Vision and Values

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Together Everyone Achieves More.

To go forward in Christ, to respect our neighbour and to always give our best.

Introduction

At William of York is a Catholic Primary school providing a Christian Education based upon the Gospel values of: Honesty, Compassion, Forgiveness, Justice and Peace.

A fulfilment of our mission is when we see our children demonstrate these gospel values, when we see their positive views of themselves and the wider world, their excitement and their love of learning. By building their confidence, their inner belief, we equip them with the skills necessary to become lifelong learners and we prepare them for the next stage in their lives.

Our Aims

Aim 1

We aim to go forward in Christ by coming independent learners in a climate of joy, freedom, respect, challenge, cooperation and celebration; enriching the lives of all pupils through their intellectual, physical, spiritual, moral, social and emotional development and preparing our children to flourish in an ever changing world.

To achieve these aims and bring joy and brightness to the lives of our pupils we will:

• Valuing Christ at the centre of our lives.
• Following Christ’s example through setting an example for others.
• Through the teaching of the Come and See Programme, educate our pupils in the traditions of the Church and give them an understanding and knowledge of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Aim 2

We aim to respect our neighbour by creating strong links with home, parish, neighbouring communities and High Schools, providing an education which promotes the dignity, self-esteem and full development of each person and by promoting British Values through social justice, global awareness and concern for others, creating a culture of tolerance where people of diverse identities are welcome, respected and cherished.

To achieve these aims and bring joy and brightness to the lives of our pupils we will:

• Following Christ’s example through setting an example for others.
• Creating an environment where everybody feels secure, valued and respected through our own personal behaviour.
• Being a Catholic school that values and celebrates the contributions and commitment made by all members of the community including pupils, parents, carers, professional staff, volunteers and members of the wider community.

Aim 3

We aim to always give our best by ensuring access for all pupils to a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum, whilst encouraging every child’s unique talents and spiritual growth and by creating an environment which is both inspirational and harmonious; allowing children to thrive and reach their full potential.

To achieve these aims and bring joy and brightness to the lives of our pupils we will:

• Following Christ’s example through setting an example for others.
• Providing experiences and opportunities for our pupils beyond the curriculum to develop their interests and enhance their enjoyment.
• Providing trained, qualified, enthusiastic, caring staff who will work with pupils in a safe, stimulating environment using appropriate, high quality resources.
• Providing a balanced curriculum which fully meets all statutory requirements.
• Regularly reviewing and evaluating the work of the school in order to maintain the high standards we expect of ourselves.

Ethos and Values

It is the ultimate aim of our school to educate the whole child through the Gospel Values of Christ so every member of the school community feels valued and respected, and each person is treated fairly and well. We are a caring community built on mutual trust and respect for all with Christian values at the centre of everything we do; helping us to live out ‘life in all its fullness’. Our aims and values are therefore designed to support the way in which all members of our school can live and work together in Christ, in a supportive way. They are an integral part of our ethos as a Catholic school and aim to promote an environment where everyone feels happy, safe and secure.

 At our school, we promote good relationships so that people can work together with the common purpose of helping everyone to learn, and it sees the development of intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical attributes as equally essential in supporting our school community; allowing everyone to work together in an effective and considerate way.

• We expect every member of the school community to behave in a considerate way towards others.
• We treat all children fairly and apply this behaviour policy in a consistent way.
• We aim to help children at our school to grow in a safe and secure environment and to become positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the school and wider community that we serve.
• We are proud of the children at our school and reward good behaviour as we believe that it will develop an ethos of kindness and co-operation.

In order to encourage this ethos at St William of York, there are a number of values and principles which guide our actions in school.

First and foremost are the values that are at the heart of the Gospels:

Love and Solidarity

Faithfulness and Integrity

Dignity and Compassion

Humility and Gentleness

Truth and Justice

Forgiveness and Mercy

Purity and Holiness

Tolerance and Peace

Service and Sacrifice

These values are at the forefront of everyday life at St William of York and are further explored throughout our curriculum and Collective Worship time. Children have regular opportunities to reflect on each value and to develop an understanding of the Value in action. Each Friday, in our Celebration Worship, we acknowledge children who have demonstrated these values.

Each week, whole school worship also helps us to reinforce our understanding of each value as we share stories from the Bible. Children have opportunities to plan, prepare and lead worship for the whole school through class assemblies.

It is also clear that as a Christian country, Gospel values also underpin the values of the British Society in which we live:

Democracy

The rule of law

Individual liberty

Mutual respect

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Examples of the actions we take to promote British values include:

Democracy

Having an elected School Council

Highlighting the importance of democratic ideas in history lessons

Ensuring all pupils are listened to by adults

Writing to our local MPs about important matters such as climate change and recycling

The Rule of Law

Creating “class rules”

Having visitors from the police force and fire brigade

Having a clear behaviour policy that is explained to all

Highlighting the rules of the Church and God in the RE curriculum, for example the 10 commandments

Through RE and history teaching about the development of the Rule of Law in English law, a legal system inspired by Christian values and a major influence across the world

Individual Liberty

Encouraging students to be independent in their learning

Providing children with opportunities for reflection as they take responsibility for discerning their vocation

Mutual Respect

Having a Mission Statement that is inclusive

Constantly promoting respect for others as good manners

Reinforcing the value of everyone’s opinion in class discussions

Having an effective anti-bullying policy

Emphasising in RE and PSHE lessons that every person is unique and created in the image of God

Having active links with other schools

Supporting charitable works

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

RE lessons provide pupils with a deep understanding of their own faith as well as awareness of the faith and tradition of other religious communities as a basis for understanding and respecting them

Using the witness of Jesus as an example of tolerance in stories such as the Good Samaritan.

For more information on our ethos and values, please see our school Behaviour Policy.