Church of England School
A village school with a global vision
At Downton Primary School we provide the rich soil that enables each mustard seed (our children) to grow, develop deep roots and to flourish. Within our rural community, our village school nurtures growth, giving courage to face challenge, and providing abundant opportunities for each of our unique strengths to blossom. Everyone feels valued and has respect for themselves and others, and hope for brightest future for each of us, as global citizens.
Our vision draws inspiration from the Parable of the Mustard Seed which is found in the gospel of Mark 4:30—32 in the New Testament.
“[Jesus] said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ ”
Our vision is underpinned by our core Christian values of Love, peace and Joy.
Rooted in a God who promises and flourishing from the actions and teachings of Jesus, our vision guides us in all that we hope to be, enabling every part of our community to grow and develop; “I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you.” Isaiah 41:10
Our vision explained:
As a school we sow the seed by placing Collective Worship at the centre of our school’s daily life. Providing a happy, secure and disciplined environment in which learning activities are both stimulating and enjoyable.
We cultivate the ground by providing a broad and balanced education, with exciting curricular and extracurricular activities, tailored to meet the needs of individual children. Enabling all pupils to flourish and achieve the best that they can be at each stage of development
We support growth by maintaining and develop the effective partnerships that exist between school and home, with our parish, and the local, national and global community. Basing our school life on the Christian principles of love, peace and joy.
We welcome all in the provision of an inviting, inclusive school environment where all members of the school community, of all faiths or none, are valued, respected and care for one another. We prepare children as global citizens by developing self-esteem, self-discipline, enquiring minds, independence and high personal aspirations which will enable children to succeed now and in the future.
Downton is a semi-rural diverse farming and industrial community. It is a place that values traditional ethos and sense of community.
‘Who are we as a school’ – this is our deeply Christian vision which is firmly rooted in the bible.
The parable of the mustard seed is one of the shorter pieces of Jesus’ teachings and in it he describes the Kingdom of Heaven growing from small beginnings. He likens it to a mustard seed which, though it is the smallest of the seeds, when tended properly it grows so large birds can come and rest in it.
Later, Jesus explains that the Kingdom of Heaven is here and now, not just somewhere we hope to go when we die, and that we should understand living in this kingdom as having ‘life in all its fullness’ (cf. John 10.10).
Our adopted vision for school, based on the parable of the mustard seed, helps us understand the children as coming to us as small seeds, nurturing them so that they flourish and grow, and that as a school, we serve them, their families and our community.
We link it to the history and culture of the school community, based on our farming and agricultural heritage.
Why are we here’ – these are our values.
Our school values of love peace and Joy are drawn from our vision, and as a whole school community we say that Downton Primary School provides a respectful, caring environment, based on our Christian values, where children and adults are helped to flourish and grow to the best of their abilities.
How then do we live’ - all this effects school life
Our Christian vision and values promote social and cultural development through the practice of forgiveness and reconciliation, and encourage good mental health. It enables children and adults, whatever their background or ability, allowing all to flourish and live well together.
The vision is used to ensure our policies, curriculum and extracurricular opportunities meet the academic and spiritual needs of all learners.
We describe what we do in terms of how our vision and values inspire the whole school community to engage in social action and to be courageous advocates for change in their local, national and global communities
Daily collective worship at the centre of school life enables children to experience the diversity of Christian practice and tradition
Our Christian vision supports the character and moral development of all pupils, giving them aspiration for themselves and hope for the communities of which they are a part. It gives pupils and adults dignity, and enables them to be the person God created them to be, the best that they can be and to inspire hope for others in the local community and beyond.
High quality, effective, academic and non-confessional religious education allows pupils and adults to flourish.
These Christian Values form the framework on which we build our school community: embedded in our actions, our planning and our policies.
We want these key Values to help us actively live out our Vision. They colour and shape our aims, our character, our ethos and subsequently the experience of learning and school that all our children have here.
Although we're always mindful of our values, each term we focus on one in particular. Each term's value is especially evident in our Collective Worship, but will also be explored and celebrated further in PSHE, Art, Music, RE and wherever opportunities arise in other curriculum areas.