Living our motto

The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one has to do. 

James M. Barrie

Our school motto - Inservi Deo et laetare - translates as ‘Serve God and be Joyful’. These words capture something profound about the spirit we hope to cultivate in our pupils: a life of purpose, service, and joy.

Service to others is a powerful source of fulfilment. Research in positive psychology supports this idea. Studies by Dr Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania show that people who dedicate time to helping others experience higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.

Similarly, the Greater Good Science Centre at the University of California, Berkeley has demonstrated that acts of generosity and service strengthen relationships, improve wellbeing, and create a sense of meaning.  Our motto reminds us that joy often arises not from self-centred pursuits but from contributing to something greater than ourselves. Whether through kindness, leadership, community engagement, or simple daily acts of care, pupils learn that service is a path to fulfilment.

When children understand that their actions can positively influence others, they begin to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from purposeful living. To this end, pupils are encouraged to think of others, to be aware of the needs of our wider world and community. The plethora of fundraising and volunteering undertaken by our pupils is testimony to this spirit, as is there inclusive and supportive approach to those who have joined our community having had to flee from other arts of the world where home is no longer safe. These qualities of altruism and service are visible everyday in our school and cathedral communities and are clear evidence of us living our motto and values.

Inservi Deo et laetare