Christian Values

Schools and teachers are a major influence on the developing values of children and young people. Children learn values at school from relationships; everyday classroom interactions from the examples set by adults; and, from more formal attempts led by teachers to engage in values education.

Meaning, ethics and vision must shape the practice of education and as a church school we have the responsibility to ground our values in the teachings of the Christian Faith. It is our Christian tradition which gives our values content and the stories we share with children the values' moral substance.

We select 3 Values over the course of the school year to focus on. However, all the values underpin everything we do at Finstock Church of England Primary School and no one value is ever isolated from the others. 

Our Christian Values work within our foundations to help us fulfil our Vision (Providing all children with the highest level of academic curriculum and pastoral care, with opportunities for spiritual growth and intellectual enquiry.) and live out our Mission Statement (Excellence through faith, friendship, courage and respect.) 

 

The Teaching of Values at Finstock Church of England Primary School

These values are ones that are shared by many people in this country because the Christian faith has for centuries been a driving force in our education and legal system and those values have made their mark on our history.

We actively teach our values in all we do. They are the focus of our Collective Worships and our Class Reflection time. They help us develop our strong ethos.

Whilst Finstock Church of England Primary School is a Christian school, we strongly encourage our pupils to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance.

This term's value is Thankfulness 

Luke 22.19: Jesus broke bread and gave thanks. 

1 Chronicles 29.12: All things come from you and of your own do we give you.

Spiritual

The Gospels record that Jesus gave thanks as he broke bread with his disciples in the upper room at the Last Supper. Throughout his whole life Jesus’ attitude was one of trust in God and thanksgiving for His provision:

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. (Matthew 6.28)

Moral

Following Jesus example, we believe that an attitude of thankfulness comes from an active appreciation of what we have. We take time to reflect upon the many blessings that we enjoy acknowledging that some people in our own country as well as in the wider world do not have access to basic necessities such as clean air and space and time to play, education, adequate health care, communication technology or even a healthy diet. We regard as a moral imperative the need to work for a more just world out of an attitude of thankfulness for all we have.

Social

As a community, we recognise the Christian belief that each person is made in God's image and reflects his glory. We are thankful for the uniqueness of every individual member of our school and the gifts that we all bring and share to enrich our corporate life.

Cultural

As a Church of England school, acknowledging the Christian belief that creation is a gift from God, we foster an attitude of thankfulness and respect for nature, aware of its fragility and the impact of human activity on the environment. In all that we do, we try to create a culture of making informed, ethical choices in order to minimise any negative impact on the environment. We also work with other organisations to improve the environment for the future generations.

Last term's value was Justice

Matthew 21.12-13: …my Temple will be called a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a hideout for thieves. (Jesus turning the tables in the temple)

Micah 6. 9: What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Matthew 5. 13-14: ‘You are the salt of the earth………… You are the light of the world.’

Spiritual

esus was passionate and uncompromising in standing against the injustices that he saw in his society. The heart of his message was the proclamation of the ‘The Kingdom of God’ i.e. God’s rule on earth as it is in heaven. The Kingdom is glimpsed when justice and mercy are being lived out. We try our best to model these Kingdom values in our school.

Moral

Following Jesus' example, we believe that we are called to speak up for the truth and out against injustice. We therefore equip children with the skills required to be reflective, become informed and be able to make just judgements for themselves based on facts and evidence.

Social

As a community, we are constantly seeking ways to make our school an even more inclusive, democratic community in which everyone has a voice. We also foster an engagement with out national system of democracy, learning how it operates and how decisions that affect all our lives are made.

Cultural

As a Church of England school, we believe that justice must be seen to be transparent and unbiased. Children as well as adults therefore contribute to policy making on Behaviour and Anti-bullying. We learn about the values that have informed our nation's justice system and the way this system functions to maintain law and order and keep us safe.