What it means to be a Church of England School

Bentley Church of England Primary School is a caring and Christian community. Our whole school community of children, parents, staff and governors have contributed to articulating our vision for the education we aim to provide.

Our Vision for Our School

The Christian values of love, care for others and a response to the needs of the world are part of the everyday ethos of our school.

All members of our school, children, staff, parents and governors are encouraged to value and respect themselves and each other, the wider community and the environment.

As they grow in mind, body and spirit, our children have the confidence to be aspirational, independent and creative learners…

…who enjoy their work and achieve in all aspects of their education…

…in the caring, family community here.

What You Will Notice

As a parent, pupil, visitor or member of staff you will find that Bentley C.E. Primary School aims to offer the best education, as other schools would, but the way in which the school works is different and distinctive. This distinctive difference is rooted in our Christian values that affect the way in which everyone behaves and the way in which everyone is respected. In order to nurture children’s spirituality, our Governing Body ensure Bentley C.E. Primary School:

Is led by a Headteacher who is committed, with the help of staff, to maintain the Christian character of the school.
Enables children to engage meaningfully in a daily act of Christian worship.
Offers school life that incorporates the values of the Christian faith.
Ensures that 5% of curriculum time is devoted to Religious Education.
Observes the major Christian festivals.
Ensure those children of other faiths are able to and encouraged to mark their major festivals with integrity.
Maintains and develops an active and affirming relationship with the Parishes of Bentley, Binsted and Froyle.
Proclaims that our school is a Church of England school and makes appropriate use of Christian symbols around the school.

Our Core Christian Values

Church schools have Christian beliefs and values at their heart. This means that every child and adult associated with the school is not only important because they are members of the school but also because they are seen as unique individuals within God’s creation.

LOVE

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35

God is love and love is all inclusive.
Jesus is a symbol of God’s love.
Love is selfless and without self-gain. We see love in our child-centred focus; in our teaching and care for each pupil.
At Bentley CE Primary School we see love in the relationships between one another as we work together.
We teach children to show self-love as they value themselves.

COURAGE

“So keep up your courage, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me”. Acts 27:25

Jesus had the courage to give his life for us, therefore we must have the courage to stand up for God’s values.
We help pupils to build confidence, independence and self-esteem through ‘Courage’.
At Bentley CE Primary School we encourage our pupils to ‘aim high’ and in doing so to take courage in the face of adversity.
Courage requires hope and that hope is based on the enduring nature of God’s love and faithfulness.
Courage describes how we should act as people in the world.

Community

“How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

Our school works in unison with all our families, those of different faiths and none, and we teach pupils to value and be respectful of differences.
Our goal as a community is to emulate Jesus' example; we aspire to be more like Jesus, so we can inspire others to seek the truth and love.
Community spirit and encouragement go hand in hand. This is a simple, but profound lesson within the Bible.
We share in the world that is made from God’s love; thus, we also share the same heart and faith when we come together as a community.