Loving, learning and flourishing together

Our vision at Horton Church of England Primary School is that everyone knows that they are loved by God and learns all that they need to flourish, contributing to the good of others in the school community and the wider world.

Happy children is at the heart of all we do. By promoting respect, fostering resilience and encouraging independence, our children can reach their full potential and be fully equipped to take on life’s challenges knowing they are loved and valued.

I am come that they might have life and have it to the full – John 10.10

Love your neighbour as yourself – Mark 12.31

To us, loving means …

• Caring for others, showing empathy and recognising our unique qualities
• Being kind and patient
• Caring for our world and environment

To us, learning means …

• Fun, engaging challenges that give us courage and perseverance to develop our knowledge and skills
• Exploring something new
• Experiencing a variety of opportunities

To us, flourishing together means …

• Thriving as a team; celebrating and being proud of all our achievements.
• Growing through life together
• Being happy and having joy in our lives

Values

Our values are the way that we seek to do things at Horton. As a Church of England school, these are based on the Christian faith. These values are important to us, whatever our faith and background.

We aim to make our vision and values a reality by:

• Living out Christian values

Horton school values are rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, and we seek to demonstrate an ethos of living well together, embodying the centrality of relationships in love, compassion, generosity, truth telling and forgiveness.  Around the school, there are signs, symbols and prayers that reflect the Christian heritage on which the school is built.

• An inspiring curriculum

Our intention is to educate for wisdom, knowledge and skills through an inspiring curriculum so that each child can stretch themselves spiritually, morally, intellectually, imaginatively and actively to develop a lifelong love of learning.

• Daily Collective Worship

Worship allows the whole school community to step away from their daily lives in education, to create a space for an encounter with faith in God. The time set aside in the school day provides staff and pupils with the opportunity to gather and support one another as a community.  As a Church of England school, the content of our worship is organised to:

• explore and reflect on the school’s vision and values by connecting the Christian Gospel to the everyday lives of pupils and adults,
• celebrate all the major Christian festivals including Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost,
• be rooted in Bible teaching,
• use the school prayer, Lord’s prayer and other prayers written by pupils,
• be presented using a variety of styles and to include music, story, drama, enthusiastic singing, reflection and reverence in prayer time,
• offer the opportunity to all pupils and adults to grow spiritually through experiences of prayer, worship and reflection,
• enable pupils to develop skills through engaging in the planning, leading and evaluation of collective worship in ways that lead to improving practice.

We welcome the community together when lighting the candles through words of “We have gathered here today in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lord be with You, and also with you.”

At the end of the worship, when the candles are being blown out, we say ‘We leave our worship today to live in love, learning and flourishing together.”

• Learning to live as part of the wider community

We encourage hope in God’s future for the world and, through our global citizenship curriculum, help children to realise their responsibilities locally, nationally and globally and to develop an increasing awareness of how to create a more healthy, sustainable and just world.  We work in partnership with parents and the local church.  The charities with whom we are linked support the priorities of our vision.

• Valuing Self and Others

At Horton school we educate for dignity and respect. We are learning to offer our gifts and talents freely for the good of all so that we can make a difference to our school, our community and the wider world. Our commitment to the ultimate worth of each child is informed by the belief that each person is loved and valued by God. We emphasise sharing our experiences and supporting each other through listening and caring.

• Spiritual Development

Spirituality is reflecting and asking questions of ourselves, others, the world and beyond. There are many opportunities for children to reflect and wonder during the school day, to grow in wisdom as well as knowledge. This leads us on a journey of understanding and growth of who we are and how we behave.

• Emotional Well-Being

This is paramount in all decision-making and is a feature of school life. Parents, carers, staff and children describe our school as a “happy place” where there is mutual respect, care, forgiveness and reconciliation in the “school family”.

• Benefice Church Links

Strong relationships are fostered with the local churches and the Diocese of Gloucester, providing opportunities for collaboration and support.  The children visit Horton church for special services and celebrations.

• Inclusive Environment

Because we are rooted in Christian values, we welcome students from all backgrounds and faiths, fostering an inclusive and respectful community.