Our Christian Vision
Christian values are central to our school and we are strong in the belief that every child matters.
All members of the school community work towards the schools aims by:
- Providing a nurturing, Christian environment
- Working as a team in harmony with the school’s aims, supporting and encouraging one another
- Modelling the Christian values day-to-day and being good role models for the children and the wider school community
- Providing equal opportunities
- Showing respect for the rights and beliefs of others
We believe that the bible story of Zacchaeus gives the focus which staff, pupils and parents of our school drive to achieve – a school where everyone is given the same opportunities in order for them to reach the best possible outcomes in all areas of their lives.
Much of our work in worship, lessons, extra curricular activities and social interaction is designed to allow pupils to understand that equality and our Christian ethos are at the core of what we believe in school.
Zacchaeus
1 Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. 2 In Jericho there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy, very important tax collector. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was too short to see above the crowd. 4 He ran ahead to a place where he knew Jesus would come. He climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus. 5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and saw Zacchaeus in the tree. He said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.” 6 Zacchaeus came down quickly. He was pleased to have Jesus in his house. 7 All the people saw this and began to complain, “Look at the kind of man Jesus stays with. Zacchaeus is a sinner!” 8 But Zacchaeus said to the Lord, “I will give half of my money to the poor. If I have cheated anyone, I will pay that person back four times more!” 9 Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today. This man truly belongs to the family of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.”
Luke 19:1-10 International Children’s Bible
Friendship – “at the end of the story Zacchaeus makes friends with the people he stole from and Jesus” – Amelia
Compassion – “Jesus showed Zacchaeus compassion when no one wanted to be his friend” – Emily
Fellowship – “Jesus invited Zacchaeus to be part of the Christian Fellowship/Family” – Demi
Love – “Jesus showed Zacchaeus love even though he had done horrible things” – Ava
“Zacchaeus showed love to everyone when he gave them back more than he stole” – Emma
Forgiveness – “Jesus and the people forgave Zacchaeus for being unkind and stealing from them” – Max
Endurance – “Zacchaeus did not give up when he could not see Jesus” – Kyle
Aims
Religious Education at Hutton Henry Church of England School helps pupils to:
- Offer a full and positive presentation of living Christianity and an opportunity for encountering the Christian life in Anglican and other contexts.
- Enable pupils to encounter Christianity as the religion that shaped British culture and heritage and influences the lives of millions of people today.
- Acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Judaism.
- Develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities, societies and cultures.
- Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues with reference to the teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Judaism.
- Enhance their own spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by:
- Developing awareness of the fundamental questions of life raised by human experiences and how religious teachings can relate to them
- Responding to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of religions and to their own understanding and experience.
- Reflecting on their own beliefs, values and experiences in the light of their study.
- Develop a positive attitude towards other people and their right to hold beliefs different from their own, and to live in a society of diverse religions.
- Develop concepts, skills and attitudes, which will enable them to grow in an understanding of religion throughout their life.
Our Christian Values
Christian values are at the heart of our school. Our values are:
Christian Awards
Every week, the children have the opportunity to be awarded the ‘Christian Values Award’ when they have demonstrated our values throughout the week. A certificate is awarded in collective worship. At our annual Awards Ceremony, the Together We Succeed Award is given for recognition of a pupil’s ability to demonstrate our Christian Values across the whole year.
Prayer and Reflection
Opportunities for prayer and reflection are regularly available for pupils in school, during services and at set points in the day, such as lunch time. We believe, however, that prayer, stillness and reflection are vital tools in helping pupils understand themselves and the challenges that modern life can bring. We try to create many opportunities for pupils to think about themselves and others, allowing them to take time to process the impact they can have to help themselves and others, with God’s support.
Regular Prayer Spaces are created by the RE committee, ensuring frequent opportunities for the children to reflect and consider the true meaning of key times in the church’s calendar. In addition, concluding Key Person sessions with a reflection, prayer or gratitude, gives pupils opportunities to contribute our own thoughts and thanks as part of our school community. Every fortnight, we welcome the Open The Book team and Reverend Jane into school, who share with us a bible story and allow the opportunity for quiet prayer and reflection. Sometimes we even get to dress up and take part!
Charity and Courageous Advocacy
“Love your neighbour as yourself” Mark 12: 29-31
As a Christian school, we are always looking for opportunities to help and support others. During the year we support charity days such as Children in Need, Comic Relief, Sports Relieve and Macmillan Cancer Support. The Student Council work with staff to develop how we fundraise and in the past we have held coffee mornings, tuck shops, cake sales and non-uniform days.
We are courageous advocates for the common good, locally, nationally and globally. We recognise that life is full of ups and downs and that at times all people will face challenges that they need help and support in overcoming. We believe that people are worth spending time with, that people need time to grow and need loving attention. The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not. We hold and courageously advocate the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.
We support a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally. The school council work with staff, governors, parents, pupils and our local church to identify worthy causes to support.
Our schools stand up for what we believe. We have written to Local MPs to raise issues of significance to the us, including the Send My Friend to School campaign.
Our Christian values ensure that opportunities to discuss the big issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present.
Our children have an excellent grasp on the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging. Thereby developing their ability to empathise and make a small sacrifice to benefit others. Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embraces a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it.
We are proud of our school badge and motto – “Together We Succeed” as we feel that it truly represents all aspects of our Christian ethos in school. We are “together” in our school as an inclusive community, just as Zacchaeus was welcomed into Jesus’ Christian fellowship. Our goal is for everyone to “succeed” reaching their full potential and live ‘life in all its fullness‘ (John 10:10) as Jesus told us.
Our children have their own interpretations of what our school badge, particularly the tree, means:
“Our school like a family and it could represent our Family Tree” – Millie
“It symbolises life and everyone has a life in this school” – Demi
“The branches represent all of the children in school and our friendship together” – Rosie
“We grow like the tree” – Pippa
“Zacchaeus climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus” – Ella
“We have a tree logo because it links to our past when we were a farming community” – Emily
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