Parish
Parish
We are a Church of England School having been founded by the local parish. Details of our Christian Values - Love, Courage and Respect can be found on the Vision and Values page of our website.
Our Trust Deed, dated 1841, clarifies our Christian foundation:
Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church at parish and diocesan level. The school aims to serve its community by providing education of the highest quality within the context of Christian beliefs and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers all its pupils.
Church Visits
Our children regularly visit local churches to worship and also to learn about how people worship there.
Our school choir are invited to sing at St Mary’s Church Michaelmas and Christmas Tree festivals each year.
Choir members and their families are always warmly welcomed at the church.
Our children lead a Christmas Service at St Mary’s' Church each year. These acts of worship include carols, both traditional and modern, readings, presentations and prayers. Children, staff and parents all attend the service.
The children also lead a whole school Easter service and Remembrance service at St Mary’s Church where all members of the wider community are invited.
Year 6 attend the Portsmouth Diocesan Leavers' Service at Portsmouth Cathedral each July. They also help our reverend to lead a Leavers' Service at St Mary’s' Church to which their parents are invited as well as the rest of the school and wider community.
Collective Worship
In all Church of England schools, collective worship reflects the traditions of the Church of England and develops learners' understanding of Anglican traditions and practice.
Our daily worship takes a variety of forms.
On a Monday - Whole School Liturgy
On Tuesday we have family collective worship. 2:20-2:50pm
On Wednesdays- Singing Assembly
On Thursday we have family collective worship. 2:30-3pm
Friday - Whole school celebration collective worship
Our daily worship is planned around a weekly theme often focused on one of our core values. We usually explore one value per term whilst making continuous reference to all three. We reflect on the theme and think about how our Christian Values can help us to make positive life choices. The elements of spirituality are interwoven into each worship. While it is a Christian act of worship, we welcome children of Christian faith, other faiths and no faith to our worship and ensure it is planned to enable all children and staff to benefit without compromising their beliefs.
Collective worship in our school gives children and school staff the opportunity to:
- Engage in an act of community
- Express praise and thanksgiving to God
- Be still and reflect
- Explore the big questions of life and respond to national events
- Foster respect and deepen spiritual awareness
- Reflect on the character of God and on the teachings of Christ
- Affirm Christian values and attitudes
- Share each other's joys and challenges
- Celebrate special times in the Christian calendar