Our Ethos, Values and Mission Statement
Our Ethos
The whole ethos of Warter C.E. Primary School is to provide every child with a happy, caring, learning environment in which he or she can develop their full potential - whatever their needs and irrespective of their ability, race or gender.
Our Mission Statement
The aim of our school is to enable every child to grow intellectually, morally, spiritually and physically in a caring Christian community. We seek to help children achieve their full potential by encouraging a love of learning and the development of self-esteem and confidence. As a Church school we aim to develop Christian values and foster a respect for other people and their beliefs, as positive participants in the world community.
Our Values
At Warter, our school vision is:
“He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40.
During the academic year 2018 – 2019 the school staff, members of the governing body and children in school have reviewed and redefined the school vision, values and aims.
During this body of work each group unpacked the Church of England’s Vision for Education as the starting point and explored what is meant by the deeply Christian vision, with the promise by Jesus of “life in its fullness” at its heart.
“they might have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10
To support our discussions and reviews of the vision, values and aims ,we also explored the four key areas of the Church of England’s vision.
- Educating for wisdom, knowledge and skills.
- Educating for hope and aspiration.
- Educating for community and living well together.
- Educating for dignity and respect.
With an agreed understanding that the Bible and the national vision for Church Schools is deeply rooted in the work of Warter, the next phrase was to share the aspirations of the school and its community.
Redefining our vision
Before the review process, the school vision was: At Warter School we learn, grow and achieve together. Using this starting point, staff discussed and agreed that the school’s work was wider than just the children. Admitting a child onto the school roll is actually admitting a whole family into the school community, and creating a firm foundation to learn, grow and achieve throughout their primary school years.
The governors, parents, staff and children then focused on a bible quote which would embrace our thoughts.
“He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” Psalm 40.
At Warter School we are working together to provide a solid foundation to learn, grow and achieve through our Christian values of hope, perseverance, friendship and respect.
This encompasses elements of our previous vision but celebrates the communities focus on creating firm foundations for all our children who travel through Warter School.
Our Christian Values
The need to underpin every aspect of our school’s work with Christian Values is essential. Recognising and understanding the importance of these values was equally important. The school has successfully focused on the values of Friendship, Respect and Hope but after consultation with the staff and children the need to add Perseverance was identified. This is a value the children focus on regularly and live all aspects of their life through.
As a result of our discussions and the needs of our children in school we identified: hope, perseverance, respect and friendship as the school Christian Values.
Hope: Christians see their hope in God’s promise “that love and goodness have, and will ultimately, overcome all evil”. This hope is manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Values for Life, Jumping Fish)
Christian hope is grounded in the love and faithfulness of God. It is a firm confidence that God is a ‘strong rock’ and one whose promises can be trusted.
Psalm 73:26
There is always hope.
Perseverance: An observation by many staff is that our children are determined to reach their potential in all areas of life, therefore ensuring a culture of perseverance is recognised as essential throughout the school.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Respect: As a Church school, we value all God’s children. God has created a beautiful world and we respect his creation by being kind to each other and by looking after the environment. We pay attention to each other’s ideas, feelings and possessions, and take care of our school environment.
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.
Friendship: Christians believe they can call God their friend because of the relationship made possible through Jesus. (Values for Life, Jumping Fish)
‘A friend loves at all times.’ Proverbs 17:17
‘If one falls down, a friend can lift him up’. Ecclesiastes 4:10
We undertook a significant body of work with the children and all stakeholders to explore these values further. In our hall, we proudly display these values and key ideas around them, for example, how the children view the value as being important to them and how living these out will help them have better lives. Alongside each value the children have created a range of pieces of artwork. The children have parables from the Bible which they can relate to each value and how the value is lived out.
Summary
Following the revision of our school vision, values and aims we decided we wanted to revisit how we celebrated our school values each week. With this in mind, from September 2019 we revised our weekly Christian Values Award. This award is given to at least one child from each class who is identified by the class Values Champions. Children are chosen for this award by demonstrating the school values of: hope, perseverance, respect and friendship. These certificates are presented during the celebration collective worship on Friday afternoon and recorded weekly in our Golden Book.
The reasons why children have been chosen are shared for the whole school to celebrated and highlight these reasons. As a result of this, children clearly and fully understand how our Christian values are lived out at Warter.
Why are the Christian Values important to us?
Christian Value
Why is it important to Warter?
Christian hope is grounded in the love and faithfulness of God. It is a firm confidence that God is a ‘strong rock’ and one whose promises can be trusted.
There is always hope.
Psalm 73:26
As a Church school, we value all God’s children. God has created a beautiful world and we respect his creation by being kind to each other and by looking after the environment. We pay attention to each other’s ideas, feelings and possessions, and take care of our school environment.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.
Matthew 7:12
An observation by many staff is that our children are determined to reach their potential in all areas of life, therefore ensuring a culture of perseverance is recognised as essential throughout the school.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Christians believe they can call God their friend because of the relationship made possible through Jesus. (Values for Life, Jumping Fish).
“A friend loves at all times.’
Proverbs 17:17
