Ethos and ‘Wiseman Values’

School ethos
Catholic schools educate people, first and foremost, through the living context, i.e. the climate that both students and teachers establish in the environment where teaching and learning activities take place. This climate is pervaded not only by the values that are lived out, by the quality of interpersonal relations between teachers and students and students amongst each other, by the care staff devote to student and local community needs, by the clear living testimony provided by teachers and all staff. (Adapted from Vatican Educating today and tomorrow – a passion renewed April 2014.)

At Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School we are committed to providing a wide range of learning activities to enable young people to develop their God given talents. We believe that education is about more than examination results and that all members of the school can grow and develop their talents through the nurturing of positive relationships. Therefore as a community made up of many parts which bases everything it does on faith, hope and love we believe that in order to achieve excellence at Cardinal Wiseman the following values or “habits of the heart” will be developed. By practising these “habits of the heart” we come closer to God and to using the God given talents we all possess so that we can build a community of “faith, hope and love”.

Values
Practise “habits of the heart” through learning, prayer and celebration to help everyone in the school to prepare for an active working life rooted in faith.

Value
Evidence in and around school

Courage
We try things we think we might not be able to do.
We know we will fail at some things and we learn from failure.
We know struggling is part of learning.
We dare to do what is right, following school rules.

Faith
We are ambitious in our learning.
We believe if you work hard you can improve, learning from mistakes.
We forgive others for mistakes.
We participate in the religious life of the school.

Hope
We want to succeed in learning.
We enjoy a challenge and take risks.
We are curious to find out new things.
We show determination to overcome problems. The more you practice the better it gets.
We participate in school events.

Respect
We are always ready to learn.
We are resilient and never give up because we want to learn.
We recognise our own worth and that of others whatever their background or opinion.
We are prepared to change and help others do the same.

Service
We help others by sharing ideas and helping others to learn.
We welcome new pupils and visitors.
We do work for charity with support our local and global community.
We collaborate with others as part of our learning.

Wisdom
Our learning really matters to us.
We take every opportunity to learn at school at home, and in the community.
We practise self-control.
We keep going, even when it is difficult.
We use failure as the first step to success.