Vision and Values
St Mary’s Primary School is a caring Christian community where pupils are encouraged to grow in faith, confidence and purpose, rooted in the belief that all are loved by God. Guided by the vision of “Confidently Me, Belonging Together, Challenged to Contribute,” the school nurtures each child’s unique identity, fosters a strong sense of belonging within a supportive and inclusive community, and inspires everyone to use their gifts to serve others. Through shared values, high expectations and a commitment to excellence in learning, St Mary’s enables every child to flourish, develop strong relationships and make a positive contribution both locally and beyond.
Our Vision Statement:
At St Mary’s we live out our faith together - learning to love God, our neighbour and the world around us. Excellence in learning is fostered through our shared Christian values and a deeply-felt sense of belonging, which enables all our children to reach their full potential.
We believe God is love and all people are loved by God. Knowing we are loved enables us to love ourselves and to love others. Our mission is to help children know this love within a shared sense of community where all can contribute to the well being of others. We believe this provides a strong foundation on which everyone can excel in learning and with God's help can become the people who they were created by God to be.
Our School Values:
Confidently me: secure in our identity in Christ
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous — how well I know it.
(Ps 139.14)
God created each one of us as an individual, as a unique person. God wants us to fulfil our potential and not let anything or anyone hold us back from a life of fullness and fruitfulness. We all reflect something of God's glory as we are all made in the image of God.
Being secure in our own identity is shown in supporting children to be confident and independent learners. We encourage everyone to be themselves, regardless of our differences. We have high expectations of each other because we expect all children to progress and attain to their full potential, as learners and as people. We therefore conduct ourselves in such a way that demonstrates these values throughout our time at school.
Belonging together: in union with Christ, in fellowship with one another
So you also are complete through your union with Christ
(Colossians 2.10, NLT)
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other.
(1John 1.7, NLT)
We belong together because we belong to God. God created us to be in relationship with him and with each other. It's like we are all part of the same family. At St Mary's we have a strong sense of belonging which enables the children to be confident (and complete) in who they are as individuals. We worship together, reminding us of our sense of community is rooted in our shared union in Christ.
Belonging together is shown through taking a shared joy in the celebration of individual achievements. We support one another in times of need, showing forgiveness when things go wrong.
Challenged to Contribute Challenged: to communities near and far
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
(John 13.34, NLT)
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
(1Peter 4.10, NLT)
We are confident in ourselves and secure in the community of St Mary's. These are the foundations on which we challenge one another to serve our communities, following the example of Jesus who showed us his love by serving others. It is in the knowledge of God's love for us, the realisation of the gifts we have been given that we serve one another, it is an expression both of the love of God and the fellowship (Koinonia) with each other.