Moral Development Policy

Moral Development Policy for St. Margaret Mary’s

Catholic Infant School.

Introduction

Moral education helps pupils to acquire knowledge, understanding, intentions, attitudes and behaviour in relation to what is right and wrong. The word ‘moral’ is concerned with fundamental judgements about how we should behave or act and our reasons for such behaviour. It is of the greatest importance that children develop a clear set of rules of conduct, which draw on the basic moral values and which can be applied to everyday situations.  These values of forgiveness, freedom, tolerance, respect and relationships are to be lived out in the daily life of the school by the whole school community.

Aims

In St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Infant School we aim to encourage pupils’ moral development at the level of each individual child’s understanding in the following ways: -

• As they develop a sense of morality, pupils should become more adept at exploring reason in both daily occurrences and in ethical matters.
• To begin to develop pupils who are more autonomous moral agents.
• Pupils should begin to acquire value systems, which are personal rather than simply transmitted by others.
• Pupils should begin to develop beliefs and values.

School values include:

• Telling the truth.
• Keeping promises
• Respecting the rights and property of others.
• Acting with consideration towards others.
• Helping those less fortunate and weaker than ourselves.
• Taking personal responsibility for one’s actions.
• Self-discipline.

The Jubilee Year of Mercy

During the year of Mercy we are committed as a whole school community to supporting the plea from Pope Francis, to help ‘our world to be a more caring, happier and fairer place to live.’

We want to work together to build a better and more peaceful world, where each of us can be the best person we can be.

‘A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.’ Pope Francis

School values are rooted in our ‘Mission Statement’

Loving, Learning, Growing, together with Jesus,

and in the simple rules displayed around the school, which are shared with the children frequently, and which become more sophisticated as the children move up through the school.

School values include:

• Telling the truth.
• Keeping promises
• Respecting the rights and property of others.
• Acting with consideration towards others.
• Helping those less fortunate and weaker than ourselves.
• Taking personal responsibility for one’s actions.
• Self-discipline.

Through Moral Education, we develop, at the level of the children’s understanding, knowledge of:

• How communities are organised and the importance of rules and laws.
• How communities reconcile the needs of individuals with those of society.
• Similarities and differences between individuals, groups and communities.
• Fairness, justice and moral responsibility.

Cross-curricular Skills

• Arguing a case clearly and concisely.
• Making choices in the light of available evidence.
• Working with others.

Attitudes

• Independence of thought on social and moral issues.
• Respect for rules and the processes of law and right of others.
• Respect for different ways of life, beliefs, opinions and ideas.
• A willingness to respect rational argument and non-violent ways of resolving conflict.
• A constructive interest in community affairs.
• An active concern for human rights.
• An appreciation of the importance of democratic decision-making.

Moral Codes and Values – Pupils should be helped at their own level to:

• Develop a personal moral code and explore values and beliefs.
• Develop a concern for others.
• Develop self-respect and respect values such as hard work, honesty and truthfulness.

Pupils should be given opportunities to:

• Compare values and beliefs held by themselves and others.
• Examine evidence, opinions and form conclusions.
• Discuss differences and resolve conflicts.
• Discuss and consider solutions to personal, social and moral dilemmas.
• Appreciate that the distinction between right and wrong is not always straightforward.

The governing body will review this policy annually and any amendments, which may be deemed to be necessary, will be made accordingly.