Let Your Light Shine;

on everyone, everywhere, everyday

We aim to let every child:

Let our Light Shine (Matthew 5 - 16)

Our Vision Statement

Our vision is to work together as a Christian community to nurture our children within a happy, stimulating and caring school.

A place where:

• Christian values are at our heart: endurance, compassion, thankfulness, forgiveness, justice and hope

• Everyone is unique and welcome

• We respect and care for everyone and everything around us

• High standards are expected and achievements celebrated so that everyone is able to reach their full potential

• Self-esteem and confidence are nurtured on a journey of self- discovery

 

Everyone Matters!

Our school is proud to have a distinctive Christian character.

We show this through:

• Daily worship collectively as a whole school, in key stages or in our classrooms to include reflection and responding times

• Daily prayer

• Prayer corners in every classroom

• School values displayed in classrooms and across school

• Children regularly say The Lord’s Prayer

• Our religious education is enquiry based and encourages children to make comparisons to the Christian faith whilst also teaching about other world religions.

• The cross having a prominent place within our school

• The children hearing the gospel read weekly outside of worship time and opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the bible stories heard

• We celebrate Christian festivals

• We have a close relationship with the Church and Rector, and support and promote each other’s interests

• House teams are named after Saints and are celebrated on their days

What is the theological inspiration that underpins the work of the school at Canon Popham

 

Christian Values for Life

Our school has 6 ‘Christian Values for Life’ which underpin all of our work in school. While there are many other Christian Values, these were chosen as being particularly relevant and appropriate for our school’s ethos and for the primary stage of education. The school recognises that by setting the foundations with these 6 values, we are supporting and preparing the children to become good citizen’s within their communities, for their whole lives.They are:

Endurance – see Psalm 118
Although the word refers to humans standing firm in the face of hardship, persecution or scorn, it is important to note the constant assurance in the Bible that God’s love, mercy, faithfulness and righteousness endure forever. In our academy, we teach the children to develop a sense of resilience and to keep going, when they are facing difficulties, should this be personally or with elements of learning.

Compassion- see Matthew 9:36
Compassion’ and ‘sympathy’ have much in common and both are stronger in meaning than simply ‘feeling sorry for’ someone. The words have their roots in the idea of ‘suffering with’ someone, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and experiencing what they experience. This leads to a desire to act, to do something In our academy the daily act of thinking about others, being kind and supportive of each other, as well as learning about the wider need for global support of good causes enables children to become good citizens of the future.

Thankfulness- see Luke 17: 11-19
Thankfulness has always been at the centre of the life and worship of God’s people. ‘Songs of thankfulness and praise…’ are at the heart of Christian worship. Thankfulness is directed towards God who gives and sustains life. Seeing the world as God’s creation underpins the way we approach everything in life, seeing it as a gift and not as a right. In our academy, we aim to help the children to be thankful daily for the blessings in their lives, such as the right to education, and to apply this thankfulness daily in acts of worship.

Forgiveness- see Matthew 18: 21
Forgiveness is fundamental to the character of God. Throughout the Bible, God is described as slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin In our academy, we teach the children that as part of restorative practice, and to be created in the image of God, we should forgive, just as God forgives us.

Justice- see Proverbs 29:7
Justice also means giving all people – particularly the poor and oppressed – what it is right and fair for them to have: life, health, freedom and dignity. It is about acting out of a concern for what is right and seeing right prevail. In our academy, we aim to help children understand that they have the right to be treated with fairness and dignity at all times, but with this right comes the responsibility of also treating others with fairness and justice.

Hope- see 1 Corinthians 13:13
Hope is a universal human phenomenon. Where hope is lost there is despair and disintegration. Hope generates energy and sustains people through difficult times. For some people, hope is so strong that it inspires self-sacrifice to turn hope into reality. True hope is much more than a general idea that things will get better. It is more than a belief in progress, which sees the world and people as getting better all the time, growing away from violence, ignorance and confusion.

In our academy, the value of hope pervades all that we do. Every child matters, every day and as we teach children about growth mindset, we show them that as individuals they can grow and change for the better, and also be influential in their communities and their world. This is the stuff of which we create the kingdom of God on earth.

 

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Who was Canon Popham?

Canon Popham was the rector for the parish of Kirk Sandall and carried out numerous activities and writings on behalf of the young people in his parish.

He became a well known figure for the books he wrote on education and because he held the education of children so highly, he worked hard for the children of the parish and education country wide.

Canon Popham Church of England Primary and Nursery School is named after him and it is an honour to be part of a school whose roots are steeped in high standards of education and a strong Christian ethos.