Spirituality, Vision and Values

Spirituality at the Downland Village Schools Federation

We believe in giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways, to reflect on their experiences and have opportunities to respond to all of this; to do something creative as a means of expressing, applying and further developing their thoughts and convictions. In this they are learning to live, by putting into action what they are coming to believe and value.

Mission

We aim to give our children the best possible start in life by bringing together the individual strengths and characters of our caring, happy and inclusive, small schools, in a partnership which can offer the resources and opportunities of bigger schools.

Through an exciting, engaging and inclusive curriculum, and an embedded Christian ethos, we aim to develop pupils who value themselves and others, who love to learn and who aspire to excellence.

To help deliver this vision, we will offer our staff the benefits and opportunities of working in a larger team, in an environment, where they know and value all pupils and their families.

Vision

School Vision

In our federation of schools, our Christian vision shapes all we do.

Jesus said: “I have come that you may have life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

We make our vision come to life through our school ethos of Excite, Engage, Include.

Our federation provides a happy, stimulating, and nurturing environment, with an embedded Christian ethos, where we:

work together to maintain thriving and sustainable schools in our communities;
offer fun, engagement and challenge for everyone in our federation;
equip our children for a changing world by providing broad and balanced experiences;
give everyone the self-belief to face their future with confidence;
share and celebrate our uniqueness across the federation.

Values
Love of learning, of others, and of ourselves	‘My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you’ John 15:12
Hope and ambition for the future	‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint’ Isaiah 40:31
Forgiveness of others and empathy for others	‘Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you’ Ephesians 40:32
Perseverance to be inquisitive and creative	‘I press on toward the goal to win the prize that God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ Philippians 3:14
Respectfulness in all we do	‘Treat others as you would them to treat you’ Matthew 7:12

Our school prayer

Dear Lord,

Bless our school,

In that working together and

playing together

We learn to love one another

and serve you.

Amen