Aspire, Believe, Succeed

 

Our Mission

Our School promotes a positive ethos within a stimulating and enjoyable learning environment, educating for “life in all its fullness” through a broad and balanced curriculum which provides a wide variety of opportunities.

The Christian values which inspire and focus our community are courage, compassion and creativity. These values help us nurture self-respect and respect for others both within and beyond our diverse community. They encourage learning, wellbeing and service. With this vision, we promote a safe, stimulating, caring and enjoyable learning environment, educating through a broad and balanced curriculum, which provides a wide variety of opportunities for children to grow and succeed. Every child is seen as a unique individual loved by God, is equally valued and is fully supported and encouraged to do their very best in everything they do.

Our Vision

St Mark’s CEP School is committed to developing children that are courageous, compassionate and creative, making excellent all-round progress so they can reach their unique potential, experience and share “life in all its fullness”.   We Aspire, Believe, Succeed.

St Mark’s school vision is theologically rooted in the belief that everyone reflects the image of the creator God, is loved and sustained by God and is called by Christ into “life in all its fullness”  (John 10:10).

Every member of the school community is therefore to be equally valued, fully supported and encouraged to flourish.

Our Values

Courage – to speak up, advocate for others, try new things. This speaks to Faith.

Compassion – kindness, service, justice, empathy, respect. This speaks of love.

Creativity – children as God’s creation, in the image of God, creating new things. This speaks of hope.

 

Examples of further Bible stories to extend learning on our values:

Courage: Moses (Exodus 3) – the courage to face the past; David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17); Deborah – a brave female leader and judge (Numbers 13-14); Joshua and the spies; “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9) God’s courage – Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4:35-41) Courage can be aligned to faith when St Paul writes; “faith, hope, and love abide” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

 

Compassion: Any of the healings of Jesus – e.g. Mark 1:4-42, Matthew 20:29-34, the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37); the parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-24), the Lost sheep and the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16); The “Golden Rule” - ““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-40); This is the love, which St Paul calls “the greatest” of “faith, hope, and love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). “Compassion” means “to suffer with” and the love of God is seen powerfully both in God’s coming to be with us (the incarnation which we celebrate at Christmas) and willingness to die on the Cross (which we recall at Easter).

 

Creativity: The Creation stories (Genesis 1 and 2); “When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God.” (Genesis 5:1); the Psalms celebrate God’s creativity and encourage the use of gifts and skills e.g. Psalm 150 – many of the psalms were originally songs used in musical worship; Miriam danced before God’s people as they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus), Joseph interpreted dreams (Genesis), King David had musical gifts as well as leadership gifts, Jesus learnt carpentry, Lydia was a businesswoman trading in cloth (Acts 16) and many other examples. Creativity speaks of hope for the future (1 Corinthians 13:13). God’s new creation is seen in Jesus’ Resurrection, which we also celebrate at Easter and in the coming of the Holy Spirit, which we recall at Pentecost.