Our Church School
Our Christian Vision
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ ~Joshua 1:9
Our vision is to cultivate courageous, caring and compassionate individuals who are not only academically strong but also spiritually enriched and socially responsible. We aspire to create a nurturing and inspiring environment that promotes a sense of community, and instils responsibility in our students. By embodying Christian values, academic excellence, and a commitment to service, we empower our young learners to become the compassionate leaders and change-makers of tomorrow.
These are values that we can all try to live by, whether our pupils are of faith or have none. Our vision at Fingringhoe is distinctly Christian and is explicitly referenced in Joshua 1.9. To help pupils develop a deep understanding of what it means to be part of a Church of England school community, we follow the examples set by Jesus in well-loved stories from the Bible.
In 1 Samuel 17, we look to the story of David and Goliath to remind us that we can learn new and difficult things, even when they feel overwhelming at first. Just as David approached something that seemed impossible, we learn to be brave, persistent, and confident in our abilities.
In Matthew 2.1-12, the story of Daniel in the lion’s den teaches us not to be afraid. It reminds us that courage often means standing firm, staying true to ourselves, and trusting that we can get through frightening or uncertain moments.
And when we reflect on the moment when Jesus calms the storm in Mark 4.35-41, we remember that we are never alone. Our teachers, peers, friends, and family, and for some, God, are with us to steady and support us when life feels stormy.
These stories help guide our learning, our relationships, and the values we share as a community.
At Fingringhoe Church of England (VA) Primary School, we teach the 2022 Essex Agreed Syllabus, and we follow the recommendations of the Church Of England’s Statement of Entitlement, which can be found here. Our curriculum map can be found here.
Collective Worship
At Fingringhoe Church of England (VA) Primary School, Collective Worship is a valued and cherished part of our daily routine. Each day, the whole school community comes together to share a special time of togetherness, reflection, and inspiration.
Collective Worship offers a daily opportunity to pause, give thanks, and consider the values that help shape who we are as individuals and as a community. It is a time for us to reflect on our lives, to celebrate our achievements, and to be inspired by the world around us. We also take this time to think about important issues in the wider world and explore our own personal responses to them with empathy and understanding.
Worship at our school takes many different forms, including readings, music, prayer, and moments of quiet reflection. Whether led by staff, pupils, or visitors, each act of Collective Worship is thoughtfully planned to be inclusive, meaningful, and rooted in the values we share as a school.
Pupils play an active and important role in our Collective Worship. They take great pride in helping to prepare the special space where we gather each day, ensuring it is calm, welcoming, and ready for reflection.
In church, our Year 6 pupils take on key responsibilities during worship. They lead parts of the service by ringing the bell to call our school community together, reading from the Bible, leading prayers, and lighting the candle to mark the beginning of our time of worship. These moments are not only meaningful but also symbolic, giving pupils the chance to grow in confidence and take ownership of our shared values. This is a role that all pupils look forward to as they journey through the school, and it is seen as a special privilege and milestone by the time they reach Year 6. Through their involvement, children develop a deeper understanding of the significance of worship and their place within our school community.
Collective Worship Policy June 2025
Justice and Responsibility
The Church of England defines courageous advocacy as the ability to speak out and take action on behalf of others, especially in the face of injustice, inequality, or need. It encourages individuals to stand up for what is right, show compassion, and work for positive change – values deeply rooted in Christian teaching and practice.
At our school, justice and responsibility are expressed in many forms and is firmly embedded in our Christian Vision. We recognise that children have a natural sense of justice, and from an early age, we nurture this by encouraging empathy, kindness, and a willingness to take action. We empower our pupils to become the ‘change-makers of tomorrow’, instilling in them the belief that their voices matter and that they can make a real difference in the world around them.
Through service to others, we help pupils understand that they can be advocates for those who cannot speak up for themselves. Whether supporting charitable causes, caring for the environment, or challenging inequality, our children are encouraged to live out their values in meaningful and practical ways.
Pupils are taught to be courageous advocates through a rich and varied curriculum. They encounter influential individuals from both the past and present – people who have stood up for justice and shaped the world through their actions. These stories inspire our children and show them what courage, determination, and compassion can achieve.
One powerful example of justice and responsibility in action at our school is The Fingringhoe Refillery – an eco-refill business set up and run by our eldest pupils. This initiative encourages our school and local community to change their buying habits and reduce plastic pollution. Through this project, pupils have taken a stand for environmental justice, showing that even small actions can lead to big change.
By fostering justice and responsibility in our school, we are nurturing courageous, caring, and compassionate young people who are ready to make a positive impact on the world.
Spirituality
At our school, spirituality is understood as a personal and evolving journey of inner growth. It is about developing a deep connection with ourselves, with our community and school, with the wider world and nature, and for some, with God. We believe spirituality supports children in discovering meaning, purpose and hope in their lives, helping them to flourish as whole people.
Our understanding of spirituality is inspired by the words of Jesus in John 10:10:
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
This verse reminds us that spirituality is about living fully and deeply, growing in love, understanding, compassion and responsibility.
To help children explore these ideas, we use the symbolism of the tree. The roots represent our identity and foundations, the values that ground us including, for some, our relationship with God. The trunk symbolises our connections with our school; the gifts, kindness, care and positive choices we offer to those around us. The branches represent our connections with our community, growing outwards as we build relationships, show respect and contribute positively to the lives of those around us. The leaves symbolise our connection with the wider world, reaching beyond our community as we learn about others, embrace diversity and recognise how our actions can make a positive difference on a global scale
The oak tree holds particular significance for our school. It is featured in our school identity and is an important symbol within our local community. The oak represents strength, endurance and growth over time; qualities we seek to nurture in our students. Deeply rooted yet always growing, the oak reflects our commitment to helping children develop strong values while encouraging them to reach out confidently into the world.
Our school’s vision to instil social responsibility in our students, and to prepare them as the change-makers of tomorrow and future guardians of the natural world, is beautifully represented through the image of the tree. Just as a tree supports life and contributes to the wellbeing of its environment, we encourage our students to act with care, courage and compassion, making a positive difference in their communities and beyond.
