School Values
Our vision
We show God’s love in everything we do; inspired by the life and work of Jesus. We journey together in our learning, seeking wisdom through academic, personal and spiritual growth. Together is everyone, and every child matters. We celebrate the different and unique abilities, gifts and passions, of everyone in our school.
Our mission statement
We learn together, using our heads and our hearts to make the most of today and tomorrow, building on Christian values.
Our school values are at the core of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens.
Our School’s Christian Vision: Heads and Hearts
We learn together, using our heads and our hearts.
"Love one another as I have loved you." John 15.12
“I have come in order that you might have life, life in all its fullness.” John 10:10
OUR CHRISTIAN VISION AND VALUES
Who are we? Why are we here? How then shall we live?
As a Church of England School, rooted in Christian tradition and values, we believe that we are all made in the image of God, and loved by God. We show God’s love in everything we do; inspired by the life and work of Jesus. The value of ‘Love’ underpins what we do in school. We journey together in our learning, seeking wisdom through academic, personal and spiritual growth. Growth of the heart is equally as important to the growth of the ‘head’ at St. Catherine’s. Together is everyone, we don’t give up on any child, as every child matters. Together is celebrating different abilities, beliefs, gifts and passions, and accepting that we are all unique! Together is striving to ensure that everyone is enabled to flourish, and everyone achieves their best.
We love everybody – our people are as cherished and valued as our children. We offer love, forgiveness and friendship, there is always an opportunity for a new start. We believe that by working for the common good, and not simply our own good, we will make a difference, which will have a lasting benefit to ourselves, our community and the world – this drives our hopeful approach. This is not wishful thinking, but based on our trust in the loving purposes of God.
Our Christian Understanding of our key Values:
Love
"Love one another as I have loved you." John 15.12
"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant, or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
1 Corinthians 13:
The Bible explicitly tells us that God is Love and that those who live in love live in God and God lives in them. Belief that God has revealed Himself to us as love is at the very heart of the Christian faith. We love because God first loved us. God’s love calls us to serve others freely, because they are made in the image of God. God’s love is a love without limits.
Wisdom
Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. Matthew 7:24
Wisdom is insight into the way life works: a proper understanding of the consequences of our thoughts, words and actions and an awareness of the true value of things. It is rooted in proper reverence for God who is the source of all life and all values. Although related to education and knowledge, wisdom differs from cleverness. Wisdom may be best described as discernment gained through life experience and distilled into guiding principles. The wise person recognises their own limitations, trusts in God and understands that there is more to like than may be seen on the surface.
Dignity
In Proverbs it says, “Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future.” (Prov. 31:25-26)
Every person is important and deserves to be treated with respect. This idea is very important in schools because it's where we learn how to respect and care for each other. At St Catherine's we aim to help children understand that everyone has value, whether they have special needs or not. This means making sure everyone is treated fairly and kindly.
For the first time in history, there is near-global consensus on the intrinsic value of every person, reflected in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and its subsequent declarations, covenants, and conventions, including the 2006 convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Different beliefs and traditions can help us understand and practice these values better.
In school, we learn more than just reading and maths. We learn about wisdom, kindness, trust, and hope. It underscores the dignity of each person, providing endless opportunities for deeper thinking, further applications, and creative approaches. We learn how to build good relationships and strong communities. We learn that everyone matters. This makes our lives richer and fuller.
Community
‘A friend loves at all times.’ (Proverbs 17:17)
Friends are not afraid to tell each other the truth and a friend’s loving criticism is worth more than the empty compliments of someone who does not really care for you. (Proverbs 27:6)
‘If one falls down, a friend can lift him up’. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)
Jesus offered friendship to everyone, especially the friendless. He tells stories of the heavenly banquet to which all are invited. The barriers between people are broken down in a loving community around God and Jesus had stern words to say to those who refused to recognise that all are included in this community of friendship. Christians believe they can call God their friend because of the relationship made possible through Jesus.
Hope
“My hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress,” Psalm 62
For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Christian hope is grounded in the character of God…is a hope rooted in the love and faithfulness of God. Hope is not wishful thinking but a firm assurance that God can be relied upon… there is underlying confidence that God is a ‘strong rock’ and one whose promises can be trusted... Christian hope for the future has its guarantee in the resurrection of Jesus. The prophets always spoke of a time to come when the whole world would be restored to God. For Christians, Jesus’ death and resurrection has set this in motion. Christian hope means trusting in the loving purposes of God: trusting that the foundations of the world are good because they spring from God. It means believing that, ultimately, we are destined to share in that goodness because of what Jesus has done. He had to pass through the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ but the victory has been won and our share in that victory is assured.
*Our Christian understanding for our values is taken mainly from Christianvalues4schools.