Christian Values - Berkswell Primary School

The best analogy I have ever been given to describe the Christian Values at Berkswell School is a stick of rock. Just like the lettering within rock which runs right through its entirety and is visible from whichever aspect you look, so too, our Christian Values run through every aspect of school life.

Children cover the values in depth on a rotational basis over a half term. There will be one main value which will be addressed in all areas of school life and also two further values which run alongside. These values are launched with the children at worship which in the past have included, whole school musical statues, cake baking and an obstacles course to name but a few!

Teachers plan and exploit links to our Values across all areas of the curriculum and share these with the children.

Classroom worship areas throughout the school reflect each half term’s values.

These are displays that children are encouraged to add to and develop with their teachers and to take some ownership for. Providing opportunities for reflection is also encouraged.

In order to keep the other values alive, we award 8 medals and a trophy during weekly celebration assemblies.

TAs and lunchtime supervisors nominate a child a week to win the cup for their focus value. They justify and explain their choices and these are shared with the school on Friday.

Children and teachers will nominate a child from each class based on the number of values points they collect throughout the week.

The Christian Values for life are central to all that we do and make Berkswell School a very special place to be.

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, explains that the ethos of church schools runs deep:

“A Christian school is one in which the atmosphere has that kind of openness about it, that sense that people are worth spending time with, that people need time to grow, need loving attention.”

We teach religion all day long.
We teach it in arithmetic by accuracy.
We teach it in language by learning to say what we mean—yea, yea or nay, nay
We teach it in history by humanity
We teach it in geography by breadth of mind
We teach it in handicraft by thoroughness
We teach it in astronomy by reverence
We teach it by manners to one another, and by truthfulness in all things.
We teach pupils to build the Church of Christ out of the actual relationships in which they stand to their teachers and their school fellows.

The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean than everyone involved has to share the same theology or philosophy. It doesn’t mean that everyone knows that they have this relationship with God, and is consciously working at it. But a Christian school is one in which the entire atmosphere is pervaded by the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.”

School Prayer

This is our school.

Let peace dwell here.

Let the rooms be full of contentment.

Let Love abide here:

Love of one another,

Love of mankind,

Love of life itself,

And Love of God.

Let us remember

That as many hands build a house,

So many hearts make a school.

Amen