Serving the Common Good

Seek what is best for everyone, beginning with the last, the least, the lost, the most vulnerable and the most forgotten.

At Captain Shaw's, we want children to understand that what they learn, the values they develop and the choices they make can have a positive impact on other people and the world around them.

Supporting charities is one way we put this into action – but for us, it is about much more than raising money.

From Learning to Action

Wherever possible, our charitable work grows naturally from our curriculum.

Children first have opportunities to learn and understand. They explore issues, encounter different perspectives, ask questions and consider why something matters. Our Christian and school values – Be Truthful, Be Respectful, Be a Good Friend, Show Courage, Show Wisdom and Persevere – encourage them to think about how they might respond.

Sometimes that response is fundraising. At other times it might mean raising awareness, supporting a campaign, giving time, helping within our community or making more responsible choices ourselves.

The important thing is that children begin to recognise:

I can understand something. I can care about it. I can do something about it.

Curriculum With a Purpose

Our Curriculum Vehicles give children opportunities to turn learning into meaningful action.

During our Animals and Us topic, for example, children explored the relationship between humans and animals, including how this has changed over time and why some species are under threat. Their learning helped develop a genuine desire to support organisations working to protect animals.

Similarly, our Right or Wrong? topic provided opportunities to consider fairness, responsibility and the needs of others before taking action to support charitable causes.

In this way, charitable action is not an isolated fundraising event. It can become an authentic outcome of children's learning.

Values in Action

Our charitable and community work also helps children put both our school values and British Values into practice.

Children learn to listen to different viewpoints, make decisions together, respect the beliefs and experiences of others and understand their responsibilities towards people beyond themselves.

They discover that being a good friend, showing courage and wisdom, and treating others with respect can extend far beyond the school gates.

Small Actions Can Make a Difference

Our children may be young, but we want them to know that this does not prevent them from making a difference.

Over the years, Captain Shaw's children, families and staff have supported a range of local, national and international causes. The photographs below capture some of those moments.

The charities and projects will change as new generations of children encounter new issues through their learning.

What will remain is our ambition for children to leave Captain Shaw's believing that they have both the capacity and the responsibility to contribute to the common good.