As a Church of England school we are proud that our vision 'Learn to LOVE, love to LEARN and aspire to SERVE so we become Inspiring Change Makers’ is rooted in the theology of the Church of England Vision for Education and the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.
In Romans 12:2 we are called to be 'transformed by the renewing of our minds’ - in other words - changing our thinking leads to changing our behaviour so that we can change the world. Jesus is our role model as an inspiring change-maker. Change-makers bring people and communities and together, they solve problems and create impact.
The following Bible verses help us to focus on the theological underpinning of our vision:
At St. Helen’s we believe love comes first. It is the foundation of who we are and all we do.
We teach children to love first; 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Mark 12:31 and to show love in their words and in their deeds, treating everyone with dignity and respect, following the Golden Rule ‘Treat others as you would you would wish to be treated.’
We value and celebrate the uniqueness of each individual made in the image of God, and challenge social injustice as advocates for those without a voice. We show children how to forgive and how to reconcile.
‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32
We belong to a community of learners who ‘spur one another on toward love and good deeds’ Hebrews 10:24.
We aim to inspire children to learn with joy, curiosity and enthusiasm, and to strive for excellence in all they do.
We develop children’s wisdom, knowledge and skills – inspiring a love of learning that goes beyond knowing facts and carrying out tasks, to developing independence and resourcefulness so children ‘know what to do when they don’t know what to do’. We develop character virtues that take children beyond the school gates and help them to make good and wise choices when faced with tough situations.
We promote the value of community and living well together. We recognise the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of belonging, relationships and stewardship.
‘Wise people are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.’ Proverbs 18:15
We aim for children to become inspiring change-makers who use their learning to serve and make a positive difference in the world.
We hope to instil in children a sense of hope and aspiration for a healthy and happy future. We help them to develop the resilience to cope when things and people go wrong and the ability to repent, forgive and reconcile, showing compassion, grace and generosity.
We aim for children to develop virtues of good character such as wisdom, courage and compassion so that they become socially aware and responsible global citizens who aspire to serve others as courageous advocates and inspiring change-makers.
‘Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’ 1 Peter 4:10
We hope that in ‘living out’ our vision through our Curriculum 360 - the taught, caught and sought - the children of St. Helen’s will develop the academic skills and intellectual habits to flourish as individuals who are equipped to live ‘life in all its fullness’ John 10:10.