Ethos & Values

School Ethos

We have a deep commitment to building a sense of community at St. Joseph’s – a community, which recognises the dignity and worth of each individual and fosters recognition of our responsibilities to each other and the wider world.

We aim to be a loving and reconciling community, based on mutual respect and tolerance. We try to live out our Christianity in our day to day dealings with each other. Children admitted to St. Joseph’s are expected to take a full and active part in the religious life of the school.

We celebrate feast days, and the holy seasons in the Church’s calendar. Prayers are said daily, and each week there are whole school and year assemblies. Opportunities to take part in voluntary Mass, the Rosary and Stations of the Cross are offered in our chapel. Every pupil will study Religious Studies throughout the school, up to and including GCSE level. It is gratifying to note that surveys of pupils regularly rate Religious Studies as a subject in which they make significant progress.

The pupils are our greatest asset. Their response to the opportunities and high quality teaching available at St. Joseph’s results in a high level of academic performance and involvement in works of charity that we can all be justly proud of. They are involved in a high quality and extensive programme of voluntary community work, especially through our very active SVP Society.

We endeavour to ensure that each young person is able to achieve their full potential in terms of spiritual, intellectual and physical development, in a secure and safe environment.

Please find below a copy of the most recent publication from the Catholic Education Service regarding Catholic Education in England & Wales.

School Values

St Joseph’s is a Catholic school which seeks to live out the values of Jesus Christ. We promote these values by our words and deeds, and Catholic doctrine and practice therefore permeates every aspect of the school’s activity. We provide a Catholic curriculum, which is broad and balanced, recognising that every pupil is unique and is created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Our curriculum is designed to enable every pupil to discern their vocation and to be well-equipped to follow it as active citizens in service to the world. Catholic Religious Education is the “core of the core curriculum” (Pope St John Paul II) 4 and the foundation of the entire educational process. We also provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities and strong pastoral support. We incorporate democratic principles, value the rule of law, support individual liberty and foster a community in which different faiths and beliefs are respected.”

Gospel Values

The term ‘Gospel values’ is commonly used in Catholic schools and other Catholic institutions; however, unless the term is unpacked and a common understanding formed of what true Gospel values are, there is a danger that what should be an objective Christian foundation, will itself become a random list of subjective values.

Whilst other ‘values’ may be found within the four Gospels and New Testament writings, it is the Beatitudes which: “…depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity”. Gospel values cannot therefore be values chosen subjectively from the vast corpus of the Old and New Testaments but are objective values revealed to us through Christ’s proclamation. Such objective values are to be found rooted in the Beatitudes, the proclamation of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes also “…reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts” and as such are the objective ‘values’ given by Christ himself.

Whilst not definitive, those Gospel values based on the Beatitudes which underpin this policy include:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”
Values: Faithfulness & Integrity

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”
Values: Dignity & Compassion

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”
Values: Humility & Gentleness

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied”
Values: Truth & Justice

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”
Values: Forgiveness & Mercy

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”
Values: Purity & Holiness

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God”
Values: Tolerance & Peace

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven; they persecuted the prophets before you in the very same way”
Values: Service & Sacrifice

Rooted in the teaching of Christ, these Gospel Values are actively promoted through each lesson across the curriculum and within our pastoral system at all levels. As a Catholic community we believe that our Gospel Values incorporate ‘British Values’ as outlined within recent DfE guidelines.

Fairtrade at St Joseph’s

St Joseph’s RC High School supports Fairtrade within school, through different activities, lessons, and assemblies. The Fairtrade Steering Group consists of staff and pupil members, who promote and sell Fairtrade products throughout the year.
You can find more out about how we support Fairtrade here.