St. Mary’s School Vision

Reflecting the virtues of Jesus' Mother, Mary, our vision is for every member of our school community to be inspired to blossom and grow in order to fulfil their potential in all aspects of learning.  By exploring the underpinning core values of wisdom, hope, respect and community, our pupils understand how to live out this vision and become kind, respectful and resilient social advocates, playing their part in building a better world.

Wisdom

Wisdom is a core Christian value in our school because we believe through wisdom good choices are made, that it encourages us to learn from our mistakes and encourages us to live our lives wisely for the benefit of all.

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’’ John 8:32

Hope

Hope is a core Christian value in our school because hope gives us energy and supports us through difficult times.

 "Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time.’’ Romans 12:12

To act with hope is to aspire to greater things, to promote positivity and courageous advocacy.

Respect

Respect is a core Christian value in our school because we believe that all life is precious within the image of God and deserves to be valued.

"Do to others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31

Our Christian value of respect means living up to the image of God with our school, our community and ourselves.

Community

Community is a core Christian value in our school because we know that together we are stronger and can achieve more.

"Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.’’ Romans 12:16

Everyone in our school, local and global community are needed and valued.

BRITISH VALUES

Promoting British Values

What are British values and how do we promote them at the St Mary’s C of E Primary School?

​According to DfE, British values are: democracy; the rule of law; individual liberty; mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.

As of November 2014, schools must now promote British values. Advice from the DfE is to do so through Social Moral Spiritual and Cultural education (SMSC), and through the curriculum too.

At St Mary’s C of E Primary School, you will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life. Below is just a snap shot of how we promote these values in our school community:

​Democracy:

Pupil voice plays a big part in life at our school. Our School Council play a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making St Marys  C of E Primary School a better place to learn. Curriculum leaders meet with pupils as part of their monitoring. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the School Council and Pupil Leadership Team and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.

The Rule of Law:

Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their lives. To help pupils we help pupils understand that whether laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and benefit us when they

are adhered to. This importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. Through Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) and Religious Education (RE) we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the Rule of Law for our pupils. This value is discretely taught through our Curriculum Themes.

Individual Liberty:

We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school. This creates a safe

environment where children can make sensible choices. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety, RE and PSHE sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.

Mutual Respect:

Mutual respect is at the core of our school life and is one of our school core values. Understanding and appreciation of the range of different cultures within school and further afield are an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain. We cover this through our link with Kapira School in Malawi. Pupils learn about diversity, tolerance, interdependence and social advocacy.  We also address this value through the Guildford's R.E. curriculum.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs:

St Mary’s C of E Primary School promotes tolerance of all people. Within RE and assemblies we share a respect and celebrate many religions and cultures. Through our RE curriculum all major religions are studied and respected, including through visitors and visiting places of worship where possible. We strongly 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. 

How do we prepare children and young people for life in modern Britain?

We believe that good teaching within a broad and balanced curriculum, accompanied by effective spiritual, moral, social and cultural development prepares them well for life in modern Britain and contemporary society.