Our vision and values are at the core of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens.

Our Vision

‘Let all that you do be done with love’ (1 Corinthians 16:14-22)

As a Church of England school what we do is influenced by the Christian faith. We hope that as the children journey through the school they will begin to understand God’s heart for them, to know that His love is both wide and deep and that he delights in their very being.

 

Our School Values, based on Christian principles are embedded and reflected in all that we do. These Values have been chosen by the school community as a set of moral standards we should understand and try to ‘live’. They align with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Friendship

 ‘I am friendly and caring in my words and actions.’

We start each new year with this Christian Value and renewing old friendships and supporting the forging of new ones. Through friendship children understand love outside of the family home and they have a wider support network and community to care for them. 

“ I have called you friends as I have told you everything I have heard from my father” John 15:15

Peace

‘I develop my Spirituality through connection to myself, others and the wider world.’

We create a peaceful and calm learning environment for children to thrive. Children have regular opportunities through worship and prayerful spaces to reflect and find stillness discovering Spirituality.  

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 

Perseverance

‘I don’t give up and I bounce back from my mistakes.’

We link our Christian Value to our Big Idea of Resourcefulness to ensure that children understand the power they have to make progress and flourish when they don’t give up and keep trying to be the best that they can be.  

Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” 

Forgiveness

‘I can say sorry when I hurt someone else and I know how to forgive someone who has hurt me.’

Using the Lord’s prayer we remember that Jesus taught us all the importance of forgiveness and that we too can be forgiven when we say sorry, feel sorry and show sorry. Matthew 6:9-13 

Truthfulness

‘I am honest and helpful and make the right choices.’

We want our children to be Courageous advocates speaking their truth bravely to the world. Children are encouraged to be true to themselves and their beliefs and to reflect on how Jesus set the example for living in this way.  

“I am the way and the truth and the life” John 14:6 

Thankfulness

‘I appreciate the beautiful world around me and those who help me to be the best that I can be.’

At St Nicholas singing is very important to us and is special time for us to come together joyfully to celebrate important times of the year and to praise God. We are thankful for God’s creation and those who help us in our community. This is celebrated at the end of each year in Worldly day.  

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" (Psalm 95:2). 

Love

‘I have love for myself, for others and for the world around me.’

I demonstrate our Biblical Vision of  " Let everything you do be done with love" through our Motto of Learn, Achieve, Grow Together, in love. 

Our ‘moral garden’ designed by the school is a reflection of everything that underpins what we do as a school. The biblical vision is at the heart of this graphic to demonstrate that it is at the heart of all we do.

 

The Christian ethos of the school is further supported through our simple school rules.

 

 

Our 6 curriculum drivers (Big Ideas) further complement our Christian vision by ensuring our curriculum enables all children to flourish and develop their character.

 

What does it mean to be a Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School?

Our School is designated with a religious character, our School’s religious authority is the Diocese of Salisbury.  Recognising our historic foundation, we will preserve and develop the school's religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the churches at parish and diocesan level.

From the earliest days, the purpose of Church schools was to enable children to flourish by providing a basic education and by developing their moral character. It was always intended that Church schools should be open to all of the children of the parish. Our School aims to support children and their families by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice.  It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

Church of England schools are not ‘faith schools’ in the sense of presuming that children are practising Christians or attempting to make converts of them. However, the ethos of the schools is based on distinctively Christian values and they will offer children an experience of faith through collective worship and links with the parish church. Religious Education in Church schools will always include teaching about other faiths.

Church of England schools have Christian beliefs and values at their heart. This means that every child and adult associated with the school is not just important because they are members of the school but also because they are seen as unique individuals within God’s creation.

For more information, please visit: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/education-and-schools and https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/schools and https://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk/

Church schools recognise that as well as academic and emotional intelligence human beings also have spiritual intelligence. The spiritual aspects of life will be recognised, and nurtured alongside the academic and emotional needs of all.

Our School’s Spirituality Statement

St Nicholas’ CE Primary School is committed to being a community which promotes spiritual development. Spirituality looks outwards to reflect on the natural world, the environment and human capacities and achievement. It looks inwards to reflect on beliefs, values, feelings, hopes, dreams, ideals and aspirations. This reflection shapes the way we think, and feel about creation, ourselves, and other people, and how we respond.

The promise by Jesus of ‘life in all its fullness’ lies at the heart of Christian Spirituality and results in human flourishing. Christian Spirituality reflects the teachings of the Bible and involves the whole life of a person responding to God’s love. As a Church school, we are committed to giving pupils opportunities to explore and reflect on religious faith and particularly the Christian faith.

Our Christian values of love, friendship, peace, truthfulness, forgiveness, perseverance and thankfulness will deepen as we develop our spirituality within the life of the school.

Our School’s Inclusivity Statement:

St Nicholas’ CE Primary School is committed to creating a loving, nurturing community where life can be lived harmoniously together in safety, and where all involved in our school are able to learn, achieve and grow together. We are committed to valuing and upholding the dignity of all pupils, staff, parents and carers, irrespective of religious faith or no faith, ethnicity, gender identity, individual needs, age, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.