Character Education

At Discovery Special Academy, our pupils are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to delivering outstanding inclusive practice through a culture of collaboration, where staff, carers, and professionals collaborate to support the whole child. We nurture pupils’ academic, therapeutic, social, and emotional growth, helping them achieve their goals and celebrate every step, no matter how small. Our motto, “Through Discovery We Grow,” reflects our commitment to fostering growth through every learning opportunity.

Our Character Education programme supports pupils in developing the values and life skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

What is Character Education?

Character Education is about teaching pupils how to make good choices, treat others with kindness, and take responsibility for their actions. It’s woven into our daily routines, lessons, and interactions—at every level of academy life.

How do we develop Character Education?

• Discovery vision
• Core values
• Everyday life at academy
• Displays around the academy
• Website
• Discovery curriculum
• PfA
• Policies and procedures
• PSHERE
• Steps to success
• Teaching and learning
• Educational visits
• In academy experiences
• After school club offer
• Lunchtime club offer
• Careers education, information and guidance
• British Values
• Assemblies
• Pupil jobs
• Work experience

Core Values

Seeing core values around the academy and in the curriculum is important because it helps everyone understand what the school stands for. When values like respect, collaboration, and resilience,  are shown in everyday life, they guide how people act and treat each other. This creates a positive and supportive place to learn and grow. It also helps pupils feel part of a strong, caring community. Staff and pupils have worked together to develop four core values.

At Discovery we are

Independence

Being independent means trying to do things on your own and making your own choices, as well as knowing when to ask for help. It also means thinking about how your actions affect others and the world around you, such as taking care of the environment.

Resilience

Being resilient means staying positive when things are hard and trying again when they do not go as planned. It also means finding ways to solve problems that are good for you, good for the community and good for the planet.

Respectful

Being respectful means showing consideration, appreciation, or regard for someone or something. It means valuing others’ feelings, rights, and boundaries, as well as showing care for our environment by using resources responsibly and protecting the natural world.

Collaborative

Being collaborative means working together with others to achieve a common goal or complete a task. It involves cooperation, teamwork, and finding sustainable solutions that benefit everyone, including our community and the planet.

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