Character/Pledges/Points
At Colonel Frank Seely, we want all students to leave us, with not just the best set of GCSE results but also having developed their all-round character. Research and experience tells us that the development of character and educational attainment are not mutually exclusive; rather, developed ‘Character’ is the foundation for improved progress & attainment and enhanced employability (Professor James Arthur, Jubilee Centre for Character and Values).
Before our Character launch back in July 2018, we asked students and staff what they think are the most important characteristics to be developed and displayed. Eventually, as a school community, we decided that the following 7 areas are essential for success, our CFSA Character traits:
Resilience, Independence, Respect, Collaboration, Creativity, Leadership and Ambition.
Click on the picture to view a video about the CFS Academy Character Traits
In July 2022, we were awarded the ACE School of Character Kitemark after an inspection by the Association for Character Education. We are incredibly proud of this recognition. If you would like to read the report, a PDF can be viewed by clicking HERE.
It is our desire to be able to provide opportunities whereby students can actively develop their CFSA Character. We do this by asking students to reflect on the 7 key Character traits and record occasions when they have shown CFSA Character. Each student, every half-term, completes a CFSA Character Pledge in one of the traits. Their tutor will track their progress. Once evidence has been discussed with the form tutor, it can be signed off and the Pledge is met. We share ideas and examples on how to develop CFSA Character in different ways.
We also award achievement points which are linked to the 7 Character traits so that students can receive acknowledgment, for example, when they have shown good Leadership during lessons or throughout of lesson experiences. We also constantly refer to CFSA Character in school assemblies and celebrate achievements in half termly assemblies. We take the opportunity to link our Co-curricular programme to the CFSA Character traits and reward students with House Points.
In addition, we set CFSA Character Challenges each term holiday, which allows students to continue to develop their CFSA Character when they are out of school, such as our Summer Well-Being Challenge.
We would very much encourage you to talk about our CFSA Character values with your child at home in order to reinforce their importance.
We also reward our students here at CFS with House Points. We do this via a system called ClassCharts where we can award points in/out of the classroom for one of the Character Traits. When students reach a certain number of house points for a Character Trait, they will receive a badge to attach to their school uniform. As a parent/carer, you can see how your child is doing by tracking their progress on the ClassCharts app for parents.
If you have not logged on already, please contact the school for your login details.
