Holistic education

One of the unique features of Saint Cecilia’s is our commitment to holistic education. This is a comprehensive approach to learning, addressing pupils’ and students’ emotional, social, ethical and academic needs in an integrated way, focusing on every aspect of our young people and their overall well-being. We develop the whole child - spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically – alongside their academic success. 

Spiritual development

Every school will define the term ‘spiritual development’ differently, and for many this might mean emotional or moral development. However, at Saint Cecilia’s, spiritual development has a special and specific meaning. We aim to foster the fruit of the Holy Spirit in everyone within our school community, encouraging love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Spiritual development also includes how pupils experience a sense of wonder and inspiration through the curriculum, extra-curricular activities, events, workshops and competitions.

Spiritual Development Curriculum Areas

Social development

This is achieved through our mentoring, house and year systems and through restorative practice.

Mentoring System
Pupils and Sixth Formers are placed in mentor groups. While ‘form’ or ‘tutor’ groups may be more familiar terms, we call them mentor groups because mentors coach, support and guide pupils and students through academic challenges, friendship issues and transitions between key stages.

House System
Every pupil and student is placed in a house named after musicians (Schubert, Ives, Carter) or mathematicians (Archimedes, Turing, Newton), reflecting the school’s music and maths specialisms. House Leaders celebrate achievements both inside and outside of school and champion advocacy in charitable work, participation, pupil voice, change and community outreach. A house assembly once a fortnight brings all members of the same house together.

Year System
Year Leaders work closely with parents, pupils and students to support academic achievement, attendance, behaviour and progress. They collaborate with the Safeguarding Team to help young people who need support to succeed. The year system fosters goodness, faithfulness, commitment, determination and a ‘never give up’ attitude. Fortnightly year assemblies are the moment for all in a year group to come together.

Restorative Practice
Our Chaplain leads a programme we call Restorative Practice. If there has been conflict between pupils or students, parties are brought together to help restore relationships. Pupils and students leave these sessions having had the chance to explain how they feel and apologise, clear the air and move forwards. This is now a well-known and well-respected practice at our school which is an extremely effective part of our Behaviour Policy.

Emotional development

The Bethany Centre
The Bethany Centre is named after the town of Bethany, a place of rest and refuge for Jesus in the New Testament. Similarly, our Bethany Centre aims to be a place of rest and refuge for our pupils with Educational Health Care Plans and special learning needs. The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and team of Learning Support Assistants support our pupils, as well as parents, with regular coffee mornings to talk, ask questions, seek advice and more. For more information, please click here.

The Safeguarding Team
Our Safeguarding Team focuses on ensuring the safety and well-being of our pupils. We work closely with the police, children’s social services, mental health and well-being providers, hospitals, coaching support through Kick, Regenerate and Place2Be, the school’s new counselling service. For more information on well-being information for pupils, students and parents, please click here.

Physical development

PE is a compulsory subject in Key Stage 3 and 4, even if pupils do not select PE as a GCSE choice. We are a sporty school and run a range of sports teams for all year groups. All are welcome to join sports clubs just for fun, which are run each day either before, during or after school.  

PSHE

At Saint Cecilia’s, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) is taught twice a fortnight to all pupils in Key Stage 3 (Years 7 - 9), once a fortnight for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 - 11) and twice a fortnight for Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form). These lessons are tailor-made for each year group to ensure the appropriate level and depth is met and that the topics are suitable for our pupils’ and students’ needs.

Research and evidence conducted by the PSHE Association strongly suggests that an effective PSHE programme can tackle barriers to learning, raise aspirations, improve the life chances, attainment and social mobility of all pupils and students, especially vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Lessons provide a safe and respectful environment where pupils and students can talk about sometimes difficult and sensitive topics within a loving and kind Christian framework. All queries are handled respectfully, patiently and sensitively.