a. Our Christian Vision and Values
At Aston Rowant School, our Christian vision and values are the foundation of our school community. They shape who we are, how we learn, how we treat one another, and how we make decisions. Our vision is not just a statement - it is a living, active presence woven through every aspect of school life.
“Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him.”
(Colossians 2:7)
Our Theologically Rooted Vision
Our Vision
To be a community of courageous lifelong learners, who are rooted in God, live out our Christian values and enjoy life in all its fullness.
(Colossians 2:1–7)
Our Mission
Growing together, rooted in God and inspiring one another through our values and our broad, enriched curriculum.
Our Strapline
Growing together, rooted in God, having fullness of life.
(Colossians 2:1–7)
Our vision is deeply theologically rooted in the letter to the Colossians and is understood, shared, and lived out across the whole school community. It acts as a golden thread, guiding decisions, relationships, curriculum design, and daily practice.
“There is an exceptionally well‑established Christian vision which is lived out at every turn. This acts as a golden thread across all aspects of the school.”
Toby Long, Deputy Director, ODBE
Rooted in Scripture
The Bible passage Colossians 2:1–7 is central to our school identity. It is:
- Explained to children in age‑appropriate ways
- Displayed around the school
- Included on newsletters, headed paper, and the website
The key themes of the passage - roots, growth, strength, thankfulness, wisdom, faith, and love — underpin our ethos and our understanding of what it means to enjoy fulness of life through a broad and rich curriculum.
Our focus on “growing together” reflects the idea that growth happens best in community, with shared values, trust, and care for one another.
Our GROWTH Values
Our Christian values spell GROWTH, reflecting how the message of Colossians is lived out in daily school life:
G – Gratitude
Being thankful for what we have, for each other, and for God’s gifts
R – Resilience
Showing courage, determination, bravery, and perseverance
O – Outreach
Living with love, compassion, generosity, and a desire to serve others
W – Wisdom
Developing awe, curiosity, reflection, and good judgement
T – Trust
Having faith, hope, and confidence in God, ourselves, and one another
H – Harmony
Building friendship, teamwork, peace, and respectful relationships
These values express what it means to live out our Christian faith in practical, everyday ways.
How Our Values Were Chosen
Our values were developed through a highly inclusive, reflective process involving the whole school community.
- The School Council began by brainstorming 50 values
- These were refined to 20 and shared with:
- Every class
- Teaching and support staff
- Governors
- Parents and carers
- Stakeholders used a Diamond 9 process to identify the most important values
This process ensured that our values are:
- Authentic
- Shared
- Understood
- Lived
Values‑Based Education in Daily Life
At Aston Rowant, we follow a Values‑Based Education (VbE) approach. This goes beyond teaching children about values — it creates a school culture where children experience and learn how to live those values every day.
In January 2025, all staff attended a keynote speech by Neil Hawkes, deepening our shared understanding of Values‑Based Education. Together, we developed a whole‑school definition of values as:
“Guiding our thinking and behaviour.”
This definition is displayed in the hall and in every classroom and underpins our approach to teaching, learning, and relationships.
Values are:
- Embedded across the entire curriculum
- Recognised and celebrated through values awards, given by:
- Adults to children
- Children to children
- Children to adults
- Adults to adults
This reinforces that values are lived and noticed by everyone.
How Our Vision and Values Shape Daily Life and Learning
Our Christian vision and values influence:
- Relationships between pupils, staff, and families
- Curriculum choices and enrichment opportunities
- Behaviour, forgiveness, and restoration
- Decision‑making at leadership and governance level
- Worship, prayer, and reflection
- Inclusion, compassion, and care for others
They are visible in:
- The school environment and displays
- Collective Worship and classroom practice
- Uniform wording: “Growing Together”
- The language children use to describe their learning and behaviour
By grounding our school life in faith and values, we aim to ensure that every child feels rooted, valued, supported, and able to flourish.
Looking Ahead
Our Christian vision continues to guide us as we grow together - nurturing courageous learners who are rooted in God and equipped to enjoy life in all its fullness.