We Achieve We Believe

We believe in providing a safe and happy learning environment where children and adults are valued, nurtured and empowered to achieve. 

We believe  a good education is the foundation on which our children’s futures are built and equips them for their life ahead. We aim to develop the whole child through a diverse and culture rich curriculum.

We are committed to providing an excellent education through helping children to achieve, by developing enquiring minds, instilling the motivation to learn and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Our approach is underpinned by our strong Christian ethos. We aim to help children learn to love and forgive each other and aspire to be the best they can be, rejoicing in their own success and the success of others. We also aim to establish a clear understanding of rights and responsibilities for all by embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We believe everyone in the school community is responsible for instilling Christian values that will help our children become confident and responsible members of society.

The distinctiveness of the school as a Church School

At St John the Baptist we respect each other:  We try to love our neighbour as ourselves.  To help us achieve this, we have five St John the Baptist Beliefs which are underpinned by the 14 Christian values and grounded in key Bible verses.  They are expressed using five key words:  Welcome, celebrate and care for each other to make our school a safe and happy place (Celebration); Co-operate, help and listen to each other so we can learn from each other and settle disputes peacefully (Cooperation); Work hard and try our best so we can be proud of ourselves and our work (Determination); Be honest and tell the truth so we can trust each other (Honesty); Look after the school and our belongings so we have a pleasant place to work (Respect).  Our Beliefs enable us to work together to share a common purpose. We see them as a positive way to learn how to become the best we can be.  They are often referred to throughout the day by adults and children.

Each of our school beliefs is accompanied by three verses from the Bible:

Determination

(Wisdom, Endurance, Justice, Hope) – ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.’ Joshua 1:9

‘Christ gives me the strength to face anything.’ Philippians 4:13

‘Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: ‘In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”’ Luke 18:1-3

Honesty

(Humility, Trust, Forgiveness, Friendship, Justice) – ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ John 8:32

‘Do not tell lies about others.’ Exodus 20:16

‘Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship.’ Proverbs 24:26

Respect

(Reverence, Wisdom, Service, trust, Peace, Friendship, Koinonia) – ‘Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.’ Romans 12:16

‘Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”’ Matthew 22:37-39

‘Respect everyone and show special love for God’s people.’  Peter 2:17

Celebration

(Thankfulness, Friendship, Hope, Creation, Koinonia) – ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice’ Romans 12:15

‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’ Philippians 4:8

‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:10

Co-Operation

(Service, Compassion, Trust, Peace, Friendship, Justice, Creation, Koinonia) – ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’ Psalm 133:1

‘But it should not be that way among you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. If one of you wants to become the most important, then he must serve all of you like a slave. In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve. The Son of Man came to give his life to save many people.” Mark 10:43-45

‘The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does.’ ‘God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honoured, the whole body will be happy.’ 1 Corinthians 12:12 & 24-26