Our Vision and Ethos

We recognise that, as a Church of England Junior School, we are welcoming children and families who may be new to being part of a school community where the ethos is underpinned by Christian values.

This section is designed to give you  some information about how our vision and values inform our practice as well as an overview of ‘What it means to be a Church of England school’.

We hope that you find it useful and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Our Christian vision, values and ethos encapsulate all that we work for, for each and every member of our school here at St Mark’s. We value the uniqueness of every child and adult and believe that personal development and academic achievement go hand in hand.

Our values are at the heartbeat of St. Mark’s. Through each aspect of school life, we aim to ensure that our school fosters a sense of self-worth and security in who we are, and who we hope to become; to develop a moral compass to guide us through life; to build positive relationships and make a difference to the lives of others and in the world around us.

Our curriculum is broad and balanced, giving opportunities across all subjects and areas of life. We believe that excellent learning experiences, underpinned by high quality teaching, set in a highly nurturing environment is essential for every child to achieve and develop well in all areas.

What differences should you notice in a Church of England School ?
Just like all good schools, we have high aspirations for our children and we are designing our curriculum to equip them to learn effectively and to become the best they can be.

Here at St Mark’s, your child will be nurtured and valued as a unique member our school family through our distinctive vision and values that are rooted in Christian teaching.

Church School Distinctiveness is rigorously inspected every 5 years under the Statutory Inspection for Anglican and Methodist Schools Evaluation Schedule (otherwise known as the SIAMS Inspection).

A summary of Church School responsibilities:

• Ensure that the school is led by a Headteacher who is committed, with the help of staff, to establish and maintain the Christian character of the school in its day to day activities and in the curriculum
• Engage meaningfully in a real act of Christian worship every day
• Offer a school life that incorporates the values of the Christian faith
• Ensure that Religious Education is given at least 5% of school time and that the quality of RE and Collective Worship are a particular concern of the Headteacher and Governors
• Observe the major Christian festivals and ensure that those with other faiths are able and encouraged to mark their major festivals with integrity
• Maintain and develop an active and affirming relationship with a parish church