Christian Vision and Values / SIAMS
Morville C of E Primary School -
A school. A family. Growing and flourishing together.
Our Vision
Our vision is rooted in the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13 31-32):
A mustard seed … “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’
We are a small school – but we believe like the mustard seed that education can have far-reaching impact and that our children will grow into those who bless others through their careers, caring and vocations. One tiny seed just like one small child carries a world of potential.
Theology of our Vision:
As a church school we believe that such belonging reflects what Jesus calls the Kingdom of God. 'From the tiny mustard seeds grows the greatest of plants which becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make their nests in its branches', says Jesus in his parable (Matthew 31:31-32).
Morville Church of England Primary School is surrounded by beautiful countryside where farming and growing is part of daily life. The parable of the mustard seed provides a link with the historic roots of the school which was originally established for the children of local labouring families and the village.
A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field.
With our caring and nurturing ethos firmly embedded in all that we do, every member who joins our school whether child or adult, like the small mustard seed, is tended to so that they grow and flourish in its broadest sense—academically, socially, morally, physically and spiritually.
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up it is the biggest of all plants.
The ethos of the school and the actions of the school community enable children and adults to grow in confidence, to develop a wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding and to be aware of their own and others’ needs, which prepares them for and interests them in the modern world.
It becomes a tree, so that birds come and make their nests in its branches.
Through their thorough and rich grounding, our children are equipped to be respectful citizens and make valuable contributions to the communities they will serve in the future.
Our School Values
At Morville School we follow some core values which are embedded into our everyday life at school.
- Compassion
- Hope / Aspiration
- Responsibility
As a Church School, we are a community founded on Christian Values. These values underpin our vision, provide a basis for our principles and support everything that we aim to achieve for all who come to our school. These values are present in our School to encourage an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith through the experience it offers all pupils.
We identified our values based on our families’ voices for how our school is recognised within our community. Our three core values fully encompass how we as a school, embrace our Christian distinctiveness and how our families and pupils live this everyday. Our small rural school provides the nurturing environment for our children to flourish, reflected in the names of our classes and the beautiful countryside around us.
Our values have created a golden thread which is reinforced within our curriculum, teaching and learning policies and involve all staff and pupils. We are proud to share our vision and values to our parents and community through our website, newsletters and services.
Reverand Boxall, along with visitors, staff members, the Head of School and pupils lead Collective Worship where these key values as well as other Christian values are reinforced through Bible readings, stories, prayer and song. Children have regular opportunities to reflect on what our values look like at school, home and in both our smaller and wider communities. Our new St Gregory’s Award is presented to children by the Reverend, who have been recognised for living out our Christian Values, an expression of our vision.
Compassion
As in the parable of the mustard seed, we are inclusive and have room for everyone. Knowing they are valued, the children are well placed to have and show compassion in all their relationships in school, to have compassion for the needs of others, and for all creation.
We develop our value of compassion through hearing how Jesus showed compassion, modelling positive interactions through our behaviour regulation policy and supporting those in need both in our school, local and wider communities.
A Christian Perspective on Compassion
Christians believe that their attitudes and actions must reflect the kindness, mercy and compassion of Jesus and the love of God for everyone.
What might compassion look like in school?
Through whole school worship, class worship, relationships and discussion, we use bible stories to provide examples of compassion and also explicitly give examples of how children can show and recognise examples of compassion within school. This includes remembering others in our prayers, helping others when they need it, being a friend when someone is sad or upset, thinking about how our words and actions can make other’s feel etc. Each child is recognised for acts of kindness through our values tokens in class. These tokens are collected, recognised and celebrated in our weekly celebration worship as art of children learning what compassion in action is.
Bible stories that help us to understand Compassion include:
The Good Samaritan, Baby Moses in the Bulrushes, David spares Saul, A Widow and her Son, Jesus heals a leper.
Aspiration / Hope
As in the parable of the mustard seed, we provide children with a range of experiences and opportunities which gives them the confidence and belief to do their best and believe anything is possible for them.
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.
By nurturing this value, children, staff, parents and all members of our school family will look back on memories they have made throughout their time with us, knowing that, like God, we will always be there in times of need.
A Christian Perspective on Hope
Christians see their hope in God’s promise “that love, and goodness have, and will ultimately, overcome all evil”. This hope is manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that: God has our best interests at heart; God will never leave us; God will provide for us when we are in need; God knows us (even the number of hairs on our head!); and God promises us of a better life to come.
As a school, we will promote a vision of a hopeful future. We aim to help children that there is the chance of a new beginning and a fresh start in every situation and how they can play their part in creating a better society.
How might hope and aspiration look like in our school?
Having hope isn’t always easy, but it is that beacon of light during difficult times that allows us to learn from our mistakes and never give up. Our behaviour regulation policy and the restorative conversations we have with the children allow us to see how we can do things differently next time and learn from our mistakes first hand. Our visits, trips, visitors, and all adults we welcome in school encourage pupils by inspiring them and giving them hope and aspirations through real life examples. For example, our visits from Darren Edwards, transition days and visiting orchestra.
Bible stories to help us understand Hope / Aspiration
Crossing the red sea, Jesus calms the sea, Noah’s Ark, and The Lost sheep.
Responsibility
As in the parable mustard seed, we take responsibility for all in our community. We provide a safe, nurturing place, encouraging everyone to take responsibility for self and the world around them. We teach our children to make the responsible choice, even if it is not the easiest one. Through faith, we take responsibility for ourselves and others, to stand up for what is right, as modelled by Jesus. Having an individual and collective responsibility for the wider community. We are responsible for acting in a way which encourages a positive contribution to society.
A Christian Perspective on Responsibility
The Bible teaches that life is a gift from God, and it is our responsibility to use our talents and abilities in the best way we can.
What might responsibility looks like in school?
As a school, we encourage pupils to act in a responsible manner and promote, through our outdoor learning, how we can all be responsible for our environment. Our active school council also allows our children a voice in making responsible choices for our school and the wider communities we are part of.
Children have classroom responsibilities as well as being responsible for some of the planned events across the school year such as the Suitcase Sales and the Sponsored events the school takes part in.
Bible stories that help us to understand responsibility include;
Story of Cain and Abel, the story of Zaccheaus, The story of Saul and The Parable of the Talents.
Click below to see the Church Of England ‘Valuing all Gods Children’
Our Vision and Values
we follow the Church of England guidance on Click below to see the Church of England Vision for Education
We are pleased to announce that we received a Good grade from our SIAMS inspection. The inspector was particularly impressed by the children’s behaviour. “The relationship between different year groups are extremely strong and this contributes powerfully to the nurturing ethos that sits at the heart of the school’s distinctive character.”
The full report can be found below-
The Church of St Gregory Morville:
The Church is set in a lovely rural setting next to Morville Hall, a National Trust property, which is tenanted. The Church and churchyard, which includes a car park, is situated next to the village of Morville on the A458 Bridgnorth to Much Wenlock road. It is approached via the driveway to the Hall.
The building was completed in 1118 and retains almost all of the original Norman elements. It was constructed within the precincts of a Priory establishment which was destroyed in 1540, leaving the Church as the parish place of worship.
The interior presents a warm and friendly atmosphere with many features of historic interest and, being adjacent to National Trust buildings, attracts many visitors.
The parish draws on a village support of around 275 to which outlying farm and hamlets add another 100. The church enjoys the benefit of active fund raising and other voluntary support. Co-operation with and participation from the Morville C of E Primary School in the village, together with activity groups using the modernised Village Hall, greatly encourages a busy and self-sufficient community.