The cultivation of character strengths and virtues among pupils is a pivotal element in shaping their personal growth and future prospects. The development of these positive qualities are deeply embedded in the fabric of life at Weston Green School.
Our aim is to foster character traits and behaviours that instil motivation and guide conduct so that pupils reflect wisely, learn eagerly and behave with integrity and work well with others; the qualities that they need to flourish in our society.
At Weston Green School, children benefit from our expansive Character Education Programme, which was informed by leading academic research and carefully developed in consultation with experts from across the Bellevue Education Group.
The programme has been developed so that we can encourage the development of moral and ethical attitudes, civic action, as well as the development of performance and intellect.
It is comprised of eight core strands:
Through Learning and Beyond Borders, pupils develop reasoning and critical thinking, resourcefulness and curiosity through an experience of the wider world. A strong sense of community and service is grown through Volunteering and Unity, while Leadership and Environment allow for the development of moral virtues including courage, integrity and honesty. Endeavour and Expression allow pupils to gain performance virtues such as determination, perseverance and resilience.
Working in collaboration with our sister schools within the Bellevue Group opens up broader opportunities for pupils to participate in activities on a larger scale.
Character virtues are ‘taught’ ‘sought’ and ‘caught’. Weston Green School children have direct opportunities to learn and practise character strengths, and have many experiences which expose them to concepts and examples of positive virtues.
At Weston Green School, we aim to foster the virtues and values that will help our pupils to become responsible, compassionate and confident individuals who can thrive in our society. We do this by:
Children at Weston Green will not only achieve academic excellence, but also develop a strong sense of self, a positive attitude, and a lifelong love of learning.
At Weston Green School, our approach to teaching PSHE is to help develop thriving well-rounded individuals who understand and respect the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion in society. We care for each child as a unique individual.
Our small class sizes and strong relationships between children and staff, ensure that every child feels valued and supported in a safe and secure environment. Our comprehensive pastoral care programme responds to the needs of each age group and the children can express their feelings and seek help when they need it.
Our bespoke PSHE curriculum reflects the needs and interests of our pupils, supports the children’s acquisition and application of our school values (adaptable, aspirational, curious, gracious, honest and respectful) as well as our Learner Profiles (creativity, resilience, risk-taking, team work, independence and reflection). These values help our pupils grow into confident, resilient and compassionate learners who are ready for the challenges and opportunities of life. The Zones of Regulations underpins these approaches helping the children to identify, acknowledge and understand their feelings.
These skills help the children to move onto their future schools with the skill set that allows them to be confident and successful, develop self-esteem and emotional well-being as well as learn strategies to manage challenges they will face. We help our children develop the skills and attitudes they need to succeed in the modern world by striving to promote positive mental health and wellbeing, as well as academic excellence.
Furthermore, our PSHE curriculum helps children learn about themselves and others. They learn how to respect differences, express their feelings and take care of their health. Through Girls on Board and Working with Boys programmes, children learn about relationships and how to cope with changes in their bodies and minds and how they can affect others around them.
We recognise certain points at which children are more likely to need support – for example when moving into a new class, to the next phase such as from Pre Prep to Lower Prep and Lower Prep to Upper Prep, or the 11+ process into senior school, and we plan for those transitions in order to help children feel secure.
An integral part of our PSHE curriculum is Relationships and Sex education (RSE). We highlight the key aspects of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships.
Through open discussions, debate, scenarios, role plays, freeze-frames and thought-tracking, our bespoke curriculum covers:
We regularly celebrate key events at school including:-