We warmly welcome you to our Christ Church community . As a Church school, we value our distinctive ethos to which all members contribute.
The Headteacher, school leaders, governors and staff recognise that Christian values underpin our work here. These can be seen in the life of the school and in the relationships between its all in our community. These values, particularly community, stewardship and respect, are demonstrated to our children in our everyday behaviours and highlighted to them in collective worship as well as further opportunities in and out of class.
How do you know that Christ Church CE VC Primary is a Church of England School?
Signs and displays:
There are many outward signs. We clearly proclaim our connection with the Church of England and Christ Church.
There are also signs of the church calendar at particular times of the year (use of liturgical colours, displays to celebrate festivals).
Worship and Prayer
Worship and prayer are seen as central to what we do at Christ Church CE VC Primary School. There is a daily act of Collective Worship. This might be a whole school, Key Stage or class Collective Worship.
Themes for Collective Worship are set by the RE subject leader in collaboration with the Church Team. Themes provide the opportunity for children to reflect, based on Christian values/dispositions. Christian values and Anglican elements form part of each Collective Worship eg Lord’s Prayer, prayer, blessing, song / hymn. The adult leading the Collective Worship helps create a sense of occasion. This may be created through signs and symbols, a piece of music on entry, lighting a candle, use of Assembly table in hall or RE display area in classroom. Collective Worship is carefully prepared to develop the given theme, spiritual development and promote respect for all.
Children know that Collective Worship times are special. They enjoy Collective Worship and participate in them, asking and answering questions, bringing in items from home, sharing artwork or drama. Children contribute to the planning of Collective Worship eg for Friday Collective Worship, prayers. Collective Worship provides the opportunity for staff / children to reflect quietly, and pray. Hymns / music are chosen to reflect the theme of the Collective Worship. Opportunities are taken for worship at Christ Church especially at Harvest and Easter.
We want to encourage children to discover the power of prayer and time spent with God. We have time for prayer (during Collective Worship, before dinner time and at the end of the school day).
Relationship with the church
We have strong links with Christ Church which is located next door to the school. The vicar and the Church team supports the school by leading worship, teaching part of the curriculum, providing experiential learning opportunities, running extra- curricular clubs after school, and governorship. Our pupils LOVE the Open the Book Collective Worship when they join in with the Church Team to role-play Bible stories.
We visit the church for services during Christian festivals and as part of the RE curriculum.
Relationships in school
All these aspects of our school life are very important, but there are other aspects which are just as vital to our school but which are not as easy to portray. These include good relationships with an emphasis upon seeking and receiving forgiveness, welcome, and respect for integrity. Our behaviour policy states clearly how we regard children and how we endeavour to encourage them to adopt the best kind of behaviour for the wellbeing of the school community.
We want you to feel welcome in our school just as we would like all who come here to feel welcome. We make people feel welcome in many ways (i.e. by greeting them at the entrance, speaking to them, inviting them to school events).
Everyone is welcome at Christ Church whether they come from a Christian family, a family of a different faith, or a family with no particular faith background. The same is true of staff. We would like this to be a place where all can flourish and where children (and adults) have the opportunities to learn about the Christian faith, but to have the chance to practice their family faith without fear of prejudice or bullying.
Spirituality
We put spirituality at the heart of education recognising that this is an essential feature of human life and experience. We proclaim the importance of the Christian faith as seen above, and provide opportunities for pupils to develop their ways of living. This is more than encouraging private and collective prayer and praise; it is also through nurturing a concern for others (compassion, service etc.,).
The whole school community of Christ Church ascribe to the following definition of spirituality.
Spirituality is…being fully human.
