Christian Distinctiveness

At St John’s Church School, inspired by the parable of the mustard seed, we nurture the God-given potential within every person. Rooted in Christian values, we grow and flourish together in a caring, inclusive community where everyone is valued, encouraged and inspired to develop academically, socially and spiritually, enabling all to make a positive difference in the world.

Inspired by the teachings and example of Jesus, we encourage one another to 'grow together in one family', showing love, friendship, honesty, respect and forgiveness. Through our learning, we develop a deep understanding of Christianity as a living faith, while also respecting and exploring the beliefs and worldviews of others.

 We learn together. We care for one another and we flourish together in our school family.

'The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field. Slowly, but surely it grows. First comes the seed leaves; then, more leaves; next, the stem that grows taller ... and taller. When it grows up, it is the biggest of all plants. It becomes a tall tree, and all the birds come and make their nests in its branches.' Matthew 13:31-32

Our Christian Values  

Collective Worship

Around School

Displays around school reflect and celebrate our different curriculum areas, they share children's work and illustrate how our children flourish through a well planned and sequenced curriculum. RE displays in school share our RE learning which includes Christianity as a living faith alongside other beliefs and world views.

Each classroom at St John's has a Collective Worship space which has a three wick candle, a cross and a tree to remind children of our vision of growing together. These areas support class worship and provide an opportunity for children to reflect on big questions, to do some deeper thinking and share prayers and reflections. 

Spirituality

At St John's spirituality is at the heart of our Christian vision and is about helping every child to reflect, grow and flourish. We understand spirituality as the opportunity to explore life’s “big questions”, develop a sense of awe and wonder, and build an understanding of ourselves, others and the world around us. This is nurtured through our Religious Education curriculum, Collective Worship and wider learning experiences, where children are encouraged to reflect on Christian teachings alongside other faiths and worldviews. Opportunities for prayer, reflection and discussion are carefully planned. Spiritual development is important to us because it supports children in becoming thoughtful, compassionate and resilient individuals, equipped with the values and understanding they need to live well together and make a positive difference in the world.