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 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.

 

 

Last term's value was Perseverance 

Hebrews 12.1: Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us that is before us.

Deuteronomy 13.6: The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you of forsake you

Spiritual

Despite opposition and adversity, Jesus did not compromise or lose heart in his determination to accomplish his mission. We recognise that sometimes we will face difficulties and personal challenges in life but we know that we can pray for God's help because he has promised never to leave us.

Moral

As the life of Jesus exemplifies, standing for justice and doing what we believe to be right, may not always result in change immediately. Sometimes we may feel discouraged. At our school, we teach that perseverance and endurance are important qualities in developing character.

Social

As a community, we value and celebrate perseverance, encouraging one another consistently to take one step at a time to achieve our goals. We offer a wide range of opportunities for children to volunteer in social enterprises and to work with others from a range of ages and backgrounds to foster co-operation and collaboration in problem solving. 

Cultural

We aim to foster a culture that recognises that ‘quick wins’ are not always possible and are often not sustainable. We believe that the principle of ‘training well’ is usually more fruitful in building character than ‘trying harder’. We actively seek out contemporary as well as historical role models who have achieved their goals through persevering, even in the toughest of circumstances.