Christian Vision and values

'Apply your heart to discipline, and your ears to the words of knowledge.’ Proverbs 23:12

At Stoke by Nayland, we educate the whole child - their heart and mind. Our children become learners for life through the rich curriculum we provide that builds on the talents of every individual to ensure they reach their full potential, as God intended. Our core values emphasise the importance of educating the heart as well as the mind, by teaching our children to be courageous, creative, compassionate and curious. We want every child to know their own immeasurable worth and that they are known by a God who loves and cares for them.

Our Core Values

Our core values were decided upon with input from all stakeholders, they summarise what Stoke by Nayland C of E Primary School stands for.

Courage

Jesus has inspired us to be courageous and to stand up for what is right. We believe that with God’s help and with the encouragement of our families, friends and teachers, we can be courageous when facing challenges, stand against injustice and be the best we can be when things are difficult.

‘Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go’. Joshua 1:9

Compassion

Jesus showed kindness, mercy and compassion, and the love of God for everyone. At Stoke by Nayland we aim to treat others how we would like to be treated, show empathy in a wide range of circumstances and help people so they feel cared for, just as God cares for us.

‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’. Colossians 3:12

Creativity

We believe life is a gift entrusted by God and each person has a creative spirit to enjoy, celebrate and explore this world in all its mystery and diversity. At Stoke by Nayland we value the unique talents of everyone and endeavour to use them creatively for our own enjoyment, to give pleasure to others and to make a difference in this world.

‘We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us’. Romans 12:6

Curiosity

We believe curiosity is what God uses to make us wise so we can avoid the traps of sin. A curious mind is open to new discoveries and to God’s dynamic and creative work in this world. Curiosity about God anchors us in God’s strength as we ask more, seek more and learn more. At Stoke by Nayland we encourage our children to be curious, igniting a passion for learning and recognising right from wrong.

‘When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’. John 8:12

Learning Culture

What outcomes do we want for the children of Stoke?

Our children will be the best that they can be, reaching their full potential academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. They will leave Stoke by Nayland with firm foundations in all curriculum areas; they will have been immersed in a wealth of enriching experiences and will hold learning behaviours that will enable them to be learners for life. At Stoke by Nayland, our children will know that God is on their side and a friend to them - whom they can confide in, ask for help and thank for blessings.

We achieve this by:

• Providing an exciting knowledge-rich curriculum that builds on prior knowledge and understanding
• Building enrichment sessions into each topic to enhance learning and give opportunities for awe and wonder
• Challenging children of all abilities
• Explicitly teaching positive learning behaviours
• Providing Collective Worship each day to allow children to connect with God 

What attitudes do we want our children to possess?

Our core values of Courage, Creativity, Compassion and Curiosity, mean the children of Stoke by Nayland embrace a positive attitude towards life and learning, and a self-belief that they can do anything they put their mind to. Our children take responsibility for their own learning and are kind and considerate towards others.

Positive Learning Behaviours

• Managing distractions
• Becoming absorbed in learning
• Persevering when learning is challenging
• Reflecting on learning and behaviours
• Being empathetic
• Showing independence
• Working collaboratively

What learning culture do we create at Stoke by Nayland? 

At Stoke by Nayland, we know that learning takes patience, courage and resilience. We know that learning is a journey and that all of us make mistakes as part of that journey. We recognise that our children are individuals and sometimes need a personalised approach to enable them to experience success. As part of this, we teach the children about equity.

We know that children thrive academically when they feel safe and secure, so we pride ourselves on offering a curriculum that educates the whole child, and we ensure that we celebrate both academic and non-academic success by:

• Being an inclusive school
• Following the school rules of being Ready, Respectful and Safe
• Educating our children in self-regulation
• Celebrating success across the curriculum

What aspirations do we have for our children?

At Stoke by Nayland we encourage everyone to dream big and go for their goals. We want our children to be confident individually, socially and in their own abilities, to become well-rounded, reflective problem solvers with the confidence to take on whatever challenges life throws at them knowing that God is always by their side.

We are a Church of England School with an inclusive admissions policy - everyone is very welcome at our school. Our ethos is based on Christian values and these underpin our approach to learning and understanding the world around us. We encourage children to think, to listen and ask questions about faith and beliefs, and learn about the varied cultural world that we live in.

We have a close relationship with the local ministers and churches and they regularly come into school for assemblies, services and special events. Each week we have an 'Open the Book' collective worship, which explores a different story from the bible. Members of the church community run ‘Kidz Club’, a weekly after school club held at our school.

We also endeavour to provide experience of other religions by inviting visitors to share what their faith means to them.

"It shouldn’t take any intervention from my department to say that young people should be learning the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance and respect ‐ because these British values are fundamentally a good thing. Fundamental British values are the attributes that have in this century and the last, made our country one of the greatest forces for good. They’re the values that bind us together, that mean despite the many differences in our nation, we’re united as one people. … so I’m unapologetic in saying that no school should be exempt from promoting fundamental British values, just as no school should be exempt from promoting rigorous academic standards."

(Rt Hon Nicky Morgan: Why Knowledge Matters, 27 January 2015)

"… the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today."

(David Cameron)

The requirement for schools to prepare pupils for modern life with a focus on British values is relatively new, but Church schools have long been familiar with the need to articulate their fundamental Christian values. Both sets of values overlap and one can clearly argue that the government’s stated British values have emerged from Britain’s long history as a Christian nation.

The key Christian beliefs that underpin both Christian Values and British values are that:

• God is a God of order, and that his world should reflect a sense of purpose, not chaos
• Every person is made in the image of God, known, loved and valued as a unique creation.
• Humans are designed to be interdependent, supporting others and being supported, like a body with many parts.
• The Bible provides laws to govern human affairs, but these also show up human weakness and the need for forgiveness
• The greatest command is to LOVE – God, oneself, one’s neighbour, and even one’s enemy – and, for a Christian, to love as Christ loved us.

The Bible and British Values

The following Bible passages and stories could be linked to the British value headings. These could be used in the classroom or collective worship, or as general discussion starters.

Democracy

• "See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction now choose life that you and your children may live." Deuteronomy 30 v.15‐19
• Calling the disciples Matthew 4 v.18‐21
• The quarrel about who should sit at Jesus right and left hand in heaven Matthew 20 v.20‐23

Rule of Law

• "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." Romans 13 v.1
• Jesus teaches about the law Matthew 5 v.17‐20
• Paying taxes to Caesar Luke 20 v.21‐25
• Be “in” the world not “of” the world ‐ Isaiah 2,3,11
• The wisdom of Solomon 1 Kings 3 v.16‐28
• Zacchaeus Luke 9 v.1‐10
• Moses and the Ten Commandments Exodus 20 v.1‐20
• Jesus’ new commandment John 13 v.34

Individual liberty

• Christ has set us free - Galatians 5 vs 1
• The truth sets us free ‐ John 8 v.32
• Adam and Eve – free to do wrong ‐ Genesis 2 v. 3
• Ten Lepers freed from the constraints of their illness Luke 17 v.11‐19
• Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane debating duty ‐ Matthew 26 v.36‐46
• The rich young man imprisoned by his own riches ‐ Matthew 19 v.16‐22
• The two builders and choosing your lifestyle ‐ Matthew 7 v.24-27
• Zacchaeus ‐ Luke 19 v.1‐10 <

Mutual respect

• Be devoted to one another, love one another above yourselves ‐ Romans 12 v.10
• We are made in the image of God ‐ Genesis 1 v.27
• Good Samaritan freely helps his enemy ‐ Luke 10 v.29‐37
• Creation is good ‐ Genesis chp 1
• The soldier’s unexpected faith in a “subject” teacher ‐ Luke 7 v/1‐10
• Mary and Martha, the importance of listening to others ‐ Luke 10 v.38‐41
• Jesus washed the disciples feet like the lowliest servant ‐ John 13 v.1‐20
• Story of Ruth, respect for relatives and for the poor ‐ Ruth 1‐4

Tolerance of different cultures and religions

• Do not judge others and you will not be judged ‐ Matthew 7 v.1
• Naaman learns respect for other nations ‐ 2 Kings 5
• Good Samaritan ‐ Luke 10 v.29‐37
• Jesus and the children his disciples tried to push away ‐ Matthew 19 v.13‐15
• The woman at the well, despised by her village yet Jesus got into a theological debate with her ‐ John 4 v.1‐26

Collective Worship is a focus point of our day where we all join together to share success, think about the world around us and reinforce the ethos and values of our school. An important part of our Collective Worship is where we give children and sometimes staff, the opportunity to share the peace and listen to stories in various forms, that are based on Christian values and themes and how they relate to lives in the past and the present. There is a time for quiet and reflection and for those who wish to, to take part in prayer. Our worship is inclusive and respect for different beliefs or faith systems is important. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from part or all of Collective Worship, but on the rare occasions when parents are unsure, we are very happy to meet and discuss our approach.

Each half term we have a specific theme for our collective worships. We are currently following Cycle one.

View our 4 year cycle