Life as a Church School
Our vision and values
Through our core values within a distinctively Christian context, our vision is that Thorner Church of England Primary School will be an inspirational place to learn and play, helping us make the most of every day! As a church school, we use Jesus’ words that “All things are possible to those who believe.” (Mark 9:23), as inspiration to overcome the barriers we face together each day with the faith that all things are possible with God in our lives. See the “vision and values” document attached for further information on our vision and values.
Our curriculum
Our curriculum aims to help children and our school community recognise how to take responsibility for their own and others’ wellbeing (Body, Mind and Spirit), using inspiration from people, places and the plight of our planet to enable them to make a difference to the world – now and in the future. It has been planned with the vision and values outlined above at its core - see our curriculum policy, long term plans and learning organisers for further details.
Our Worship and links with our local church
Collective worship is central to the life of our school. All children are involved in developing worship (which takes place at a class, key stage and whole school level), and our worship leaders in year 6 act as role models in exploring their faith and spirituality. We try to involve the children wherever we can in asking and discussing the big questions regarding the world around them and their part in it. At each act of collective worship a child lights the candle(s) and reads the school prayer to start our special time together. The children also change the colour of the cloth (at the front of the hall) to reflect the different church seasons.
We have a Friday Family Assembly each week which celebrates achievements in and out of school, and looks to bring our community together in celebrating the children's success in all areas of their education and learning. Twice a year, each class leads “hosting assembly” where they share off all their learning across the curriculum, as well as leading worship and prayer for the rest of the school.
Our Reverend Jonathan Brennan visits us monthly to lead worship, and the children also attend services at St Peter’s Church at the start of each term and at special times during the year. The children help to organise and lead these services.
Specific services led by the children (at school and at church) include:
- Harvest festival – Hawthorn class
- Remembrance service – Oak class
- Nativity performance – Cedar class
- Christingle – whole school and wider community event
- Easter service – Elm class
Children also enjoy visits to the church to explore their learning in both R.E. and the wider curriculum, and Andy not only supports us in our worship (both at whole school and class level), but also on a pastoral level (being available to children, staff and parents in times of need).
Links with organisations and charities
As stated previously, our curriculum seeks to ensure that children are inspired to make a difference to their world – both now and in the future. Some examples of this include:
- Link with St George’s Crypt at Harvest and at Christmas (Reverse Advent Calendar).
- We work closely with Thorner Parish Council and the British Legion for Remembrance, and in creating links between the children and community (World Book Day and volunteer readers, Y6 community tea party).
In 2019-20, we are really excited that as part of our new curriculum we will be starting work on the Global Neighbours Scheme through Christian Aid, and look forward to sharing more on this through our “We are Curators” theme in the Spring term.
Spirituality for all at Thorner
We believe that the ability to explore faith, values and spirituality is an entitlement for all members of our school community. Therefore, we have developed the attached spiritual development guidelines to support our children, staff and governors in this area.
