Our School Vision

Christian Vision and values

'May the God of peace,... that great Shepherd of sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will.' Hebrews 13:20-21

At the heart of our school is a vision deeply rooted in the Christian narrative of the Good Shepherd (John 10) and the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15; Matthew 18). These stories capture the essence of who we are: a community where every child is known, valued, and cherished. Just as the Good Shepherd gives everything to care for each one of his flock, our staff are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and loving environment in which every child can thrive.

We believe in educating the whole child — their heart as well as their mind. Through a rich, inspiring curriculum, we help our children discover their God‑given talents and become confident, compassionate learners for life. Our aim is to equip every child with all that is good, so they are prepared not only to succeed in the world, but to make it better.

At our school, every child matters. Every child belongs. Every child is encouraged to become the very best they can be, as God intended.

Our Core Values

Love

At our school, love is the golden thread running through everything we do. Rooted in God’s unconditional love for everyone, it shapes our relationships, our learning, and our commitment to one another.

We know every child as an individual and support them in the way they need to thrive. We nurture a community built on respect, inclusion, and celebration of diversity, where every child feels valued and able to grow in confidence.

Love inspires us to look outward too — to care for our community and our world, and to make a positive difference wherever we can. As we receive God’s love, we are empowered to share that love with others through our words, choices, and actions.

'I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.' John 13:34-35

Courage

Jesus has inspired us to be courageous and to stand up for what is right. We believe that with God’s help and with the encouragement of our families, friends and teachers, we can be courageous when facing challenges, stand against injustice and be the best we can be when things are difficult.

‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. Corinthians 16:13-14

Compassion

We educate our children for community and living well together by supporting their developement of compassion for others. Jesus showed kindness, mercy and compassion and the love to everyone. We aim to treat others how we would like to be treated, show empathy in a wide range of circumstances and help people so they feel cared for, just as God cares for us.

‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’. Colossians 3:12

Truth
Our whole school family is built on strong foundations of Truth and Love. In this caring community, every child and adult is encouraged to grow, flourish, and reach their full God‑given potential. We believe that truth is revealed in the Bible and shown perfectly in the life and person of Jesus Christ, guiding us in all we do.

'Therefore, putting away lying, let every man speak truth with his neighbour, for we are members for one another.'
Ephesians 4:25

Our Church School

Our British Values

"It shouldn’t take any intervention from my department to say that young people should be learning the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance and respect ‐ because these British values are fundamentally a good thing. Fundamental British values are the attributes that have in this century and the last, made our country one of the greatest forces for good. They’re the values that bind us together, that mean despite the many differences in our nation, we’re united as one people. … so I’m unapologetic in saying that no school should be exempt from promoting fundamental British values, just as no school should be exempt from promoting rigorous academic standards."

(Rt Hon Nicky Morgan: Why Knowledge Matters, 27 January 2015)

"… the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today."

(David Cameron)

The requirement for schools to prepare pupils for modern life with a focus on British values is relatively new, but Church schools have long been familiar with the need to articulate their fundamental Christian values. Both sets of values overlap and one can clearly argue that the government’s stated British values have emerged from Britain’s long history as a Christian nation.

The key Christian beliefs that underpin both Christian Values and British values are that:

God is a God of order, and that his world should reflect a sense of purpose, not chaos
Every person is made in the image of God, known, loved and valued as a unique creation.
Humans are designed to be interdependent, supporting others and being supported, like a body with many parts.
The Bible provides laws to govern human affairs, but these also show up human weakness and the need for forgiveness
The greatest command is to LOVE – God, oneself, one’s neighbour, and even one’s enemy – and, for a Christian, to love as Christ loved us.

The Bible and British Values

The following Bible passages and stories could be linked to the British value headings. These could be used in the classroom or collective worship, or as general discussion starters.

Democracy

"See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction now choose life that you and your children may live." Deuteronomy 30 v.15‐19
Calling the disciples Matthew 4 v.18‐21
The quarrel about who should sit at Jesus right and left hand in heaven Matthew 20 v.20‐23

Rule of Law

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." Romans 13 v.1
Jesus teaches about the law Matthew 5 v.17‐20
Paying taxes to Caesar Luke 20 v.21‐25
Be “in” the world not “of” the world ‐ Isaiah 2,3,11
The wisdom of Solomon 1 Kings 3 v.16‐28
Zacchaeus Luke 9 v.1‐10
Moses and the Ten Commandments Exodus 20 v.1‐20
Jesus’ new commandment John 13 v.34

Individual liberty

Christ has set us free - Galatians 5 vs 1
The truth sets us free ‐ John 8 v.32
Adam and Eve – free to do wrong ‐ Genesis 2 v. 3
Ten Lepers freed from the constraints of their illness Luke 17 v.11‐19
Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane debating duty ‐ Matthew 26 v.36‐46
The rich young man imprisoned by his own riches ‐ Matthew 19 v.16‐22
The two builders and choosing your lifestyle ‐ Matthew 7 v.24-27
Zacchaeus ‐ Luke 19 v.1‐10 <

Mutual respect

Be devoted to one another, love one another above yourselves ‐ Romans 12 v.10
We are made in the image of God ‐ Genesis 1 v.27
Good Samaritan freely helps his enemy ‐ Luke 10 v.29‐37
Creation is good ‐ Genesis chp 1
The soldier’s unexpected faith in a “subject” teacher ‐ Luke 7 v/1‐10
Mary and Martha, the importance of listening to others ‐ Luke 10 v.38‐41
Jesus washed the disciples feet like the lowliest servant ‐ John 13 v.1‐20
Story of Ruth, respect for relatives and for the poor ‐ Ruth 1‐4

Tolerance of different cultures and religions

Do not judge others and you will not be judged ‐ Matthew 7 v.1
Naaman learns respect for other nations ‐ 2 Kings 5
Good Samaritan ‐ Luke 10 v.29‐37
Jesus and the children his disciples tried to push away ‐ Matthew 19 v.13‐15
The woman at the well, despised by her village yet Jesus got into a theological debate with her ‐ John 4 v.1‐26

At Stoke By Nayland CofE Primary school, British Values should cause us to ask:

Teaching about Brit-ish Values relates to our growing under-standing of Christian Values such as:

Remembering what Christians believe, and putting it into practice, helps us understand British values better…

Here are some examples of things in school which help develop understanding of British Values.

Democracy:

How do we give everyone an equal right to be heard and a shared responsibility to play a positive part in our school community?

· Justice

· Responsibility

· Trust

· Service

· Respect

· Courage

· Truthfulness

Humans are designed to be inter-dependent and every-one has a role to play. For Christians, our role is to be part of a body, working to-gether and governed by Christ, the head of the ‘body’.

· Having a school council with pupils of all ages

· Debating activities in curriculum time

· PSHE

· Highlighting the development of democratic ideas in history lessons

· Ensuring all pupils are listened to by adults – use of worry monsters to ensure that child’s voice can be heard

· Inviting MPs and other speakers to the school

· Holding mock elections at election time

· Encouraging service to the school and to the community as a whole e.g. litter pick

· Discussing service of leaders – specifically Christian Leaders

· Allowing the children to vote when appropriate – ie for school council, for a theme for a competition

Supporting the UKS2 children to fulfil roles such as Library Leads, Digital leads, Junior Road Safety officers

The Rule of Law

How do we help all members of the school community understand the idea that the right rules permit well-being, safety and harmony?

· Justice

· Responsibility

· Trust

· Forgiveness

· Respect

· Wisdom

· Peace

Christians respect the Ten Commandments, and other laws in the Bible, which model right ways to live. They know rules are hard to keep and that they reveal a human propensity to sin or shortcomings. They speak of God’s mercy and for-giveness but know they should not use this as an excuse to break laws.

· Creating class rules and school rules

· Having a clear behaviour policy understood by all

· Understanding rules in various aspects of school life e.g. in the playground / playing sports

· Organising visits from the Police / bikeability

· Highlighting God’s rules in RE e.g. 10 commandments, Jesus’ 2 great commands (love of God and neighbour), in relation to everyday events

· Linking moral values to aspects of civic and political life happening in the news – use of intercessions after Newsround

Individual Liberty

How do we enable every individual in our school community to act on the belief that they have dignity and freedom as a unique and valued individual?

· Responsibility

· Service

· Respect

· Wisdom

· Hope

· Creativity

· Courage

The Bible portrays humans as individuals free to make their own choices about life and behaviour; this includes the ability to choose to do wrong. Humans are not ro-bots but made in the ‘image of God’, able to make deci-sions, to choose to love and do right; this freedom brings risks and responsibili-ties.

· Encouraging students to be independent and creative in their learning

· Providing students with opportunities for personal reflection - reflect is one of our school learning behaviours

· Discussing moral issues in PSHE, History and RE

· Giving encouragement and support to express personal aspirations and goals

· Creating opportunities for pupils to realise they are significant, unique and precious individuals - THRIVE

Discussion of topical issues from watching Newsround - use of intercessions after Newsround to ensure children have opportunities to reflect

Mutual Respect

How do we reward the ability to see the good in others and the use of positive words, attitudes and actions which build up all in our school community?

· Respect

· Friendship

· Humility

· Forgiveness

· Perseverance

· Thankfulness

· Generosity

Jesus said the two great commands were to love God and love your neighbour as you love yourself. It is important to understand our own value as those created and loved by God; and then to realise that others are also created in God’s image and valued by him. We should strive to see not just the best in others but to see ‘God’ in others. We should love one another as Christ has loved us. St Paul encourages Christians in his letters to use our words and actions to build others up, not pull them down or apart.

· Having a mission statement that is inclusive

· Promoting respect for others in all personal interactions

· Reinforcing the value of everyone’s opinions in class debates

· Having an effective anti‐bullying policy

· Emphasising in RE and PSHE the belief that every person is unique (“created in the image of God”)

· Active links with High Gate

· Active links with TGS

· Supporting charities but not in such a way as to encourage feelings of superiority / inferiority between donor and recipients – Children in Need/Comic Relief/Tickled Pink – local charities chosen by the children

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

How do we actively celebrate diversity in our school community, modelling tolerance, and the ability to listen with respect and to disagree without rancour?

· Respect

· Friendship

· Compassion

· Humility

· Peace

· Trust

Forgiveness

The Bible teaches that we are all unique creations loved by God. It follows that because we are unique, we are not all alike and have to learn to live with difference.

Everyone has a right to dignity and respect as a human being but that does not mean that all ideas are equally right or good. Christians should speak up for what is right and not tolerate injustice.

Where people differ in culture, there is room for joy in diversity. Where there is difference in belief and faith, there is always room for love and respect even if agreement is not possible.

· Highlighting on the school website how RE provides learning about the beliefs and traditions of religious communities as a basis for understanding and respecting them

· Making RE a valued and popular subject, promoting it with staff, pupils and parents, and resourcing it well

· Showing how Jesus encouraged love for those others rejected in his life and teachings (e.g. Parable of the Good Samaritan)

· Ensuring debate about the meaning of ‘tolerance’ and ‘tolerate’

· Offering practice for pupils in learning how to disagree well

· Showing respect on visits to places of worship and in Collective Worship

Meeting and interacting well with a wide variety of people from different contexts and sharing experiences with them e.g. picnics, sports events, High Gate visits, Residentials, Visitors to school

Our Collective Worship

Staff	Governors
Friends	Pupils
School Dog