“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” (Bishop Marcus Stock)

Virtue is not a word in common use in society at large, but it is common to hear parents, teachers and children talk about being loving, respectful, honest, thankful, brave, fair, compassionate, forgiving, etc. At St Joseph's, we believe that virtues build ethos and are ways that help us to live a good life and to follow the right path.  A virtue is a quality of good character, character which is shaped by the performance of virtues: one honest act does not make a person honest, but a determination to be honest performed in a series of honest acts throughout one’s life makes one an honest person – we are what we repeatedly do!

Virtues encourage a habitual way of behaving, a disposition, that forms good character and, at the same time, constitute a particular kind of community. Our community!

At St Joseph's we have chosen six virtues, which we follow in school to improve the school community’s virtue literacy.  This helps to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the essential role virtues play in the education of the whole person towards human flourishing:

Faith
Hope
Love
Justice
Solidarity
Courage
 

These six virtues are explored, one each half-term through our school assemblies and collective worship.