‘In the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
Character is a set of personal traits that produce specific moral emotions, inform motivation and guide conduct. At Abbey Grange we are dedicated to ensuring our students receive character education; this includes all explicit and implicit educational activities that help young people develop positive personal strengths called virtues.
Character education is more than just a subject. It is about helping students grasp what is ethically important in situations and how to act for the right reasons, so that they become more autonomous and reflective. Students need to decide the kind of person they wish to become and to learn to choose between alternatives. In this process, the ultimate aim of character education is the development of good sense or practical wisdom: the capacity to choose intelligently between alternatives. It is central to a Christian vision for education for ‘life in all its fullness’ and is concerned with developing virtues seeing them as ‘character in action’, grown through experience and demonstrated over time in word and deed.
Character education equips young people to grow in wisdom, hope, community and dignity and is shaped by an understanding of God at work in the world, present and active in shaping each individual’s developmental story. It is fundamental to the pursuit of academic excellence, and stands at the heart of all aspirational teaching, learning and pastoral care.
Character education at Abbey Grange is not an educational programme. It is an approach that, implicitly and explicitly, permeates all subjects as well as the general school ethos; it cultivates the virtues of character associated with common morality. Effective character education will have a legacy far beyond the school gates, impacting young people as friends, neighbours, parents, team members and employees, benefitting both the individuals themselves, their wider communities and broader society.
Abbey Grange students:
At Abbey Grange character development is both taught and caught through lessons and the constant modelling of our five ABBEY Characteristics for Character Development. These are bound together through the constant use of our acronym ABBEY.
Aspiration - a strong desire to achieve your goals. Working hard to achieve your success.
Benevolence - Being kind and well-meaning. Making a positive contribution to wider society. Being respectful at all times.
Belief - Belief in yourself. Belief in God. Having Faith. Living as one.
Excellence - In everything you do. In the classroom and beyond. Striving to be the best.
Youth Leadership - Approaching everything with diligence and positivity. Taking a lead and making positive choices. Being the best version of you.
We help our students understand that integrity is not just about telling the truth. It is about being true to their beliefs and upholding them; it is about having pride in all that they do, always working to their true ability and behaving correctly to other people at all times.
This will be monitored in students’ planners and by their form tutor. There is a celebration event at the end of the year to reward students who have completed all the pledges.
