What is different about Catholic Schools?
What is different about Catholic Schools?
When you walk into a school you immediately get a ‘feel’ about the place - it could be the way the school looks, the way you are welcomed or the friendliness of the learners. This is called the Ethos of the school.
Ethos defines and displays the core beliefs of the school, and is closely linked to its value system. This ethos should be reflected in the school’s mission statement, which is the beacon for all school activities. It is the school’s way of ‘being in the world.’
The school’s ethos should be a lived experience for the whole school community and is realised by the daily interactions in the school. However, this needs to be actively understood and promoted in practical ways.
Key characteristics of a Catholic School:
- Everyone is welcome. No-one is excluded. There is no discrimination because all human beings are created in the image of God and are therefore good.
- It has a strong value system based on Gospel values with Christ as the centre of the school.
- It is a faith community that fosters positive. relationships among learners, teachers and parents.
- The religious atmosphere fosters formation of the whole child. Worship and prayer are integral and central to school life.
- Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and must treat others the same.
- The Catholic school resists individualism. It is concerned about justice and the well being of the whole community – we are our sisters and brothers keepers.
- The best is expected from learners because teachers believe in them.
- Clear standards of behaviour from all members of the school community are defined and expected.
- A sense of social responsibility based on Gospel values is fostered. This helps learners to become worthwhile citizens who will hopefully make a difference to society.
- The school should provide a broad curriculum which is meaningful to students and relevant to their community.
- School leadership should develop positive student and staff morale and give priority to people.
- Collaborative decision-making is encouraged, and the gifts of each individual recognised.
- Parental involvement and collaboration is vital for a true community to develop.
Appraising the Religious Character of a Catholic School
Just as we are necessarily committed to the demands of assessment in the ordinary curriculum of the school, even more so is it essential for us to assess and evaluate how we are, and where we are as a school community in terms of this ethos and our Catholic identity. A tool called, Signs of God's Presence is used to appraise the religious character of a Catholic school.
A school community is a living organism – constantly changing and growing. So while this document of appraisal of the distinctive religious character of the Catholic school is intended to help us review, affirm, and if necessary improve our ethos, the title has a simpler, even more substantial significance. Our schools are themselves to be signs of God’s presence: lights in our world, salt in our experience, and bread to the hungry. Just as our faith cannot be taken for granted, so neither can our identity as Catholic schools.
