WHAT MAKES US DISTINCTLY CHRISTIAN?

Our vision for education is deeply Christian, with Jesus' promise of 'life in all its fullness' at its heart.

In line with the Church of England's role as the established Church, our vision is for the common good of the whole community.

Educating for wisdom, knowledge and skills: enabling discipline, confidence and delight in seeking wisdom and knowledge, and developing talents in all areas of life.

Educating for hope and aspiration: enabling healing, repair and renewal, coping wisely when things go wrong, opening horizons and guiding people into ways of fulfilling them.

Educating for community and living well together: a core focus on relationships, participation in communities and the qualities of character that enable people to flourish together.

Educating for dignity and respect: the basic principle of respect for the value and preciousness of each person, treating each person as a unique individual of inherent worth.

OUR CHRISTIAN VALUES

Our Christian values enable us to provide a rich and inclusive education where every member of our school family can flourish, creating and environment of excellence for all.

‘Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’ 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

As our children reflect on our values: Love, Integrity, Forgiveness, Equality, they develop their 'moral compass', a strong understanding of right and wrong that will guide them through life.

‘So let’s choose for ourselves what is right.  Let’s learn together what is good.’ Job 34:4

Children are encouraged to be 'courageous advocates', to do their best and to make a positive difference through action, however small. We believe that if pupils leave us having established these four core building blocks, then we will have achieved our goal of giving children the strong foundations they need for their lives now and in the future. 

‘You show love for others by truly helping them, and not by merely talking about it.’ 1 John 3.

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS

The school has a very close relationship to our parish church, Church of the Good Shepherd, https://www.goodshepherdfourmarks.org.uk/ .  The school vicar Revd. Howard Wright, Youth and children's worker, Lorna and Family Worker Jane Hughes work in partnership with the school by holding collective worship, supporting the RE curriculum and running after school clubs.

The whole school visit the church for collective worships termly, as well as the church hosting special events in the school calendar.

CHARITABLE PARTNERSHIPS

Here at Four Marks C of E Primary, we are proud supporters of a range of charities.  We work in partnership to promote, fundraise and support both local and global charities.

Our most noteable partnership is with Education Uganda, who work supporting the community of our global partner school Bwera Primary in Uganda.  

Alongside this, the children hold fundraising Toilet Twinning events. Toilet Twinning enables families living in poverty to have lifesaving loos.

What is a Church of England School?

Before the government became involved with providing education for everyone in England- there were church schools and other charitable schools. The majority of church schools were built in the 1800's.

Our School was founded by the Church in 1902. The trust deeds for Four Marks CE Primary School states that "the school aims to serve its community by providing education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values in the experiences it offers to all its pupils''. 

When the state became involved with providing mass education, church schools became integrated into the education provided by the state. All these schools are known as maintained schools - they are funded by the state. All maintained schools including the Church school have to teach Religious Education and hold a daily act of worship. So church schools work on the same basis as community schools.

The purpose of a Church of England school is to offer a spiritual dimension to the lives of young people, within the traditions of the Church of England, in an increasingly secular world.

25% of primary schools in England have a Church foundation.

In the Portsmouth and Winchester Diocese there are over 30,000 children being educated in a Church of England school.

What is being added by being a Church of England school?

Church school have Christian beliefs and values at their heart. This means that every child and adult associated with the school is not just important because they are members of the school but because they are seen as unique individuals within God's creation.

Church schools recognise that as well as academic and emotional intelligence human beings also have spiritual intelligence. The spiritual aspects of life will be recognised, and nurtured alongside the academic and emotional needs of all.

Church schools are places where challenge through questioning is encouraged as through this we can make sense of the world, the gift of life and the purpose of our own personal lives.

The purpose of a Church of England school is to offer a spiritual dimension to the lives of young people, within the traditions of the Church of England, in an increasingly secular world.

What differences should you notice ?

As a pupil, parent, visitor or member of staff you should find that your church school is as good as any other good school but you should feel that the way the school works is different and distinctive. That distinctive difference will be rooted in Christian values that affect the way everyone is respected.

What else?

Church schools are encouraged to:

• 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 character and quality of religious education are a particular concern of the headteacher and the governing body
• observe the major Christian festivals and in schools which other faiths are present ensure that those faiths are able and encouraged to mark their major festivals with integrity
• maintain and develop an active and affirming relationship with a parish church

This information is adapted from a leaflet available from Portsmouth and Winchester Diocesan Board of Education.

COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

Through our times of worship, we provide opportunities for children and staff to reflect on many aspects of Christianity as well as exploring views of other world religions.

 Members of the church team lead worship once every week and children are encouraged to become actively involved.  During this time, they learn many new songs that they not only sing with great enthusiasm but often learn to sign as well. Some of our children also belong to the 'Church School Team' and they are responsible for planning Acts of Worship that mark significant events with Mrs. Batts, our RE Leader, and the church  team. 

Please note that parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of religious education or worship.  You will need to speak to the Headteacher should this be the case for your child.

For an overview of our collective worship themes, and how they are developed, please see our 'Curriculum' page.