Our Core Christian Values
Our children know our values in two ways: through our hands and our school song.
Click here for Our Values Song
Click on the value icon to find out more
Our six core Christian values of Love & Friendship, Forgiveness, Trust, Respect, Resilience, and Community support the Christian Distinctiveness at our school. Our values are firmly embedded in all we do – from the way we learn together, the way we treat ourselves and others, the way in which our curriculum develops prosperous adults of the future, and in celebrating our talents and achievements as a church community.
Our vision, Achieve, Believe and Create Together, has grown from a unified response to what we believe we are here to do, passionately echoing the vision of the Church of England’s vision for Education, to ‘live life in all its fullness’. Our vision is firmly rooted in scripture and informs the life of our school and our church community.
Every half-term, a core value is introduced during Collective Worship. ‘Windows, Mirrors and Doors’, designed by Liz Mills, is a powerful tool used to develop personal reflection and social action. Opportunities are created for our children to develop a robust knowledge of key Bible stories that teach the values, as well as stories from other world faiths and views, cultures, and non-religious stories that focus on Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development.
Our curriculum provides real-life opportunities for our children to develop character by a taking a led on social action that is driven by what they believe in.
We welcome visitors into our happy school to witness how we LIVE our VISION through our VALUES!
Love & Friendship
Love – As God showed his love to us through Jesus Christ, we show how much we care for others in our school and wider world through supporting them practically and in prayer.
1 John 4:26. God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.
Friendship – Through developing bonds across the school community as we work and play, and care for each other.
Proverbs. 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend
How does our value link to our vision Achieve, Believe and Create Together?
ACHIEVE – Love is at the centre of scripture and is at the centre of all we do as we work together to achieve. Good friendships = happy children = individuals who can fulfil their potential as successful learners together to ‘live life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10).
Stories that Teach about this Value Bible Stories
– David and Jonathon (1 Samuel 18)
– Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1)
– Jesus and Peter (Matthew 16:18)
– The Good Samaritan (Luke 10)
Stories from other World Religions and Views, and Cultures
– It’s a …Mitzvah (Judaism) by Liz Suneby & Diane Heiman
– The Bald Boy and the Magic Seal (Origin: Turkey)
– Friends Forever (Origin: Ghana)
– The Four Fox Cubs (Origin: Pakistan)
– Rama and Sita (Hinduism)
Non-religious stories
– Mr Big by Ed Vere
– There’s a Boy Just Like Me by Frasier Cox
– Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Forgiveness
Forgiveness – Because we understand that we all make mistakes and failure doesn’t have to have the last word.
Matthew 18:22. “How often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!”
How does our value link to our vision Achieve, Believe and Create Together?
ACHIEVE – We all make mistakes. Forgiveness offers the opportunity to move forward, to have a New Start, to make these steps together, as we achieve together.
Stories that Teach about this Value
Bible Stories
– Joseph and His Brothers (Genesis 37, 42-45)
– The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32)
– The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
– Peter Denies Jesus (Luke 22:54-62) and is Forgiven (John 21)
Stories from other World Religions and Views, and Cultures
– My Special Angels: The Two Noble Scribes (Islam) by Razana Noor and Omar Burgess
– The Magic Mirror (Origin: Spain)
Non-religious stories
– Will You Forgive Me? by Sally Grindle
– Martha Doesn’t Say Sorry by Samantha Berger
– Don’t be Cross, Goldilocks! by Sue Nicholson & Laura Brenlla
Trust
Trust – By valuing trust and knowing that it can take only a moment for it to be broken, we work hard to earn others’ trust and to take special care of it.
Proverbs 28:26. Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
How does our value link to our vision Achieve, Believe and Create Together?
BELIEVE – Safe guarding our pupils is our top priority. Trust in our school community ensures that we have safe and happy pupils, who believe in themselves and in others, and develop healthy mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Stories that Teach about this Value
Bible Stories
– Daniel and the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)
– Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17)
– The Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-27)
– Moses and the Exodus (Exodus 4-14)
– Jesus walks on water (Matthew 14: 22-33)
Stories from other World Religions and Views, and Cultures
– My Special Angels: The Two Noble Scribes (Islam) by Razana Noor and Omar Burgess
– Chattaboonga’s Chilling Choice – A story about trusting God by Shelia Wash
Non-religious Stories
– Hugo – The Promise by Suzy Lieberman
– Trust Me, Mom! by Angela McAllister
– It wasn’t me (Honesty) by Brian Moses
– The Lion and the Mouse by Gail Herman and Lisa McCue
– The Promise: The Island of Commitment by Suzy Liebermann
– The Boy who Cried Wolf – Aesop’s Fable
Respect
Respect – By valuing every individual for their uniqueness; celebrating similarities and differences and all that they bring to our school community.
1 Peter 2:16 Show respect for everyone.
How does our value link to our vision Achieve, Believe and Create Together?
BELIEVE – In the belief that all children have the potential to achieve economic well-being, irrespective of background and social standings.
CREATE – Through creating opportunities to celebrate and respect our differences and similarities, in understanding that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s opinion and person is of equal value.
Stories that Teach about this Value
Bible Stories
– Zacchaeus The Tax Collector (Luke 19: 1-10)
– Washing of the Feet (John 13:1-17)
Stories from other World Religions and Views, and Cultures
– Hats of Faith by Medeia Cohan
– Lailah’s Lunchbox (Ramadan) by Reem Faruqi
– The Beauty of Difference (Origin: Iran)
– The Lion with the Red Eyes (Origin: Somalia)
Non-religious Stories
– I don’t care by Brian Moses
– All Kinds of Families! by Mary Ann Hoberman
– Elmer by David McKee
– There’s a Boy Just Like Me by Frasier Cox
– The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson
Resilience
Resilience -By developing the ability to adapt to change and promoting a ‘can do’ attitude towards finding solution.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage.
How does our value link to our vision Achieve, Believe and Create Together?
BELIEVE – in understanding that life is not always an easy journey and that it may require an extra bit of courage and determination to keep going. In being adaptable, using positive language and developing a Growth Mind Set, we can achieve anything together.
Stories that Teach about this Value
Bible Stories
– Jesus in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)
– Jonah and the Whale (Jonah 1-4)
– The Great Flood (Genesis 7)
– Moses and the Exodus (Exodus 4-14)
Stories from other World Religions and Views, and Cultures
– Hats of Faith by Medeia Cohan
– Oskar and the Eight Blessings (Judaism) by Tanya Simon
– The Lion and the Jackal (Origin: South Africa)
– Turtle and Monkey (Origin: The Philippines)
Non-religious Stories
– Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
– I’d Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio
– The Boy Who Never Game Up by Stephen Curry
Community
Community – through working together to ensure all involved in the school can achieve their full potential in a supportive environment.
Philippians 2:2. Make me truly happy by loving each other and working together with one heart and mind and purpose.
How does our value link to our vision Achieve, Believe and Create Together?
CREATE – In understanding that we are stronger collectively, rather than individually, and that we value what each and every person brings to our community.
Stories that Teach about this Value
Bible Stories
– Feeding the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21)
– The New Church & Pentecost (Acts 2)
– Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)
Seeing the church as a body of different parts where all are needed to build a body (community)
Stories from other World Religions and Views, and Cultures
– Mrs Katz and Tush (Judaism) by Patricia Polacco
– Wisp – A Story of Hope (Refugees & hope) by Zana Fraillon
– Azzi in Between by Sarah Garland
– Strength Lies in Unity (British Regime in Bharat – Hinduism)
Non-religious Stories
– All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
– The Color of Home by Mary Hoffman
– City Shapes by Diana Murray