At St Andrew’s Cathedral School character education is at the core of what we do.
By teaching ‘character in action’ we create an environment for students to grow morally, spiritually and intellectually, so they can flourish individually, in community and in society.
We want our students to be people who make a difference by being other-centred. We’re also aware of the need to prepare our students to thrive in a complex, uncertain and ever-changing world.
As an IB World School, approaches to learning skills (ATL) and IB learning dispositions have been incorporated into the School’s Character Strengths, backed by research and Christian perspectives.
We teach character both explicitly and implicitly through habits and routines, role-modelling, service opportunities, leadership and relationships. The development of character is fundamental to our pursuit of academic excellence and is also at the heart of our teaching and pastoral care approach, taught in tutor groups and in classes across the School, as a part of our structured wellbeing programme.
Character education equips young people to grow in wisdom and hope, so they can use their developing knowledge and expertise in ways that positively impact society.
Our approach integrates character development and service with a strong curriculum, including high expectations of student’s learning, student leadership opportunities, a wide variety of challenging co-curricular including world class performing arts and outdoor education activities, and comprehensive pastoral care and programmes which explore Christianity and other world views. We also focus on the early identification of student giftedness and learning needs to enable all students to experience successful learning in school. All aspects of our integrated approach contribute to high levels of student engagement, resilience, positive self-belief and a strong sense of belonging and personal responsibility.
“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Central to character development is growth. At St Andrew’s Cathedral School we don’t just accept our character, we seek to grow it. Growing comes from a range of successful evidence-based strategies, programmes and practices. These are integrated throughout the pastoral, academic and co-curricular parts of the School. Character growth comes from role modelling, relationships, service and leadership.
Our 15 Character Strengths are a key part of our approach to Character Education. Our Character Strengths are based on, and mapped to, the VIA Character Strengths. Character Strengths are the positive parts of an individual personality that impact how you think, feel and behave. Our students complete a Character survey to discover their unique Character Strengths and develop an individual profile. Following this, they consider their individual and group strengths, and how they can apply them across a number of contexts in our school community, such as service, leadership and social responsibility.
Character education equips young people to grow in wisdom and hope, so they can learn to use their developing knowledge and expertise in ways that positively impact those around them.
Strategies we use to build character at St Andrew’s Cathedral School:
- Making Character Strengths visible and accessible throughout the School – they are displayed in classrooms, hallways and recreation areas to build within students a sense of understanding and familiarity with the Strengths
- Running Character Strengths surveys & developing related tutor tasks
- Incorporating reflections in Chapel, Christian development and service learning activities
- Engaging students on character and virtues, and encouraging character-in-action, via classroom & tutor group lessons, student research and seeking out character role models and exemplars