Vision
Growing together we inspire each other to achieve our full potential
as courageous lifelong learners.
'Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.' (Colossians 2:7)
As a Church school we are proud to have a ‘distinctive Christian vision which is embedded within the school’s working practice, is established and promoted by leadership at all levels, and which enables both pupils and adults to flourish.’
The Governing Body, having spoken to all of the children, staff and parents, took time to craft a vision that does just that. Our vision is about growing together, developing not in isolation but learning from and with each other. It’s about inspiring learning that provides a solid foundation for the future of all stakeholders. It is about being empowered to learn without limitations. Within this we also recognise the importance of working together within the school but also utilising the valuable resources around us, including our local communities and beyond.
It is aspirational, but then as a school so are we!
Values
We were able to group the key priorities identified by all our key stakeholders (children, staff, parents and Governors) into six core values.
These in turn link to our strapline ‘Growing together’ by spelling the word GROWTH, which also makes our values easier to remember for us all!
Each value has also been identified by a colour, which correlates to the colours of the leaves on our logo.
The different values are explored each half term. The values have also been linked to the Holy Trinity, which again as a Church school is key to how we explore and understand the Christian faith. The structure of the Trinity has determined the order in which we explore each value linked to it.
As a school we have a duty to 'actively promote' the fundamental British Values. These were first set out by the government in the 'Prevent' strategy in 2011 and were defined as:
Therefore we have also linked these to our school values and will be exploring these in different ways through our Collective Worship as well as our teaching.
Aston Rowant Term Faith Focus British Values Bible Verse
Growing Together Trinity Democracy, Law,
Liberty, Respect,
Tolerance
G GRATITUDE Au2 God Father Respect Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever Psalm 136: 1-3
R RESILIENCE Su2 Holy Spirit Liberty I am able to all things through him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
O OUTREACH Sp2 Jesus the Son Respect Whatever you did for your brothers and sisters you did also for me Matt 25:40
W WONDER Au1 God Father Liberty Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Ex 15:11
T TRUST Sp1 Jesus the Son Tolerance, Law I am the way, the truth the life. No-one goes to the father except through me. Jn 14:6
H HARMONY Su1 Holy Spirit Respect, Democracy Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31
Spirituality
Our creative, bespoke curriculum is shaped by our vision for the school. This allows for the development of the whole child both academically and personally. We actively plan to enable pupils to reflect and explore the spiritual dimension of all subjects. We are a highly inclusive school and welcome families from all faiths and none.
Staff, Governors and pupils have worked together to identify how spirituality is at the heart of our school:
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Spiritual development is at the heart of the curriculum and our school |
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Aspects of Spirituality |
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School opportunities |
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A sense of the mystery of life: |
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Creative curriculum Literacy – Poetry/Stories/Non fiction/speaking and listening. Relationships Education Challenges in Maths ‘Big’ questions – RE/Philosophy Reflection areas and sensory garden Sacred spaces - visits Spontaneous awe and wonder moments e.g mystery egg, snow day, red moon dust. |
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A sense of choice, decision making and personal responsibility: |
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Creative homework Self-evaluation Group work – peer marking Ethos/School School council Respect and responsibility for equipment and uniform Creative bespoke curriculum where children make choices Behaviour choices Opportunities to choose challenge tasks Growth Mindset Philosophy Staff development Learning exhibition
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A sense of awe and wonder: |
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Educational Visits Church visits Awareness of world through Global charity work. Forest Friday activities Local charity work Visitors to school Worship times Resources Real life experiences, egg, snow, moon. Newsbites Heatree residential
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A sense of awareness of there being something more to life than meets the eye: |
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Curriculum launches Symbols Reflection time ‘Big questions’ Stories Worship times Relationships The Arts Philosophy/RE lessons Prayer spaces. Open the book |
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A sense of love for the outside: |
Play area / forest school/EYFS Off-site visits / walks / residentials Gardening club Mud kitchen Pond area Wilderness area Willow dome Outdoor classroom Meadow Den areas Heatree residential visit Sketching learning outside the classroom St Peter and St Pauls church visits Creativity/reflection days/prayer spaces
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A sense of pattern, sequence and order: |
Science/Music/Spanish/Sport/Dance Maths The Arts Behaviour policy Creative curriculum Christian Year Collective Worship A school week - timetables Visual timetables
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A sense of enquiry and open mindedness: |
Philosophy for Children, RE lessons, Science, Big questions’, P4C, Circle time, Full Circle, Show and Tell, Self-evaluation/ peer assessment Christian values of tolerance and respect British Values What's in the news? Heatree residential Staff development and cpd
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A sense of life’s joys and achievements: |
Celebration Collective Worship Genuine achievement – high standards EYFS Wow moments, Calendar celebrations, Inspirational speakers, paralympians, musicians. Fun curriculum Humour in lessons Children supporting planning and leading Collective Worship learning exhibitions Staff cod and achievements competitions big science event, poetry competitions |
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A sense of disappointment and failure, suffering and pain: |
Pets, plants, Jesus Disasters in news Collective Worship stories (Bible and multi-cultural) Circle time, supporting local and global charities In lessons – failing is positive – you are learning. Growth mindset. News bites and espresso discovery.
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A sense of others as feeling, thinking people: |
Relationships with others, resolving conflicts, Restorative justice model of behaviour management Praising empathy and compassion Staff as role models pupils as role models School council Respect for each other – unique and special Caring for each other’s feelings, Circle Time Worship Time - respecting Christian Values – sharing/giving/respecting Staff modelling – taking turns Behaviour policy – clear rules, rewards and consequences Global links – other than ourselves Emran Buddy system Playground buddies
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A sense of empathy with others: |
Social stories, social skills groups, nurture time, reflection, prayer spaces, RE inspired Anger management, stories, role play, supporting charities: air ambulance, jeans for Genes, Emran, Water Aid, hearing Dogs Sportsmanship Emotional intelligence Provision mapping charitable efforts |
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A sense of silence and reflection: |
Noise level in classrooms – Quiet working Sensory quiet spaces throughout school Planning and preparation time for teachers Music to enter Collective Worship, use of candles, Collective Worship is a time for stillness and reflection about oneself, Jesus and others, worship time daily, children involved in planning of collective worship, Rev Des prayer writing, links to bible stories Thinking time for children and staff Calm school Professional development time for all staff to reflect on practice
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A sense of self–worth and the worth of others: |
Effort and achievement celebrated in displays High academic standards Circle time - discussion Global days/themed weeks Learning Exhibition Self/Peer marking Ethos – everyone unique and special in their own way - praise All children discussed regularly in staff meetings – learning styles Teaching about Jesus and Christian Values Celebration Collective Worship Staff knowing all children well, achievement and celebration assembly. Learning exhibitions
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A sense of self-confidence in expressing inner thoughts: |
Circle time Philosophy Creative curriculum Leading Collective Worship Values of perseverance, hope, respect, compassion restorative justice
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A sense of the joy in life: |
Creative curriculum – real experiences Sports/The Arts/Clubs Aston’s Got Talent Humour, espresso discovery, achievement assembly, PTA events, learning exhibitions.
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