Christian Vision and Values
"Let Your Light Shine" Matthew 5:14-16
Church School
Our school is a Church of England School and part of the St Albans Diocese. We have a strong Christian ethos and maintain a close connection with the Diocese. "The core purpose of any Church school is to maximise the learning potential of every pupil within the love of God. "Live God’s Love in Education, Enabling Life in all its Fullness’. The School's Christian foundation is therefore central to our work and is reflected in our motto:
‘Let your Light Shine’
The Church of England has a positive role in our school, providing both a community service and a specifically Christian form of education. We value our close links with St. Lawrence Church in Wymington.
We welcome families of all faiths and none, recognising and celebrating the heritage that all families bring to our school.
Our School Vision
We care passionately about our school community being able to let their light shine whilst feeling respected and valued and knowing that their contribution will be recognised. This involves a knowledge rich curriculum in which pupils flourish spiritually, creatively and academically.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Our Federation Vision
We are part of the Chellington Federation where Everyone is valued as an individual and helped to develop and progress in their own unique way within a Christian environment. The Federation vision, ‘Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.’ is at the core of our Federation. The Chellington Federation’s vision is: 'Happiness through Wisdom'.
“There is gold and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”
Our vision for St Lawrence takes inspiration from our core values of perseverance, courage and hope. We are proud to be a key part of our local community, giving the children of our school the opportunity to ‘Let Their Light Shine’ in all that they say and do. Our school is a place where Christian values and ethos drive our daily actions and shape us to live faith-based lives, reaching out in love to those around us of faith or none.
At St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, we believe that every child and adult can shine and that this can be for the benefit of all. We recognise that we are all special in God’s eyes and have unique talents, which we nurture so that each of us has the opportunity to become the very best person that God intended us to be. We want to see everyone being inspired and growing in wisdom, knowledge and love. We want to see children flourishing and excelling in everything that they do through providing rich experiences which give everyone the opportunity to achieve more than they ever thought possible. We do not want the brilliant things that we do and learn to be hidden. We want to encourage our children to aspire to great things and for the light of their lives to shine and make a difference in their classrooms, throughout the school and when they return home and into their community. As we all demonstrate our Christian values of courage, perseverance and hope, in a supportive atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, our hope is that light will shine in many ways, every day - for the benefit of all and for the glory of God.
It is essential that the children in our community understand there is always hope, despite setbacks and unfairness in life. Aspirations can be met and as leaders and teachers, we will strive to encourage and support our children to strive to be the best that they can be. At St Lawrence we have high hopes and aspirations for our future, our school and community. We also understand that faith gives us hope for both now and for the future, and that this hope brings confidence. Hope for us means that there is always a future whatever situation we are in, because God promised to never leave us, to always love us, and to help us in times of need.
Courage can sometimes be hard to find. However, it is essential for us to instil courage in our children and in ourselves. Without courage, we can't move forward. Without courage, we will never experience new things in life or make the world a better place for others or ourselves. At St Lawrence, we teach the children to ask questions; to take measured risks; to have the courage and confidence to stand up for what they believe is right and to have the voice to say it.
We teach the children that with perseverance, anything can be achieved. That sometimes things can be tough and trying again is the only answer. We encourage children to persevere in their learning and all aspects of their lives in order that they leave primary school fully equipped for the future.
Project Touchline
The children at St Lawrence took part in a six week programme of faith, values and sport with Project Touchline. The project had a huge impact on the way children and staff engage and live out their distinctive Christian values of our school. It was deeply Christian and celebrated the unique vision and values of our school through Sport and the wider curriculum.
The children developed their understanding of our three core values, perseverance, courage and hope through collective worship, prayer club and PE lessons. The programme has left a legacy on our school that will be with us on our Christian journey.