VALUES, PURPOSES AND AIMS OF EDUCATION

We believe that education influences and reflects the values of society, and the kind of society that we want to exist in an ideal world.

We believe that education at home and at school is a route to the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, physical and mental development and thus the well being of the individual. Education is also a route to equality of opportunity for all, a healthy and just democracy, a productive economy, and sustainable development. We believe that education must reflect the enduring values that contribute to these ends. These include valuing ourselves, our families and other relationships, the wider groups to which we belong, the diversity in our society and the environment in which we live. We believe that education is a means of re-affirming our commitment to the virtues of truth, honesty, trust and a sense of duty.

The school curriculum, comprising all learning and other experiences planned for our pupils, is the means by which we respond to these general values and purposes of education. We seek to achieve two broad aims through the curriculum on offer at La Mare De Carteret School.

• our curriculum aims to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve
• our curriculum aims to promote our pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and prepare all pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life

These two aims reinforce each other. The personal development of pupils, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, plays a significant part in their ability to learn and to achieve. Development in both areas is essential to raising standards of attainment for all pupils.

We believe that education must enable us to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly changing world in which we live and work. In particular, we need to be prepared to engage as individuals, parents, workers and citizens with economic, social and cultural change, including the continued globalisation of the economy and society, with new work and leisure patterns and with the rapid expansion of communication technologies.