Our Christian Values
Our Christian ethos, vision and values underpins everything we do. You can explore more about the way our Christian vision enhances our curriculum, approach to inclusion, SEND provision, policies and much more under 'Information' or 'Learning' in the menus at the top of this page.
However, there are some additional ways we show and celebrate our Christian distinctiveness at St Andrew's.
Please see our separate pages below for more information.
DEVELOPING SPIRITUALITY
COLLECTIVE WORSHIP
REFLECTION CORNERS AND PRAYER SPACES
FAITH IN ACTION
JUNIOR CHAPLAINS
VISION, MISSION AND VALUES
St Andrew’s CE Primary School Vision:
Our deeply Christian ethos inspires our service to God and our community. Empowering children with transferable knowledge and skills, and excellence in learning through our ambitious curriculum, prepares them for future success in a global and digital world. Young minds are encouraged to collaborate, be curious and deepen their understanding through fun, purposeful and memorable learning experiences. Children feel happy, safe, included and valued; confident in self-management and expression. Local and global partnerships enrich and enhance children’s opportunities, choice and experiences.
Our distinctive Christian vision is established and promoted by leadership at all levels and enables pupils and adults to flourish through the following strands:
Vision and Leadership
Our school vision (above) and school principles of Wisdom, Grace and Hope are referred to daily within school and underpin every aspect of school life, not just collective worship. All policies and procedures are designed with these principles in mind and every subject leader has unpicked and expanded on this in their curriculum statements. Click here to view our intent, implementation and impact statements for each subject.
Wisdom, Knowledge and Skills
Cross-curricular termly topics ensure a broad and balanced curriculum. Children’s learning is enhanced by practical and real life opportunities. Teachers carry out and use assessments to ensure that sequences of learning build upon what children already know and offer challenge or support where appropriate. The Religious Education (RE) curriculum helps children to consider big questions and children learn about a range of faiths, as well as Christianity, to develop their understanding of tolerance and diversity.
Knowledge and skills based learning objectives are shared with children to encourage independence. Resilience and readiness to learn is a key part of school life. Children have access to a wide variety of digital tools and equipment to prepare them for their future life in an increasingly digital world. Teachers ensure that children understand the real life application of their skills by regularly using context-based learning. Reading, writing, maths and basic skills are practised as much as possible and children have access to class libraries, the whole school library and a wide range of e-books.
Character Development: Hope, Aspiration and Courageous Advocacy
Globally relevant topics such as; 'Blue Planet,' 'What does discrimination mean?' 'Can Fair Trade change the world?', engage children and often lead to social action and further learning. Wider issues, e.g. the environment, racism, bullying, mental health awareness are reflected upon within worship and the curriculum. Pupils have regular opportunities to contribute to national and international campaigns, and recognise their role in making a difference. Children’s spiritual growth is part of everything we do and works alongside development of social, cultural and moral knowledge and skills.
For effective citizenship, life skills are taught through the curriculum within PE, PSHE, RSE, E4S, Computing and RE, this includes learning about the Great British Values. Click here for more information. The school promotes wholeness and life in all its fullness ensuring that pupils have a good understanding of their own emotions to enable to self-regulate through the use of the Zones of Regulation approach. Some children have access to additional support within and out of class, see our SEND page for further details.
Community and Living Well Together
Relationships at all levels are rooted in mutual respect and a shared understanding of the school vision. School staff promote wholeness and life in all of its fullness, building upon the principle of grace and consistently refer to our biblical roots when supporting children to reflect and reconcile. Consequently, pupils’ behaviour is good, attendance has improved and exclusions have reduced. Pupil voice indicates that all children feel included, valued and have a sense of belonging as a unique member of the school community. Pupils have a good understanding of their own and their peers’ needs through regular opportunities to celebrate all types of diversity, including neuro-diversity.
A strong and mutually supportive relationship with the church helps school to contribute the Christian community in Furnace Green and Crawley through regular events. This includes: A community prayer day; the Harvest Appeal; Operation Christmas Shoebox; Christmas Carol service; Easter fundraising and service; shared partner charities with church and school; supporting Cornerstone Academy in Nigeria; and much more! Once a year, each class shares a worship song in the Family Sunday Service at St Andrew’s church. We support pupils to engage with charitable work and topical events throughout the school year including: Children’s Sports Relief; Anti-Bulling Week; Children’s Mental Health Week etc. We aim to create active citizens who deeply understand the Christian concept of service and selflessness.
Parent input and support is valued and proactively sought through: parent consultations; parent surveys; workshops; parent working groups; FOSA; individual learning plan meetings; day-to-day contact and communication; inviting parents to celebrations of learning (pre-COVID); SEND parent forum. Communicating with parents about events and changes to the school curriculum e.g. through termly curriculum newsletters, ensures that parents are aware of their children’s learning. Following parent requests and parent consultation, the school has provided a wraparound care service led by school staff to support working families.
Dignity and Respect
Our commitment to the dignity and ultimate worth of each child and adult in the school community is rooted in our belief that each being is created in the image of God. We ensure that all children and families are welcomed and valued. Our pupils are well rounded, reflective and spiritual citizens who model and live our school principles of Wisdom, Grace and Hope. They are understanding of, and respect the differences of others and view differences as a way to learn from one-another. The school ensures protection for all through robust safeguarding process leading to transformative outcomes within and out of school. Those at risk of disadvantage or who are more vulnerable are well supported with dignity and respect.
Where additional support is needed, our pastoral lead or SLT work with families and external agencies to offer support and keep children safe, ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Promoting good mental health and wellbeing is at the heart of our school life. Staff, children are parents are signposted to mental health support in school and/or to external agencies. This can also be found on the school’s website: https://www.st-andrews-crawley.w-sussex.sch.uk/Emotional-Health-and-Well-Being/
The school follows policies in Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Special Educational Needs and Anti-Bullying in order to ensure that the dignity of children and families is always at the heart of all that we do. The curriculum has a focus on creating opportunities for children to understand and celebrate the diverse culture in which we live. Our cultural capital 'tree' captures all the opportunities children have to develop their life experiences beyond school and learning.
The Impact of Collective Worship
Our pupils regularly tell us about the impact collective worship has upon their friendships, home lives and their learning. Often, pupils are inspired (including children of other faiths and non-faith) by the collective worship theme and request additional time to reflect on the theme. One example involved our Year 5+ 6 classes asking their teacher if they could spend more time reflecting upon the theme of 'WISDOM: Integrity: Stand up for your beliefs' based on the Bible story of Daniel. This led to amazing reflection during Black History Month, where pupils linked their topic learning on Hidden Figures and discrimination to their class worship reflections. Click here to read some of our pupils' comments. (Pupil voice, March 2021 - at this time, worship was shared in class via videos).
The Effectiveness of Religious Education
Please see our RE page for more information on the effectiveness of Religous Education.
Click here to read more about our vision and values.
COMMUNITY VOICE
Our pupils, families and staff talk about the difference being in a Christian school makes to their lives and education.
This section of the website is under development.