Our ethos and values describe the manner in which the school operates. They describe the way in which those associated with the school – staff, governors, children, parents and carers, and the local community should behave towards each other.

The foundations of our church represent our values and ethos in terms of giving the school a strong base from which to build and develop.

Supportive

We believe in being a supportive and caring school with a strong sense of community, equality and diversity.

We :

• are a caring community
• are supportive of each other
• are tolerant

Openness

We want to be an inclusive school which is open and approachable.

We:

• are welcoming and open to all
• show consistency in our dealings with each other
• are good clear communicators
• demonstrate flexibility and adaptability

Honesty

We believe that all involved with the school should value honesty, compassion and forgiveness.

We :

• demonstrate compassion
• are forgiving
• understand the needs and the differences of others

Trust

We believe that there should be mutual trust on the part of everyone associated with the school and in the behaviour of the staff and governors.

We :

• trust each other
• treat children as individuals
• ensure a safe environment

Expectations

We have high expectations of behaviour, progress and attainment of everyone in the school.

We :

• have high expectations
• know our strengths and weaknesses
• are continually learning
• are highly motivated
• celebrate all achievement and show a sense of pride
• work together towards the same goals
• always encourage
• are equal in our treatment of all
• are respectful of each other
• accept differences
• listen and hear
• are empathetic

“Everyone is encouraged to grow in body, mind and spirit as part of our caring Christian community and we celebrate the uniqueness of each individual. We promote equality and diversity through our shared Christian values of compassion, forgiveness and trust and inspire a life-long love of learning.”

“Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you in Christ.” Ephesians 4:32

Our vision describes how the school should develop and what the children will have achieved when they leave the school.

Our vision is like the body of the church. It represents what the school is aspiring to achieve and what it is trying to reach towards.

Potential

We want all children to realise their full potential and to make excellent progress from their starting point and to develop as determined and adaptable learners.

We want our children to be:

• realising their full potential
• independent and lifelong learners
• aspirational and have high self esteem
• emotional resilient
• creative
• able to persevere
• determined

Community

We want to maintain our strong sense of community. We want to have positive relationships within school and to be involved fully with the local community and church. We want to understand our place within the local community and to build links with the wider world.

We want our children to be:

• valuable members of the local community
• aware of the wider world
• empathetic
• responsible members of society
• good communicators
• able to work as part of a team
• ready to move with their lives

Aspiration

We want to inspire all children to achieve their best.

We want our children to be:

• inspired to achieve their full potential
• ambitious with broad horizons
• resourceful
• confident
• empowered
• enthusiastic
• adaptable and flexible

Respect

We want everyone in school to feel valued as individuals and to be mutually respectful. We want everyone to behave appropriately with compassion, trust and forgiveness towards others.

We want our children to be:

• respectful of each other and of themselves
• compassionate
• trusting
• forgiving
• kind
• able to develop a good moral framework with Christian values

Equality

We want to be an inclusive school where all children from all backgrounds, faiths and abilities are treated as individuals and have equal opportunity to develop as independent, lifelong learners in a safe and caring environment.

We want our children to be:

• tolerant of differences
• safe and know how to keep themselves safe
• able to celebrate the achievements of themselves and of others
• mentally and physically healthy

Our STRATEGY DIRECTION - Strategic Plan - for achieving our vision and ethos over the next five years provides a robust framework for setting priorities, creating accountability and monitoring progress.

Our Strategic Plan is like the spire of the church which provides the central direction pointing upwards. The structure of our governing body and staff committees provide the basis through which the plan will be acted upon and monitored.

Our committee structure is:

Full governing body – where all work of committees is overseen and where governing body approval for actions is agreed.

Standards and Curriculum – where standards and progress of pupils’ achievements are monitored and where the curriculum policies and developments are reviewed and agreed.

Safeguarding – where all aspects of safeguarding and health and safety are agreed and monitored.

Finance and Staffing – where the budget is agreed and monitored and where staffing needs are discussed and where appointments are made.

Staff team – where day to day actions are agreed and actioned.

Our Strategic Plan

Full governing body

Our plan is to:

• improve outcomes for children in all aspects of their education
• develop community and church links
• develop links with the wider world
• increase the use of visits and visitors to broaden horizons
• ensure the school is sustainable into the future
• develop the governing body
• promote school through publicity, school website and social media

Standards and Curriculum

Our plan is to:

• maintain high standards and rapid progress of all children
• regularly self-evaluate the progress of the plan
• agree clear curriculum policies that are understood and followed by all

Safeguarding

Our plan is to:

• ensure safeguarding is at the heart of school practice
• regularly evaluate safeguarding practice
• agree safeguarding policies and procedures that are understood and followed by all
• develop the school grounds for the use of pupils and the community

Finance and Staffing

Our plan is to:

• improve communication between staff, governors, parents and the community
• invest in continued professional development for all staff
• seek grants for developments
• ensure the budget fits the needs of the school and is monitored carefully to ensure the long term sustainability of the school

Staff team

Our plan is to:

• enable all agreed policies and practices to be carried through consistently
• ensure our vision and ethos are promoted with vigour and professionalism