Church School
As a church school we embrace the teaching of religious education at St Andrew’s and see it as an opportunity for children to ask questions and learn more about the diverse world around them as well as explore moral and spiritual concepts.
Christian Distinctiveness
Religious Education
As a church school within the Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust, we use the BWMAT’s recommended resource ‘Understanding Christianity’ to cover the Christianity content of the curriculum. We also use ‘Jigsaw RE’ to enhance our teaching of other major religions and world views.
We teach religious education for at least 1 hour a week and draw links with other curriculum subjects. Children are given the opportunity to learn about the six major religions of the world, with at least 3 units per year focusing on the teaching of Christianity. As a church school, we celebrate our Christian Values across all aspects of school life often finding that these are shared with children from other faith traditions
Jigsaw RE is an enquiry-based scheme of work, covering the principal world faiths and humanism in a progressive way from Nursery to Year 6. In the early years, the learning is closely matched to Development Matters to contribute meaningfully to your child’s holistic development. Throughout all the enquiries, the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is carefully considered.
Each enquiry lasts for half a term and begins with a “big” question such as “What is the best way for a Christian/Jew/Muslim etc. to show commitment to God?” The children then start discussing the theme of the enquiry (in this case, commitment) from their own experience.
They then move on to investigating what the people following the studied religion or worldview believe about it. In week 5 they will complete an activity which can assess their learning, by answering their “big” question. The final week in every enquiry gives the children time to reflect on what they have learnt about the concept and apply to it their own lives, thus allowing them to form their own beliefs and identity.
Understanding Christianity –https://understandingchristianity.org.uk/
Jigsaw RE – information-for-parents Jigsaw RE
If you have any questions about our scheme of work for RE in school, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Read our Religious Education Policy here: TRUST RE POLICY 2024
SIAMS Report: St Andrew’s SIAMS Report 2017
Our School Values
Peace, Love, Joy, Creativity, Courage, and Hope.
These values, rooted in our Christian faith, shape the character and ethos of our school.
- Peace: We believe that peace is a reflection of God’s presence, and we encourage our children to be peacemakers in their relationships, within our school and the wider community.
- Love: At the heart of our faith is the love of God and the love we show one another. We teach our children the importance of loving one another as Christ loves us—unconditionally, with compassion, and with respect for each person’s dignity.
- Joy: We believe joy is a natural expression of our faith, and that learning should be filled with excitement and a sense of wonder. We strive to create a joyful atmosphere in which children experience the joy of discovering new things and developing their talents.
- Creativity: Creativity is a gift from God, and we encourage our children to explore, imagine, and innovate in all areas of their lives. We celebrate the diverse ways in which God has made each person unique and foster a culture where creative expression is cherished and nurtured.
- Courage: Our faith teaches us that with God’s strength, we can be courageous in facing challenges and overcoming fear. We support our children in developing the courage to take risks, make mistakes, and rise above challenges, knowing they are never alone.
- Hope: Above all, we are a community grounded in hope. We instil in our children a hope that is anchored in God’s promises, giving them the confidence to face the future with optimism and a belief in their ability to make a positive impact in the world.
These values, grounded in our Christian foundation, permeate every aspect of our school life, from curriculum design to relationships. As outlined in our Curriculum Intent Statement, we are committed to providing a learning environment that reflects our diverse community, where social and cultural cohesion are nurtured through shared experiences and collaborative learning. In our school, every child is empowered to be a co-adventurer in their learning journey, working alongside caring adults who are dedicated to helping them thrive.
Our children will leave St Andrew’s Church School well-prepared for the future, equipped with not only the skills and knowledge to succeed but also with the values of Hope, Friendship, Love, Justice, Peace, Courage, and Creativity to guide their way.
Collective Worship
At St. Andrew’s, Collective Worship plays a central role in the life of the school and addresses the moral, spiritual, social and cultural development of the pupils. It provides an opportunity for pupils to create and participate in shared experiences and takes place in a variety of ways for example through song, story, drama, music and poetry. We can reassure parents that St. Andrew’s School exerts no pressure on children to become worshipping Christians or to take part in any activity that will compromise their own beliefs however Christian values are definitely built into our ethos and teaching and are reflected in our daily acts of worship. We consider the example of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to be our model for living and we consider the Christian message of peace and love to be relevant for all within our community.
Collective Worship
Monday: Termly School Value
Tuesday: Class Sharing with parents/carers based on School Values
Wednesday: Singing/ Music
Thursday: Themed and led by a member of our Church community.
Friday: Values based achievement and celebration worship, led by pupils and shared with parents/carers
Collective Worship Policy can be found here: COLLECTIVE WORSHIP POLICY 2024
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from R.E or Collective Worship. Please make an appointment to see the Head teacher if you would like to do this.
Spirituality
we understand the importance of developing the Spirituality of all of our learners. We recognise that this is an ongoing process without a fixed destination and that Spirituality need not be linked to any particular faith.
We aim to provide opportunities, right across the curriculum, for pupils to develop their curiosity, be creative, ask questions, reflect on their experiences and change their perspectives.
Pupils’ Spirituality is encouraged through guided reflection in the following four aspects:
Windows Moments – A reflection of the world.To have opportunities for awe and wonder. To be inspired by the wonder of life, to marvel at the beauty in the world around us and to experience creativity.
Mirror Moments – A reflection of Ourselves. Giving children opportunities to reflect on their experiences. To gain a better understanding of who we are as individual people. To recognise that our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and experiences help to shape us and make us unique
Door Moments – A reflection of Others. To look at the examples and lessons we can learn from other people. To consider how other people might influence our own thoughts, actions and relationships
Candle Moments – A reflection of Beyond. To develop our sense of mystery and to reflect on a higher purpose.
schools-sd-windows-mirrors-doors
Local Church Links
We are affiliated with St Swithin’s Church on Walcot Street.
St Andrew’s is a Church of England Primary School located within the parish of Walcot. St Swithin’s church on the Paragon is the place where we have our special celebrations, including the Easter, Christmas and Leaver’s services. Our school enjoys close links with St Swithin’s throughout the year.
You can find out more about St Swithins here: http://www.stswithinswalcot.org.uk/
You can read about the church here.