Catholic schools support students to grow in virtue and to embrace a view of themselves and the world that leads to peace, justice and prospering of the whole of creation. Horizons of Hope: Vision and Context (2016, p.5)

Families and communities aspire for their children to succeed as engaged learners and citizens.

In Catholic school communities, spiritual engagement permeates all dimensions of life. In dialogue with the Catholic faith, all learners are encouraged to engage their ‘head, heart and hands’ as a means of developing their evolving narrative and supporting their ongoing growth. Engagement with schooling is reflected in children and young people’s disposition towards learning, their desire for competence and understanding, their capacity to work with others and their ability to function productively [42].

Engagement occurs at a behavioural, emotional and cognitive level [43]. Behavioural engagement refers to students’ participation in education, including the academic, social and extra-curricular activities of the school. Emotional engagement encompasses students’ attachment and responses in the classroom and wider school environment. It is strongly aligned to their sense of belonging or connectedness to their learning environment and school community – including peers, staff members and family [44]. Cognitive engagement relates to students’ investment in learning, their intrinsic motivation, commitment and self-regulation. As active agents in their learning, self-regulated learners are better able to organise, plan, self-monitor, self-evaluate, and self-instruct. They have the capacity to contribute and make meaningful decisions about a range of issues that affect them and impact their world.

Empowerment is critical for students to see themselves as competent, capable learners and valued citizens within the classroom and beyond. Practices that encourage active participation and authentic ‘student voice’ in decisions that impact their safety, wellbeing and learning enhance students’ self-worth and confidence45. Socially, engagement with schooling can develop leadership qualities, foster positive relationships and respect for others, improve communication skills and encourage a greater sense of responsibility [46, 47, 48]. At a broader civic level, engagement builds children and young people’s awareness and understanding of the skills, attitudes, beliefs and values that will predispose them to participate and remain engaged in their community. In Catholic schools, engagement through a call to service and ‘reaching out’ beyond self for the Common Good enables students to promote justice, inclusion and equity [49].

Learning environments that provide opportunities for children and young people to co-construct knowledge, and cultivate curiosity, creativity, imagination, inquiry, experimentation and investigation, are more likely to engage and motivate students to invest in their learning as critical thinkers. Providing greater autonomy in learning increases students’ awareness of their progress, achievements and resourcefulness [50]. It contributes to feelings of enhanced competence, self-esteem, resilience, persistence, enjoyment, satisfaction and success [51].
Horizons of Hope: Vision and Context (2016, p.5)

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