Our Church School
Our Church School Vision & Ethos
At Slaithwaite CE Primary School, our vision is for member of our school community to enjoy, aspire and achieve within a loving, inclusive Christian community. Rooted in Jesus’ words, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10), we are committed to enabling every person to flourish academically, spiritually and socially.
This vision is the foundation for all decisions we make. It shapes our curriculum, our priorities, our relationships and the way we care for one another each day.
At Two Gates, our Christian values sit at the heart of who we are. They shape the way we learn; the way we treat one another; and the way we live in our community. We believe every child is unique and created to flourish and our values act as a golden thread through every aspect of school life.
Our vision Enjoy, Aspire, Achieve is brought to life through our 5Rs: Respect, Relationships, Responsibility, Resilience and Reflection. These values help our children understand how to live well together and how to grow into thoughtful, compassionate and confident young people.
You will see our values in action every day: in the way children support each other in class, in the choices they make around school, in their desire to do their best and in their engagement with their learning and wider community life. Staff model these values, pupils celebrate them, and families recognise them as part of what makes our school a welcoming, nurturing place where everyone can thrive.
Our Christian values underpin our decisions and our relationships. They guide us in building a school where every child feels a deep sense of belonging and is supported to flourish academically, socially and spiritually.
Collective Worship sits at the heart of our life as a Church of England school. It is a daily opportunity for our whole community to pause, reflect, be inspired, and live out our Christian vision and values. Our worship is invitational, inclusive and inspiring and helps every member of our school community to explore faith, spirituality and the deeper questions of life.
Monday – Open the Book Worship Staff and our Collective Worship Crew lead a whole school worship exploring stories from the Bible, the Christian calendar and the teachings of Jesus. We link these directly to our Christian values and reflect on how they guide our actions and choices.
Tuesday – Singing Worship A joyful time of praise where children learn hymns, modern worship songs and music connected to the liturgical year. Singing worship helps us worship through creativity, community and celebration.
Wednesday – Rights Respecting Worship Led by the Headteacher, this worship connects our Christian vision with global citizenship and the rights of every child. We explore dignity, justice and respect, and how we can make a positive difference locally and globally.
Thursday – Class Worship Each class has a ‘Class Worship’ which can be a quieter and more reflective time. During this time, the class will think more deeply and explore big questions about life, faith and the world around us. It is a safe space to wonder, ask big questions and deepen spirituality.
Friday – Celebration Worship We end each week giving thanks for our achievements. Children are recognised for living out our Christian values and our 5Rs of respect, relationships, responsibility, resilience and reflection. Celebration Worship strengthens our community and helps us end the week with gratitude and hope. Our family members are often invited to this act of worship.
Our Religious Education curriculum from Reception to Year 6 is shaped by the Believing and Belonging Agreed Syllabus and Understanding Christianity. These frameworks help us give pupils a strong and coherent understanding of Christianity and other world faiths, while also supporting their spiritual development and personal reflection.
Believing and Belonging
We follow the Pathways model to ensure children build secure knowledge of Christianity and major world religions, learn how faith influences lives and communities, and explore important questions about meaning, values and identity. Learning is sequenced so pupils revisit and deepen key ideas as they move through school.
Understanding Christianity
Understanding Christianity is woven through our curriculum so that pupils develop a clear grasp of Christian belief, practice and theology. Through the key concepts of God, Creation, Fall, People of God, Incarnation, Gospel, Salvation and the Kingdom of God, children explore the Big Story of the Bible and how Christian beliefs help to shape daily life today.
What this means for our school
Together, these frameworks support our identity as a Church of England school. They help pupils think theologically, reflect spiritually and understand how people of faith and people of no faith make sense of the world. Our RE curriculum contributes directly to our vision for all children to enjoy, aspire and achieve, and to flourish as respectful, responsible and reflective members of our community.
Our strong and active partnership with St James’ Church is at the heart of our identity as a church school. Vicar Graeme is a regular presence in school and works closely with staff, and pupils to support our Christian vision and values.
We worship together throughout the year and hold key services in church, including Harvest, Easter and Christmas. Our children also take part in the Remembrance Sunday Service alongside the wider community.
Each year, Vicar Graeme and our Collective Worship Crew also lead a whole-school Christingle Service, strengthening our partnership with St. James’ Church and giving pupils the opportunity to take active roles in worship and community celebration.
Pupil Responsibility and Acts of Service
A distinctive feature of our school is that every child belongs to a Responsibility Group. These groups enable pupils to live out our Christian values through meaningful service, leadership and action. They allow all children to make a real difference to our school and community, and they ensure that service is woven into the daily life of Slaithwaite CE Junior and Infant School.
Our Collective Worship Crew play an important part in shaping and guiding our acts of service across the school, helping us to put our Christian values into action.
Responsibility Groups include:
· Rights Respecting School
· School Leaders
· Eco Team
· Wellbeing Warriors
· Collective Worship Crew
· Healthy Living Champions
· Reading Ambassadors
· Playground Patrol
· Health and Safety Team
· Woodland Warriors
· Community Champions
Our School Prayers
