese of Leeds with the creative and financial support of the Leeds Diocesan Association of Primary Headteachers.
There are two sets of annual planning and resourcing, Year 1 and Year 2 set of virtues and resources. In 2024-2025 we will be following Year 2 set of virtues across the year:
Autumn Term:
Wk 1 +2 – School Virtues (Faith, Love and Courage alongside some work on the Class Saint)
Wk 3, 4, 5 – Love of Learning (October Month of Mary Liturgy and focus on the Rosary)
Wk 6, 7, 8 – Citizenship
Half Term
Wk 9 – School Virtues and Class Saint
Wk 10, 11, 12 – Prayer
Wk 13, 14, 15 – Generosity (Advent liturgies led by Class 3EG, Class 4HM and Class 5FA)
Spring Term:
Wk 1, 2, 3 – Friendship
Wk 4, 5, 6 – Love of Neighbour
Half Term
Wk 7, 8, 9 – Self-Control
Wk 10, 11, 12 – Reflection (Ash Wednesday, Lenten liturgies led by Class 3EG, Class 4HM, Class 5FA and Stations of the Cross…)
Summer Term:
Wk 1, 2, 3 – Trust (Easter - Resurrection Liturgy led by Class 5FA)
Wk 4, 5 – Confidence
Half Term
Wk 6 – Confidence
Wk 7, 8, 9 – Courage
Wk 10, 11, 12 - Wisdom
There are a range of ways the pupils focus on and learn about the virtue. These include Virtue Liturgies and Celebrations of the Word, times of Prayerful Meditation, Circle Time and reminders through virtue statements and signs of the living virtue which are placed in each classroom and around school. We send out information to parents when we start to focus on a new virtue so that we can work in partnership with families and our wider school community.