Our School's Christian Values
At St Andrew’s School we have six Christian Values that we use to guide our behaviours and attitudes. These values are;
Stewardship, compassion, peace, service, thankfulness and justice.
Compassion
Of course we value friendship and kindness but we also recognise the importance of loving those that we may not like or who are different to us. We encourage a generous empathy for each other because we are all made in the image of God. Our children are taught to reach out to one another and be vigilant to the needs of others as in “The parable of the good Samaritan”. Children often engage in writing and offering prayers which demonstrate our shared desired for the well-being of all people and creatures.
Service
Our children are made aware of the joy of giving whilst raising money for charities and assisting with schemes like “The Winter Night Shelter” but they are also given examples of what it means to live a sacrificial life in the stories of the saints and the life and death of Jesus Christ. Giving of ourselves means showing hospitality in our lives, friendships, working in groups and at play. This element of service is recognised and praised.
Peace
We believe in the importance of quiet and reflective time, not only to enhance concentration but also well-being. We ensure that our collective worship and classroom time involves frequent spaces and moments for stillness, thought and prayer. We recognise the need for antagonism to be resolved not just in consequences and resolution but in reconciliation and forgiveness. These elements allow a true “Shalom” or peace that includes a sense of being whole and complete. Our children are made aware of the need to pray for and work towards an end to war and violence throughout the world.
Thankfulness
Being grateful can be important but we promote not just an inner feeling but an outward reaction to appreciating the life we are given and the opportunities placed before us. Children are taught that our response to people in need is a result of our gladness that we are blessed. We encourage one another to be joyful in all that we do and to support and take pleasure in each other’s gifts and talents.
Stewardship
We believe in a God who created all things. The children of St Andrew’s are shown and taught in countless ways how to care and take responsibility to the environment around us. Children have the opportunity within the school to care for animals (including chickens) but also to tend and cultivate the earth in our mini allotments. Our whole school community is engaged with making the very most of our premises with parents and guardians regularly invited to take part in maintenance or decorating working parties. But perhaps most importantly the children are helped to make the connection between succeeding and participating and God’s desire that we all use the gifts given to us in their fullness.
Justice
As perhaps our most complex value, Year 6 have this as their main focus. From the early years we promote fairness and an understanding of consequences but we also regularly talk about grace and mercy. Children are introduced the many examples of injustice in the world, through the link with “The Winter Night Shelter”, “The Enfield Food Bank” and collecting for the “Children’s Society” but also through the House Patrons who were all social activists who made huge contributions to justice within society. We strongly encourage independent thinking that allows our children to question and challenge the things they see around them which are contrary to the values we share.
We believe that if we live our lives through these values then they will help us enhance our lives and the lives of others. Our families have worked together to explore what these values mean to them and our local community. Our Christian values are explored through the course of the year and form the basis for our collective worship and our award assemblies. The children are encouraged to think of how the values can inform their behaviour and help create a happy, caring and stimulating school environment. We explore British Values within our own Christian Values and the yearly overview can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.
Every Thursday, children are awarded a certificate (shown above) if they have acted in a way that has shown they have been living the Christian Values of the school.