Skip to content ↓

Vision and Values

Our Christian Vision

Developing our Christian Vision

Our Christian vision was developed through consultation with our pupil Worship Council, our staff, Knowle Parish Church, our Governing Body and our Parent Forum. As a starting point, we asked all stakeholders to consider what was special about Knowle CE Primary Academy, ensuring this information was captured within our vision statement. Throughout this process, our school values - The Fruits of Spirit - were consistently celebrated for the effective way in which they support the Christian ethos here at Knowle. Our values are well established across school and are rooted in Christian faith. However, their universal appeal means our values are adopted, shared and lived out by all members of our school community. Our values form the basis for children's personal development and shape all aspects of school life. It was therefore crucial to develop a vision that continued to promote our school values.

How Does our Vision Link to the Parable of the Sower?

All Church of England schools develop a Christian vision that is theologically rooted in the Bible. At Knowle CE Primary Academy, we regularly talk about our school values growing within children, so that they can make a positive impact on each other and the world around them. When consulting with leaders of the school and church, we considered Bible passages and parables which could exemplify this key message. We felt the Parable of the Sower did this beautifully.

Within the Parable of the Sower, a farmer scatters seeds in different locations (on a path where the seeds were eaten by birds, on rocky ground, amongst thorns and on fertile soil). Only the seeds planted in the fertile soil flourished to produce fruit, and Jesus explains this is representative of those who hear God's message and live it out in their lives.

'Growing in God's Love; Flourishing Together' reminds us of the message within the Parable of the Sower and reinforces the importance of living out our values.

Launching our Vision

On the children's first day back in school in September, we held a special act of Collective Worship. Here, we retold the Parable of the Sower, using the giant artwork produced by the Worship Council alongside a visiting artist as part of our enrichment week. This artwork is now permanently displayed in the Junior hall. To demonstrate the growth of the seeds, we revealed our new school prayer tree, which will now display the children's prayers. We discussed the meaning of God's love and flourishment, and practised using our new vision as a call and response during our worship time.

After our collective worship, to bring our vision to life and to help children remember the Parable of the Sower, all children were invited to the school field to scatter wild flower seeds within a new bed shaped as a Christian cross. We now look forward to watching our seeds flourish as the year progresses.

Displays and signs have been updated across school to help us all remember that, at Knowle CE Primary Academy, we grow in God's love and flourish together. 

   

     

 

Our Values

The following values are shared, owned and understood by our whole school community, including parents, governors, pupils, and staff. We have adopted St. Paul’s analogy of ‘The Fruit of the Spirit’ which are our core Christian values and underpin the ethos of the school.

LOVE

Care for one another unconditionally.

JOY

Find joy not just in earthly things and not from triumphing over someone else, but rather through counting our blessings, growing an appreciative heart, and knowing how precious each of us is to God.

PEACE

Know that we are safe in God’s hands no matter what may happen.

PATIENCE

Act with grace, tolerance and forgiveness.

KINDNESS

Show people that they matter and that they have value by giving time, listening, showing empathy and concern.

GOODNESS

Help others and stand up for others who cannot stand up for themselves.

FAITHFULNESS

Be trustworthy and reliable and trust in God.

GENTLENESS

Be considerate and understand how powerful we are and the damage we can do if that power is not under control.

SELF-CONTROL

Learning to be responsible for ourselves – and the importance of holding ourselves in check even in difficult situations.