EtchinghamOur Church School
Christian Vision & Values
Our vision for our Christian community at the Riverside Federation is that our pupils feel valued for who they are, reach their full potential through high quality learning experiences and are ready for life in an ever-changing world. We aim to treat everyone in our community with compassion, friendship and tolerance, underpinned by the teaching that we 'love our neighbour as ourselves.' (Mark 12:31)
Links with the Church
The school has a special relationship with the community of Etchingham through its association with the Parish Church of The Assumption of Blessed Mary and St Nicholas. We attend the church regularly for special events and celebrations, which reflect the Liturgical Calendar including Christmas, Easter and Harvest. Pupils sing, dance, read from the Bible, perform poetry and experience and communicate the essence of an occasion in many different ways.
Our local Vicar regularly comes to the school to lead our Collective Worship and he also takes part in these special Celebrations.
As a Church of England School, we are subject to Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS). Our latest report is available below:
Collective Worship
Collective worship is held daily. Throughout the year we focus on each of our Christian values of Compassion, Friendship and Tolerance whilst continuing to keep the theological underpinning of 'love our neighbour as ourselves' (Mark 12:31) at the forefront of our daily reflection.
We plan and prepare worship to support deep, reflective discussion. We encourage children to think about their values and what is important to them; to challenge ignorance and intolerance; to voice their opinions and to build on their own understanding of national and global events.
The children also explore the British values of mutual respect, individual liberty, democracy, the rule of law and tolerance, alongside the UN Rights of the Child, enabling them to develop as global citizens who are aware of the wider world and their place in it.
Prayer life of the school
As a Church of England school which upholds a strong Christian ethos, we recognise the importance of prayer as a time to become connected to God and to communicate with Him. Pupils are invited to join in daily acts of prayer through Collective Worship.
Our Federation Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Today and every new day, help us to learn, to play and to pray, to concentrate on all we do, to understand others and think about you. Help us to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Amen
