Commando Joe

 

Character Education Policy  

 

What is Character? 

  • Character is what determines how we respond to the situations and circumstances of life.
  • Character is the distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life which determine their response regardless of circumstance.
  • Character traits are those qualities that enhance us as people – helping us be self-aware about who we are and our ability to work with others.

Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant or socially acceptable beings.  

 

Why do we teach Character Education at our school?

 

At Buntingsdale we teach Character Education to prepare our pupils for life beyond the school gates and to give them the opportunity to flourish in modern society. We believe that there is a strong link between character and attainment, and success is not measured simply by quantifiable outcomes such as test results and attendance figures. Achievement is praised through good attitudes towards learning coupled with good effort.

 

From Nursery through to Year 6 our pupils are taught through the CoJo Character Curriculum which takes the pupils on the life journeys of inspirational heroes, heroines, adventurers and explorers.

 

Principles

 “All children getting the chance to achieve, be resilient, tolerate others and make great choices for life – in and outside school.”

 

Through;

  • Accessing coherent, sequential learning opportunities
  • Being inspired to do their best and to have the ambition to achieve
  • Engaging in deep thinking to support their decision making and actions
  • Experiencing a wide range of exciting learning opportunities
  • Integrating the teaching of Human Values

 

How do we teach Character Education?

 

At Buntingsdale we teach Character Education as part of the whole school ethos. The pupils take part in carefully designed missions which allow the Character behaviour traits of individuals’ and groups of pupils, to be put to the test in a safe environment. Each mission is carefully tailored to meet the needs of the pupils. At the end of each session, the pupils are given time to self-assess, and set personalised targets for themselves and peers.

 

 

Character Behaviour Traits

 

The table below shows the core character behaviour traits taught throughout the school.

 

Core Characters

Character Behaviour traits

Resilience

Determined; self-controlled; persistent; courageous; diligent; perseveres

Empathy

Just (fair); compassionate (forgiveness); kind; courteous; unselfishness

Self-Awareness

Self-confident; self-disciplined; honest; humorous; humility; adaptability

Passion

Gratitude; motivated; positive attitude; inspires; will power

Excellence

Creative; curious; inquires; pride; critical thinking

Communication

Listens: influences; feedback; reflective; evaluative; presence

Teamwork

Cooperates; responsible; cares; decision makes; helpful; unity

 

 

 

 

Character Curriculum topics

EYFS characters

 

 

Year 1 topic Characters

Steve Backshall

‘Walk on the wildside’

Simba and Me

‘Circle of Life’

Traditional Tales

‘Once upon a time’

 

Year 2 topic Characters

Samuel Pepys

‘London’s Burning’

Pocahontas

‘Trouble in the Tribe’

The Queen

‘The longest Reign’

 

Year 3 topic Characters

Ed Stafford

‘Walking the Amazon’

Ernest Shackleton

‘Endurance’

Nellie Bly

‘Around the World in 72 Days’

 

Year 4 topic Characters

Bear Grylls

‘Survival’

Kira Salak

‘Gorilla in the Mist’

Leif Erikson

‘Voyage of Discovery’

 

Year 5 topic Characters

Tim Peak

‘Blast off!’

Ranulph Fiennes

‘Transglobe Adventure’

Spartacus

‘Romans Revolt’

 

Year 6 topic Characters

Nancy Wake

‘The White Mouse’

Amelia Earhart

‘Final Flight’

Ibn Battuta

‘Eastern Odyssey’