Values and Ethos
Our aim is to bring the best out of every pupil that attends St John's
School motto
Expect the best
Vision Statement
Through our love of God and of each other, our children will thrive personally and academically in a happy, safe place of faith and high expectation for all.
Our Vision Explained
St John, along with his brother James, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee before following Jesus’ calling. He was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died and played an important role in founding the early Church. Because he had experienced the unconditional love of Christ first-hand he went on to preach that love.
St John is said to have outlived the other apostles and to have authored several books in the New Testament. In art he is often depicted with a book or an eagle. The feast day of St John is December 27
Inspired by scripture
John 10:10b
Jesus said, 'I came to give life - life in all its fullness.'
Our school values and ethos
We strive to create a school family in which our children are educated and inspired through a love and understanding of God, each other and our world. We will achieve this…
- by developing the school as a nurturing and caring environment; we are a welcoming, happy and safe place for everyone to learn and grow;
- by encouraging all children and adults in our school community, regardless of status, financial circumstance, religious or philosophical background, race, gender, orientation or disability, to gain the skills, knowledge and experience to maximise their full potential in our ever-changing and diverse world;
- we encourage enquiring, healthy minds, good working habits, healthy lifestyles and pride in our work and behaviour – for all, for life;
- we encourage a positive view of and involvement by the whole school community (pupils, parents and carers, teachers, support staff and governors), the wider local community and even wider world in each other’s education and development;
- we provide a curriculum which is broad, balanced, knowledge rich and effective - which challenges each and every child so that their full potential is reached in life, not just in terms of academic attainment and progress.
How we live out our vision
A school family with a beating heart of respect, kindness and high expectation, we encourage all to succeed.
We strive for our children to develop resilience.
We strive for a respectful school.
We strive for a school full of kindness.
All our policies and practice is based around this vision and our values. Our behaviour and SMSC policies in particular highlight the value we place on the personal and spiritual development of every member of our community. Curriculum policies also make clear the faith we have in the potential of every learner and the extent to which we strive to support them in fulfilling that potential.
Every time we look at St John’s symbol, the eagle, in collective worship we are inspired to soar to reach the highest possible achievements.
Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the churches at parish and Diocesan level.
Promoting British Values at St John’s CE Primary
The Government requires schools to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. Through our curriculum, we seek to actively promote the fundamental British values:
- Democracy – Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process
- The rule of law – respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
- Individual liberty - support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
- Mutual respect – respect for all
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs – tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs
These values are reinforced regularly and are taught through a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum. At our school you will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life. We believe that our Christian identity plays an important role in upholding British Values within our school community.
Democracy
Pupil voice is a big part of life at St John’s and democracy is embedded at the school. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. House Captains and vice-captains are elected through a democratic voting system, as are our school council representatives.
Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and questionnaires and are thus involved in making St John’s a better place to learn. The elections of the School Council members and House/team Captains are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. The school council meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout every school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school collective worship. A consistently applied Behaviour Policy is shared with the children and our motto of ‘expect the best’ extends to behaviour as well as achievement. Expectations are reinforced regularly and opportunities are sought frequently to praise positive choices.
Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern, keep us safe and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Each class also discusses and sets its own rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.
Through collective worship and the school’s PSHE curriculum, children develop an understanding of law appropriate to their age.
Individual Liberty
Within our school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We devote a lot of time and effort into creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make these choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety, RE and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Positive Behaviours are taught across the school and every child is aware that they have the right to feel safe. There is a strong anti-bullying culture where children are valued for their differences and care is taken to provide equal opportunities for all.
Time and care is taken to know each child as an individual. Pupils are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights.
Mutual Respect
Our pupils learn together with absolute respect for each other. We change learning partners regularly and every pupil knows that we respect and appreciate each other; no matter what differences may exist. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.Our school ethos emphasises how as a school we unite together and support each other. Mutual respect is at the core of our school life.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Whilst we are a Church of England School, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We celebrate the diversity within our school family. Our value of respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers. We promote respect for individual differences and help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.We believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.