Being a Church School

Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, a former Archbishop of Canterbury wrote:

 ‘A Church School is one in which the atmosphere has that kind of openness about it, that sense that people are worth spending time with, that people need time to grow, need loving attention. The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not. It doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone involved has to share the same theology or philosophy. It doesn’t mean that everyone knows that they have this relationship with God, and is consciously working with it. But a Christian school is one in which the entire atmosphere is pervaded by a conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.’

The Church of England's Vision for Education

Our vision for education is deeply Christian, with Jesus' promise of 'life in all its fullness' at its heart.

In line with the Church of England's role as the established Church, our vision is for the common good of the whole community.

Educating for wisdom, knowledge and skills: enabling discipline, confidence and delight in seeking wisdom and knowledge, and developing talents in all areas of life.

Educating for hope and aspiration: enabling healing, repair and renewal, coping wisely when things go wrong, opening horizons and guiding people into ways of fulfilling them.

Educating for community and living well together: a core focus on relationships, participation in communities and the qualities of character that enable people to flourish together.

Educating for dignity and respect: the basic principle of respect for the value and preciousness of each person, treating each person as a unique individual of inherent worth.

 

The life of our school is rooted in its Church School and Christian tradition. For over 180 years our school has served the village and we welcome and nurture children from all backgrounds, cultures and faiths.  Church Schools do all the things that other schools do; we are safe and brilliant places for children to discover, explore and rise to challenges. We do all of those things, and then we do more because in a Church School we remember that children are a precious gift of God in creation, we believe that they are more than exams and statistics and we back that with a commitment to serve them and see  them shine. We look to inspire all our children with the knowledge and imagination to develop their God given gifts and become happy, thoughtful and resilient.