Thurlow Church of England Primary School is a Church of England Voluntary Controlled school with a distinctive Christian character. Our Christian ethos is rooted in the teachings and example of Jesus and is lived out through our relationships, our curriculum, our Collective Worship, our values and the way we care for one another.

 

Our motto is: “Laying the Foundations for a Bright Future”

 

This is beautifully reflected in one of the Bible stories that is particularly significant to our Federation and particularly our school – The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24–27; Luke 6:46–49).

 

Jesus tells of two people who build houses: one builds on rock and the other on sand. When the storms come, the house built on the rock stands firm.

 

For us, this is a powerful image of what we want to give our children. We want to help them develop strong foundations – foundations of knowledge, character, faith, relationships, wisdom, compassion and hope – which will support them throughout their lives.

 

 

At the heart of our Christian ethos is the example and teaching of Jesus.

 

Through the stories and teachings of Jesus, children encounter an understanding of a God who loves and values every person. They explore themes of welcome, forgiveness, compassion, service, justice, courage, wisdom and hope.

 

Jesus welcomed others, valued children, showed compassion to those who were struggling, forgave others and challenged people to think about how they treated one another. These teachings provide a foundation for the way we seek to live together as a school community.

 

Our Christian ethos is therefore not simply something that happens during Collective Worship or RE. It is reflected in the way we seek to welcome people, build relationships, resolve difficulties, care for one another, serve our community and encourage every child to flourish.

 

 

Across the Hundon and Thurlow Primary Federation, we share seven core values:

 

 

These values belong to our whole Federation family and help to describe who we are and how we want to live, learn and grow together.

 

At Thurlow, we explore these values particularly explicitly through our Christian foundation, the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus.

 

Each value has associated qualities which help us explore its meaning in greater depth:

These values help us to move beyond simply knowing what is right and encourage children to consider how they can put these ideas into practice in their everyday lives.

 

 

We want every child and adult at Thurlow to feel that they are known, valued and welcomed.

 

Our developing understanding of:

 

 

provides a helpful way of describing this journey.

 

We seek to create a school where children feel that they belong, have opportunities to stop and reflect, learn to respect themselves and others, and are encouraged to flourish as confident, compassionate and responsible individuals.

 

Our Christian understanding reminds us that every person has inherent value and should be treated with dignity, kindness and compassion. We therefore seek to ensure that our school is a place where people of all faiths and no faith are welcomed and treated with respect.

 

 

Collective Worship is an important part of life at Thurlow. It provides opportunities for our school community to gather, be still, reflect, pray, sing, celebrate, ask questions and explore the Christian faith.

 

Our Collective Worship is distinctly Christian in character and draws on the Bible, the teachings and example of Jesus, Christian festivals, prayer and our shared Federation values.

 

Children are invited to participate and reflect rather than being expected to hold a particular belief. We recognise that members of our school community have different beliefs and experiences, and we seek to create an atmosphere where everyone can engage with dignity and respect.

 

Throughout the school, children also have opportunities for reflection and stillness. Our spaces and classrooms provide places where children can encounter questions, images, symbols, stories and resources that encourage them to pause, think and reflect.

 

 

Religious Education at Thurlow is part of our BRAVE – Beliefs, Religions and Values Education curriculum.

 

As a Church of England school, Christianity has a particular place within our RE curriculum. Children explore Christian beliefs, the Bible, the life and teachings of Jesus and Christianity as a living and diverse faith.

 

Alongside this, children learn about other religions and worldviews. We want our children to understand that religious traditions are diverse and lived differently by different people, and to develop the knowledge and respect needed to live well in a diverse society.

 

Our approach encourages children to ask big questions, listen to different perspectives, think deeply and develop their own emerging understanding of beliefs, values and worldview.

 

 

Our Christian ethos is expressed through the everyday life of our school.

We encourage children to:

We also recognise our responsibility to care for the whole person. The emotional, physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of our children and staff is important to us. Through strong relationships, pastoral support, ELSA provision and a close partnership with families, we seek to create an environment in which people feel safe, supported and able to flourish.

Our commitment to service also extends beyond our school community. Children are encouraged to think about the needs of others and to take part in charitable activities, community initiatives and opportunities to make a positive difference.

 

 

Thurlow has a strong and valued relationship with St Peter's Church, Thurlow.

 

Revd Chris Giles, our local vicar, regularly visits school to lead Collective Worship and is also one of our Foundation Governors. Our links with the church provide children with opportunities to encounter Christianity as a living faith within their local community.

 

Our Foundation Governors play an important role in supporting and monitoring the Christian character of the school. Together with the Diocese, our local church community and our governing board, they help us to reflect on how effectively our Christian ethos is lived out across school life.Our Christian ethos in practice

 

We want the Christian character of Thurlow to be visible not simply in what we say, but in how we behave towards one another.

 

We want our children to leave us with strong foundations: secure in who they are, knowledgeable and curious, able to build positive relationships, willing to serve others, respectful of difference and hopeful about the future.

 

Just as the wise builder built on rock, we seek to lay foundations that will help our children to stand firm, respond with courage when life is challenging, and continue to grow and flourish.