The Edward Betham C of E Primary School

Our School Vision and Values

Our School Vision

Faith, hope, and love; these three things will last forever, and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

With God’s love at the heart of all we do, we celebrate the unique gifts of every individual. Rooted in Christian hope, pupils grow academically and in their faith, equipped to live full and happy lives and care for the people and the world around them.

Our School Values

Everything we do reflects our values:

  • what we believe in
  • what we think is important
  • the kind of people we want to be
  • the kind of world we want to create and live in

Our school values, the core values by which to live and which help us to develop a moral and spiritual awareness, underpin our vision. They are:

  • Hope
  • Compassion
  • Endurance
  • Forgiveness
  • Trust
  • Thankfulness

Each value has a particular focus during the year, as well as being promoted and taught throughout it.

Hope
In a changing world, we teach our pupils that God gives us hope and show them how this gives us confidence in the future.

All you who put your hope in the Lord be strong and brave.
Psalm 31:24

True hope is more than a general idea that things will get better. It is a firm assurance that God can be relied upon and that his promises can be trusted. Hope is not always easy. As well as trusting God, we need to develop our own commitment and determination. Hope creates energy and supports us through difficult times.


Compassion
In a complex world, we encourage our pupils to demonstrate God’s love to others particularly those less fortunate than themselves.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter, 3:8

Compassion is more than ‘feeling sorry’ for someone. It is about putting ourselves ‘in someone else’s shoes’ and feeling how they feel - a whole-hearted acceptance and love. This leads us to taking action, wanting to do things for others and sharing in their lives.

 

Endurance
In a competitive world, we provide our children with exciting learning and teach them the importance of working hard and having faith in their own abilities.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Endurance means recognising that life is sometimes challenging and painful, and that it is important not to give up in times of difficulty. We endure setbacks by developing self-control and determination through God’s love, mercy, faithfulness and righteousness, which last forever.

 

Forgiveness
In a turbulent world, we give our pupils a deep understanding of God’s love and forgiveness and of our responsibility to forgive others.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6: 14-15

Jesus commanded that we forgive and keep on forgiving without limit (Matthew 18:21). Asking for forgiveness means more than simply saying “Sorry”; it means treating what we have done wrong seriously and having a deep desire not to do it again. True forgiveness is healing for the person who is forgiven and the person who forgives.

 

Trust
In a confusing world, we teach our children to have faith and to know who to trust and how to be trustworthy.

“Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them, “believe in God and believe also in me.”
John 14: 1

Trust is essential to human life and is at the heart of all relationships. It is a necessity for living together in harmony, so is to be valued and honoured. To build trust with others, we need to be reliable ourselves and not let others down. Trusting in the abilities and integrity of others, letting go of control ourselves, means everyone can be enriched.

 

Thankfulness
In a world of inequalities, we teach our children to rejoice in their blessings and bring hope to those who have less.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

Thankfulness has always been at the centre of the life and worship of God’s people. It is a wholehearted response, a joyfulness that erupts into praise. We give thankfulness to God for his creation, a gift to us rather than a right. The greatest act of worship is thanksgiving for the death and resurrection of Jesus and the way of forgiveness that is opened up.