DISTINCTIVE CHRISTIAN ETHOS
Our Vision – Growing in Body, Mind and Spirit
God is at the heart of all we do. The focus is on providing opportunities for growth in body, mind and spirit, so that all who learn and work here may experience the joy and hope of ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10 v10).
This means that we provide opportunities for each pupils to ‘be the best they can be’, to find for themselves the person God wants them to be and to flourish in a learning environment where the pursuit of excellence based on the highest expectations and aspirations from and for all, is the norm.
Body Where the safety and well-being of pupils are paramount. Where every child matters and, crucially, knows that they matter.
Mind High expectations and aspirations in all areas of school life create a disciplined and ordered learning environment. Creativity, passion and enthusiasm help to engender a real zest for learning and secure excellent pupil outcomes.
Spirit Supporting spiritual growth for pupils and staff, wherever they are on their faith journey, is central to our community life. Prayer, worship, wow moments to acknowledge God’s greatness, reflecting on Christian values, character development across the curriculum and expressing ideas creatively all develop the spirit and contribute to ‘life in all its fullness’.
All our policies, decision making, curriculum decisions and extra-curricular activities are rooted in this vision and leaders at all levels are routinely encouraged to think about how their actions might link back to and reflect this vision.
The following seeks to explain the way our vision is rooted in the Bible and the way in which different expressions of our vision explain how we search out ‘life in all its fullness’ as a result of growth in body, mind and spirit.
Life in all its fullness
John 10 v10
‘Ihavecomeinorderthatyoumighthavelife lifeinallitsfullness.’
Educating for ‘life in all its fullness’ means enabling pupils to grow in ‘Body Mind and Spirit’. This challenges secular perceptions of what a full life might be and emphasises the importance of the spirit and the soul. It draws on the New Testament understanding of a human being as more than just physical body and intellect. Life in all its fullness is life based on Jesus’ call to love. Worship, prayer, RE, the Arts, thinking about Christian values across the curriculum, character development and our rich programme of extra-curricular activities are just some of the ways in which we seek to support growth in body, mind and spirit and offer abundant life. Our ‘Character for Life’ initiative’ supports spiritual development by providing space for reflection and possibly prayer across the curriculum. The theme for Worship in 2023-24 is ‘Everything is Spiritual’, and we are looking particularly at the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5 v22-3).
The context of Jesus saying ‘I have come that you might have life – life in all its fullness’ is Jesus speaking of himself as the Good Shepherd. He compares himself to a shepherd who cares for his flock and wants the best for them. Unlike the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy, he has come to offer ‘life in abundance’.
Our vision of educating for life in all its fullness is rooted in the Church of England’s vision for education ‘Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good’. Educating for life in all its fullness includes Educating for wisdom knowledge and skills.
▪ Educating for hope and aspiration.
▪ Educating for community and living well together.
▪ Educating for dignity and respect.
Motto – ‘Therefore Choose’
Deuteronomy 30 v19
‘ ThisdayIcalltheheavensandtheearthaswitnessesagainstyouthatIhavesetbefore youlifeanddeath,blessingsandcurses.Thereforechooselife,sothatyouandyour childrenmayliveandthatyoumaylovetheLORDyourGod,listentohisvoice,andholdfast tohim.’
The context is the renewal of the covenant between God and the people of Israel. Moses offers the people a choice of blessing or curse, life or death, as a consequence of the choices they make. He points out that the way they live will bring consequences – by choosing God’s way they are choosing life and God’s blessing. Christians believe Jesus shows us how to live. Making choices based on the teaching of Jesus leads to life in all its fullness.
The Old Testament law provided for the well-being of the people of Israel, including provision for growth in body, mind and spirit. Equipping pupils to make good choices, informed by understanding of the consequences, is an important part of growth in body, mind and spirit.
There are a number of covenants between God and His people in the Old Testament. Our pupils studying Judaism for RE GCSE will know about the covenant with Abraham and the covenant with Moses when the law, including the Ten Commandments, was given.
The Story of St Michael
Revelation 12 v7-9
Seeking for ‘life in all its fullness’ includes fighting evil and working for a better world. All pupils in Year 7 explore this story in Year 7 RE and on their first Christian Values Enrichment day on St Michael’s Day. They make a creative response to the story and offer their own interpretation of what it means to fight evil in their own lives and in the wider world.
Mission Statement
As a vibrant learning community we choose to serve God pursue excellence and celebrate the uniqueness of each individual.
A vibrant learning community
As a church school we seek to function as a Christian community, living by Christian values and sharing worship together. We strive to mirror the community life of the early church. They shared fellowship, prayed together, ‘broke bread’ i.e. celebrated the Eucharist, listened to the apostles teaching and provided support for those in need (Acts 2 v42-47).
At the same time, we recognise that many of those who share our community life are in different places on a faith journey and may be committed to other religions, have many questions and doubts, or have no faith. It is important that our community is welcoming and respects the integrity of all. This means worship will be invitational and that we demonstrate respect for different viewpoints. We follow the example of Jesus who engaged in dialogue with people of other faiths, e.g. a Roman Centurion or the Samaritan Woman. We offer encounter with the Christian faith. We encourage both our young people and adults to engage with big questions about life and faith.
Koinonia is the Greek word used for Christian fellowship in Acts 2. This implies more than just a sense of community. It means growing in communion with both God and fellow Christians. Christians believe that the love of God should be evident in the lives of Christians (1 John 4 v7-8). The Holy Spirit lives within Christians (1 Corinthians 6 v 19-20). Therefore, for Christians, koinonia includes encountering the love of God in the love of those Christians we meet daily within our community (1 John 4 v11-12).
As a Christian community we are the body of Christ and have Christ as our head (1 Corinthians 12 v12-31). This image makes clear that every member of the body has an important gift which is essential to the functioning of the whole body. Everyone is important, no matter what role they play.
We choose to serve God
Jesus was a servant leader. He demonstrated God’s love in his compassion for those in need and his sacrificial death for all. He washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper – a job usually reserved for the lowest servant (John 13 v 3-17). In the Parable of Sheep and the Goats, Jesus points out that when we do any act of service it is as if we have served Him. ‘Whatever you do for the least of my brothers you do for me’ (Matthew 25 v 3-46). This challenges everyone within our community to put love into action and serve as Jesus served.
Service of God includes love of God and love of our neighbour. It includes worship and prayer. It also includes serving the most needy members of our society. It includes courageous advocacy, encouraging all to speak out and act for justice, serving God by meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our local community and world community.
We choose to …pursue excellence
Doing the very best for God is an important part of stewarding the talents God has given. In whatever task they face, Christians should seek to do it to the best of their ability (Colossians 3 v23). The parable of the talents (Matthew 25 v14-30) is about stewardship of the gifts God has given.
We choose to …celebrate the uniqueness of each individual
Each individual member of the community is unique and precious in God’s eyes – whoever they are, whatever they do and whatever their needs. God knows and cares for each precious person. (Luke 12 v6-7). Christians believe all life is sacred and holy, because it is made by God and in His image (Genesis 1 26-7). God has plans for each unique individual (Jeremiah 29 v 11).
This affects the way we value and treat all members of the community, pupils, staff and parents. It makes an impact on our relationships and approaches to behaviour.
Foundation Statement
‘Therefore Choose…’ was put into a Christian context when the school was built, by the statement on the foundation stone in the entrance hall. 1 Corinthians 3 v11:
‘OtherfoundationcannomanlaythanthatwhichislaidwhichisChristJesus.’
The context of this passage is Paul writing to the Corinthians to express concern about the way they say they are following a variety of different human leaders such as Apollos or Paul. He says that he himself has played a part in building the Christian community in Corinth, but it is only Jesus who can provide the true foundation. He also points out the importance of building with care and so challenges us as we develop our school community, ‘If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is ‘.
The words recall the words of Jesus when he described himself as the essential cornerstone and a secure foundation for life, saying, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ (Luke 20 v17)
The Spiritual Dimension
As a Church of England High School we have a deep sense of Christian community and the spiritual dimension of our life together is of vital importance and underpins all our activities. The Church of England holds that spiritual development is important for human flourishing and mental wellbeing.
What is spirituality?
“I came that they may have life – life in all its’ fullness” John 10: 10
In its most fundamental sense, spirituality is about becoming fully human, fully alive. Traditionally, spirituality has been associated with God, prayer and church but permeates every aspect of living and so also has to do with creativity, art, music and serving others. In this sense, it affects the whole life of the school and all members of the school community. The Headteacher, together with the Governors and local clergy are responsible for the spiritual life of St Michael’s, although all members of staff have an important part to play here.
We believe we educate the child in Body, Mind and Spirit and it is the ‘spirit part’ we find hard to quantify although most of us can sense when we have ‘enriched the spirit of a child’; found in that moment of awe and wonder and much more.
In our diverse school community we have many different worldviews and varied ideas of what spirituality actually is; therefore it is important to consider spiritual development and frame it in a way that we can all make sense of.
At St Michael’s where we encourage pupils and adults to grow in body, mind and spirit as unique individuals we can draw on the primary school ideas and research. Through our theologically rooted Christian vision this can be encountered by all in an inclusive way, every day of our lives and therefore within our community spiritual development can be happening at any point in time. A way of framing this thread of spirituality that can permeate every aspect of our school community within lessons and beyond could be to view spirituality in four ways:
1) Connecting to self this might include reflecting on deep questions, taking time to be mindful, or thinking carefully about our character. The development of self/what else can you be/how you respond to the world.
2) Connecting to others this may include working together and celebrating achievements as a team, serving others in our school or local and global communities.
3) Connecting to nature and the world around us this might include reflecting on what we think is amazing about the world reflecting on awe and wonder.
4) Connecting to the divine, to God at any time this may include prayer, worship or an encounter whilst attending a Eucharist service for example.
(For more detailed explanation see: Cooling, Casson and Francis; “Spiritual Development”)
All can encounter the spiritual dimension through spiritual experiences and as humans we can make sense of these encounters through understanding and reflection. Humans spiritual responses can impact our lives and can shape how we live. Some might call this our spiritual nature.
We introduce children to new and different experiences and opportunities in order to ‘grab the moment’ and see the world ‘in the eye of the beholder’ with those ‘first ever experiences’ – skiing, trips abroad without parents or carers, fieldtrips into the outdoors, a new game or sport, an experiment of discovery in science, the joy in solving a maths equation, creating something beautiful from nothing, that first time a passage from a book or play makes sense or reading poem that is moving and wonderful. Spiritual development may take place in our community during reflection or prayer time, through art or music, through worship, by connecting with others and working within a team such as at Robin Park or one of the many fabulous school productions, enquiry based learning, experience of awe and wonder on a trip, through enrichment, Eucharist services simply by asking big questions, or seeking the divine ….there are many.
Each member of staff can encourage our young people and others in our community at St Michael’s to talk about spirituality can be helped by considering key questions such as: What sorts of opportunities are there for spiritual development for us all here in our community? How could we encourage spiritual development? How do we facilitate and nurture spiritual development here at St Michael’s within the curriculum and beyond?
Giving children time, space and stillness to build a relationship with God, find for themselves the person God wants them to be. Allowing children to make mistakes along the way and know forgiveness when they are truly sorry. It is about promoting excellence in Religious Education and excellence in collective worship, worship that is special and distinctive – that time in a busy day where we can meet with God and share our life with him.
That is why staff (teaching and support staff) are so important to our children.
Through your thought and professional care and dedication, the role model that you are, the relationship you have with you tutorial, classes and individual children you help to make this a successful school and a wonderful place to be part of.
What is collective worship?
Collective worship is an opportunity for members of the school community to explore various aspects of the Christian faith, to reflect and pray together. It may be as simple as reading a prayer or reflection during tutorial. It may involve leading a year group in the main hall during period one or the whole school at the end of term. As a Church of England High School, worship is at the heart of our daily life. Ultimately, the Headteacher is responsible for the worshipping life of the school, and is actively involved in leading and planning collective worship. The Christian Youth Worker organises and helps plan collective worship in school along with a number of other staff members and pupils.
Who leads collective worship?
We all do – on various levels. On a rota basis, staff lead prayers in briefing. Staff are also invited to plan and lead collective worship for the whole school. Tutorial Collective Worship Representatives in Years 7-11 are trained to lead and facilitate reflections and prayers at the beginning of the day, unless the year group has a Collective Worship in the main hall. These reflections are available at the beginning of each week on Moodle, the school website, in Staff Bulletin, in hard copy as well as in ‘Shared/Wellbeing/Worship’
All tutorials are provided with a sheet of reflections and prayers each week to be read in morning tutorial and at the end of the day with the ‘Grace’ when teaching the last class. Tutors are asked to support and encourage pupils to take part in designing and leading collective worship. If you need assistance in this matter, the Christian Youth Worker and RE department can assist you.
What should/could collective worship include?
Collective worship is not the same as teaching, though it will naturally include an element of learning. Collective worship is dedicated time spent in God’s presence, recognising who He is and attending to the spiritual aspects of our lives. Effective collective worship is well planned. It should have time for thinking, listening, reflecting and stillness. It could include music, dance, art, stories, or symbols (for example a dove, a candle or a cross). It may involve humour, poignant stories, video clips or music, but it will always be relevant to the lives of those participating. Ideally, it will involve pupils either in planning and/or leadership. (Please see the separate information on planning collective worship)
Chapel and outdoor worship area
There is a beautiful chapel in the Armstrong Centre. This space has been designed to create a quiet place within the school for pupils and staff. It is available before and after school for private reflection. The Chapel is used for various activities including a weekly prayer meeting and lunchtime services led by local clergy and Eucharists each month which are held during period 1.
Tutorials are offered the opportunity to conduct tutorial collective worship in the chapel. Pupils talk positively about the atmosphere and opportunity for reflection.
The new outdoor worshipping area is in the quad by the canopy. It was designed by former pupils, and is now tended by current pupils as part of the year 9 Enrichment Programme. It is used for quiet reflections and ‘carols in the quad’, and we are looking at developing this use further.
Tutorial Patrons
Tutorial patrons are people who inspire us through their lives and words. They may be alive or deceased, but they share one thing in common – they have all made a significant contribution to the lives of others, inspired by their Christian faith. Each tutorial has a patron. In 2018-19 a review of the tutorial patron system resulted in 9 patrons being used throughout the school each year, rather than 41 as previously.
Christian Youth Worker
The Christian Youth Worker has a crucial role to play in the life of St. Michael’s and also works with the local churches, the Diocese of Blackburn, and other agencies to serve the needs of our young people. This involves working with ALL pupils, regardless of any faith commitment and with particular responsibility for our Christian youth. Through various activities including collective worship, the Archbishops’ Award and other clubs, the aim is to encourage young people to grow in grow in body, mind and spirit, asking questions as they explore various aspects of spiritual life and especially the Christian faith. Many staff, pupils, a worship band and local clergy also support the worshipping life of the school.
Events and Groups
In addition to daily worship and whole school events, there are other opportunities for spiritual development within the school. The Discovery Club meets during lunch time. Pupils in Years 7-8 are warmly invited to play games, study the bible and ask questions about the Christian faith. Pupils in Year 9, 10 and 11 are invited to various groups and activities for discussions about the Christian faith and what the bible has to say about issues affecting us today, including the ‘Bible Study’ group.
Christian concerts and other youth events are advertised and young people are encouraged to bring in information about activities in local churches. A retreat day has also been held in the summer for pupils involved in Discovery Club and Bible Study group.
‘What makes our church School distinctive?’
Christian foundation and purpose
All schools are unique communities that exist to provide in a secure, caring environment an education that nurtures pupils and staff to their highest potential in every area of their being - mentally, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually.
At St Michael’s Church of England High School our Christian foundation and purpose challenges us to identify where, why and how we are distinctive as a community that bear the name of Christ.
Our distinctiveness identifies how, from a Christian perspective, Christian beliefs and values are demonstrated in the life and work of this school. This distinctiveness is evidenced in our mission statement, vision, aims, policies and procedures and educational provision of the school. In our school many staff perceive their role as being more than simply that of an employee but rather one which they consider to be a vocation. Our Christian community could not operate without staff being willing and able to support, and develop the Christian foundation of the school.
Leadership and management
In this Christian school the role of leadership is crucial in determining and developing the mission statement, the school’s vision, aims and ethos. The expertise of leaders makes a significant contribution to the self-evaluating school. The roles of leadership and management need to be clearly understood and constantly developed. The role of the governors and their legitimate function in leadership and management is also central to this.
At St Michael’s leaders and managers at all levels demonstrate commitment to the Christian ethos, character, values and principles which underpin the school. At the same time there is a supportive climate in the school which ensures the development of our Christian foundation. In all aspects of leadership and management, leaders and managers should be seen as good Christian role models.
Spirituality
All schools have a responsibility to ensure that there are opportunities for all members of the community to understand and develop their own spirituality whilst respecting that of others. At St Michael’s motivation comes from Christian authority. This ensures the provision of an outstanding education that is founded on belief in Christ and a commitment to the gospel. Christian spirituality is centred on an acceptance of transcendence - that is, God beyond humanity - to be worshipped; acknowledging God as creator and ourselves growing in our humanity; a belief in a spiritually empowered life and ‘knowing God’. Thus Christian spirituality is at the heart of the church school’s ethos. It can be witnessed in Christian values such as unconditional love, joy from inner security, peace from well-being, forgiveness, reconciliation in healing relationships, justice based on equality tempered with mercy and respect shown to all members of the community and environment. In very simple terms it is about identifying and grasping the ‘wow’ moment, allowing pupils the time and space as individuals to be still, to reflect and process.
Relationships
At St Michael’s we regard positive and harmonious relationships as the key to effective and sensitive interaction within our Christian community. All persons are considered of equal worth and they contribute and relate positively to one another in a socially inclusive community. The evidence for this is demonstrated in the respect shown for others, in the way the school’s Christian values are at the heart of all relationships and in the way in which behaviour is managed.
The success of all relationships is seen in the extent to which the Christian life is ‘lived out’ in our school. The Christian values agreed by the school, such as unconditional love, forgiveness with no conditions and reconciliation in healing relationships are at the heart of all relationships. All are accepted as they are – each person a ‘child of God’ into an inclusive and cohesive Christian community.
Working with our Foundation Parishes:
St Michael’s seeks to foster positive links with our Foundation Parishes. Together we present an effective Christian witness to strengthen and support each other and work together to serve the wider community. The Parishes and school together can develop a holistic approach to the development of Christian education which includes complementary policies relating to moral and ethical issues, cohesion and inclusion. The partnership with the clergy is crucial for it demonstrates how church and school can work together to serve the community.
The Foundation Governors are appointed by the Foundation Parishes to support and further develop the Christian foundation and monitor worship and religious education. They provide an effective link with the Parishes that is essential to the wellbeing of this school. St Michael’s is able to support the worship of the parishes and the Diocese, for example, through the use of the Performing Arts. There is an understanding and support of the school’s position financially, for which the school is extremely grateful.
Partnerships with authorities
At St Michael’s we strive to ensure that we can benefit from our relationship with national authorities and other agencies.
As a Church of England Academy, we operate independently within a system of secular authority and accountability to government and its local education authority, and the communities and contexts that we serve. This is balanced with the school’s position within the family of Blackburn Diocesan schools where its’ distinctiveness as a church school is supported by the Board of Education. We receive Diocesan support and advice on foundational matters, worship, the appointment of Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers, Christian Youth Worker and how policies and procedures should include a Christian perspective, for example admissions.
Ethos and environment
Ethos describes the characteristic spirit of a community. Environment refers to its surroundings and setting.
All schools value an ethos and environment that provides a positive community spirit and a safe, welcoming place which is inclusive and fosters social cohesion. At St Michael’s we endeavour to work within our value system and maintain our ethos and environment, whilst working with those who may have different values and expectations.
Christian spirituality is at the heart of our school’s ethos. This is a bridge between God and His world and we try to portray Christian distinctiveness by demonstrating Christian values and Christian love in action. In addition to ensuring an ethos and environment which will ensure a safe, welcoming place here, we make explicit our Christian values. In our school unconditional love and other Christian values are practised and are centred on the uniqueness of individuals, their worth, potential and the need for inclusion in an accepting cohesive Christian community. Christian commitment is the overt and consistent thread that runs through the school’s mission statement, life and work.
As a vibrant learning community we choose to serve God pursue excellence and
Celebrate the uniqueness of each individual
Worship
Whilst opportunities for spiritual development and flourishing are fostered across the whole curriculum, worship is at the heart of our vision and school life at St Michael’s. We endeavour to provide genuine experiences of Christian Anglican worship that are ‘worthy’, child-centred, creative, stimulating and reflect a broad range of approaches. Collective Worship in our school recognises the collectivity of all participants but does not make
assumption about their beliefs and values. Collective Worship is inclusive, invitational and inspiring and appropriate to the family backgrounds of the pupils, their ages and abilities.
Worship is celebrated in tutorials, in year groups, and several with half year groups or with key stages together such as end of term services or as school worship when the school is involved in a church service. The purpose of worship remains constant, regardless of how, or where worship is conducted. Within worship ‘God is made real and all are able to praise Him.’ Within worship there is opportunity for Christian teaching, the development of prayer life, time for reflection, and the appropriate inclusion of the gifts and talents of all members of the school community. All staff attend Collective Worship.
Religious Education
Within our Christian school this includes a challenge to demonstrate how Christianity can successfully provide a model of a living faith that offers and supports an effective life within a multi-cultural, multi-faith society in which all are valued as children of God.
In this church school, outstanding religious education teaching promotes the significance of Christianity, provides exciting, challenging examples of positive Christian living and develops an understanding of and respect for other faiths. It plays a significant part in whole school improvement and the development of strategies for life. It encourages in an inclusive way the exploration of shared human experience and the development of beliefs, values and attitudes.
Personal development and Wellbeing
The personal development and wellbeing of each young person is central to our core purpose. We seek to provide opportunities for all to experience success and gain the skills and strategies necessary for healthy, happy and fulfilled lives.
“Be the best you can be”
At St Michael’s we aim to provide lifelong, holistic personal development based on Christian values and beliefs. In a Christian context and safe environment there are opportunities to explore beliefs and values. Additionally, our behaviour for learning policy is based on Christian values. This nurturing of responsible Christian behaviour centres on our esteem and value of others and the responsibility to respect our body as a gift from God.
Personal development and wellbeing is enhanced throughout the curriculum and supported by the school’s Christian ethos. It is central to our mission to provide opportunities for pupils to grow in ‘body, mind and spirit’. Personal development and wellbeing is also considered through many aspects of the Living Education curriculum (PSHE including Relationships and Sex education).
ReviewedbyJLJSep2023