Our Christian Vision
At St Paul’s, our vision is simple yet profound: “Learning in God’s Love.”
Inspired by St Paul’s encouragement in 1 Corinthians 16:13 — “Continue strong in the faith. Have courage and be strong. Do everything in love” — our community seeks to nurture every child so that they can flourish academically, socially, and spiritually.
At St Paul’s we expect there to be a happy, caring and purposeful atmosphere where people are kind, polite and tolerant. The staff work hard to provide enjoyable, challenging and clearly structured learning tasks and consequently the children are expected to listen carefully, respond positively and work to the best of their ability. We are committed to supporting children and their families. We pride ourselves on our inclusivity and knowledge of every child as an individual. We place a strong emphasis upon helping others, sharing skills and caring for our environment, both inside and around school as well as in the wider world.
Our Core Values
Courage
"Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
We encourage children to take risks in their learning, face challenges with resilience, and stand up for what is right — just as St Paul did throughout his ministry.
Compassion
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
We show empathy, kindness, and forgiveness, ensuring that every member of our school family is valued and cared for.
Community
"So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5)
We believe in working together, in unity and partnership with families, church, and the wider world, recognising that we are stronger when we belong to one another in Christ.
What Makes Us Special as a Church School?
As a Church of England school, we are committed to developing a love of God and His world, as well as a care for others and ourselves. We preserve and strengthen our links between school, parish, and community, knowing that we flourish best when we flourish together.
We visit St Paul's Church regularly for celebrations including Harvest, Easter and Christmas, and as part of our RE curriculum. Our vicar, Rev Claire Holt, is in school every week to lead collective worship and to help us make our RE curriculum immersive, engaging, and rooted in lived faith.
Impact in Daily Life
Our vision and values are not just words — they shape everything we do. From curriculum design and collective worship, to playground friendships and community outreach, we are guided by courage, compassion, and community. This ensures that every child is empowered to achieve their God-given potential, supported by a strong partnership of home, school, and church.
Vision in Action: Flourishing at St Paul’s
Our Christian vision — “Learning in God’s Love” — is not just something we say, but something we live. Inspired by St Paul’s call to “Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13), we ensure that every child, from our youngest in Nursery through to our eldest KS2 class, is nurtured to flourish academically, socially, and spiritually.
Courage
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In Nursery and Reception, children take brave first steps away from home, learning independence and resilience in a safe, caring environment.
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At Forest School, children explore nature, climb trees, build dens, and discover new skills, developing confidence through risk-taking.
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“Courage means trying something even if it feels a bit tricky.” – Year 1 pupil
Compassion
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Our Nurture Farm teaches children to care for animals, developing empathy and responsibility.
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Children learn to look after each other — sharing toys, helping a friend who is hurt, and welcoming new pupils with kindness.
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“Compassion means helping someone when they fall over or feel sad.” – Reception pupil
Community
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We gather daily for collective worship, where children and adults come together to sing, reflect, and pray.
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Children join in special services at St Paul’s Church (Harvest, Christmas, Easter), developing a sense of belonging in our parish community.
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Families are regularly welcomed into school for learning celebrations, worship, and events, strengthening our school family bonds.
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“Community means all of us being together and helping each other.” – Year 2 pupil
Impact
These everyday examples of courage, compassion, and community show how our Christian vision makes a real difference. From first steps in Nursery to growing independence in KS2, children at St Paul’s are nurtured to know that they are valued, loved, and able to achieve their God-given potential.
Our specialist ASD unit is a key expression of our inclusive vision, ensuring that children with additional needs are fully supported, celebrated, and enabled to flourish within our school community.