“Virtues to Live By” is a resource created by the Diocese of Leeds which we follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. This resource seeks to support children’s virtue literacy and growth in particular virtues or excellences of character.

 “Virtues to Live By” enables us all to explore each virtue over a three-week period (two per half term) to improve the school community’s virtue literacy and to deepen understanding and appreciation of the essential role that virtues play in the education of the whole person towards human flourishing. The virtues chosen are common across cultures and faiths but are sourced from the Christian tradition. They are linked directly to work in the Diocese of Leeds on virtues and character education (see companion documents here dioceseofleeds.org.uk/education/re-catholic-life/character-education).

The Virtues are on a 2 year cycle. These are shown in the table below:

Cycle 1:

Cycle 2

For the academic year 2024-2025, we are following the virtues in cycle 2.

The school focuses on a virtue every three weeks. The children think about what the virtue means, how we can see it in others and how we can manifest it in ourselves.

We incorporate the virtues into our school life by:

• displaying the monthly 'Virtue to live by' in the Hall, staff room and all classrooms
• displaying the Signs of living the virtue for each monthly 'Virtue to live by'
• awarding certificates each week in Celebration Assembly celebrating those who have shown the monthly 'Virtue to live by'
• taking part in a weekly class worship based on the monthly 'Virtue to live by'
• integrating the virtues into weekly RE planning where possible

Our virtues have been chosen to reflect the time of year for our children. So for example, we have 'respect and courtesy' at the beginning of the year when we are setting out our expectations, charity and forgiveness during the season of Lent, resilience and perseverance during SATs preparation!

Click on each 'virtue' to find out a little more. The signs of living the virtue will explain what kind of things we are all trying to see in each other.  

Cycle 1

Cycle 2