Menu

Our Christian Vision

At St Matthew’s Church of England Primary School we aim high, encourage and have faith.

1. We aim high - We are aspirational for our children, our school and ourselves. Christ brought out the best in everyone and so should we.

2. We encourage - We build people up, we recognise the value of the whole school family. Christ welcomed all and so do we.

3. We have faith - We have the courage to take risks and try new things knowing that this is a safe place and we have faith that God has great plans for our school and the individuals in it. Christ served through the good time and challenges so do we.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1Thessalonians 5:11

 

---------------

Developing Spirituality at St Matthew’s CE Primary School

Spiritual development relates to fundamental questions about the meaning and purpose of life which affect everyone, and is not dependent on a religious affiliation

At St Matthew’s CE Primary School, we believe that spirituality concerns relationships:

  • with ourselves
  • with others,
  • with God (or the transcendent)
  • with nature and the environment

Children and adults are encouraged to develop a strong sense of spirituality to support their own well-being. We recognise that the development of spirituality is important for everyone regardless of their faith and background.

The four elements of spirituality consist of:

Self

  • Awareness of feelings; ability to reflect and express
  • Awareness of our uniqueness; happiness with who we are
  • Gratitude for the things we have and the person we are
  • Exploration of personal faith
  • Development of imagination and creativity

Others

  • Empathy and understanding; respect, tolerance
  • Loving and being loved (loving your neighbour)
  • Making a difference; duty

Transcendence (Beyond Human Physical Experiences)

  • Encountering/experiencing God (having a sense of what lies beyond the material/physical)
  • Ability to formulate and discuss the ‘Big Questions’ (eg, about life, death, suffering, nature of God)
  • Opportunities for prayer, connecting with God
  • Making sense of the world

Beauty

  • Developing a sense of awe and wonder
  • Enjoying the miracles of everyday life
  • Taking time for what really matters
  • Appreciating beauty in art, music, nature

To develop a strong sense of spirituality at St Matthew’s School, we aim to:

  • Invest in relationships, even before someone starts at our school
  • Provide time for quiet, calm, stillness, reflection and prayer at collective worship
  • Be value-focused, celebrating what is good and worthwhile and makes a difference
  • Provide a creative curriculum and extra-curricular program that develops the whole child and caters for all interests
  • Teach the vocabulary of emotions so we can express our feelings
  • Make sure everyone has a trusted adult to share the ups and downs of life with
  • Provide opportunities to express awe and wonder, celebrate our diverse community, and appreciate the connections and unity in the world and beauty in all its forms
  • Have two school rules that bind us together and that we follow for the benefit of one another
  • Recognise that we make mistakes but we are all offered a chance to put things right

 

---------------

Church-School Links

1. Wellbeing Drop-in

Every Thursday, there is a Wellbeing Drop-in that runs during lunch time (12.15pm – 1.15pm). It is a space that anyone can attend who would like to chat, craft, sit or pray in the school’s nurture room. The crafts provided offer an opportunity for thinking about the different seasons within the Church and our lives, and the hope love brings. There is a permanent prayer space in the nurture room which can be used at any time.

Pic 1 Pic 2

Pictures of prayer stations created by the children that attended the drop-in.

 

2. Forest Church

For information on our Forest Church activities, please click here.

"Hello! I am Julie Knight. I am the Church and School Youth Ministries Leader working for the Southwark diocese based at St Matthew’s Church, Redhill. Within St Matthew’s school, I have the privilege of running the Forest Church and the Wellbeing Drop-in on Thursdays alongside my colleagues. I also enjoy leading Collective Worship and working with the school’s Worship Leaders. St Matthew’s Church and School have always had a strong connection and it is an honour to be able to continue to foster and build those links."

 

3. Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS)

To read SIAMS Inspection Reports, please visit their website here. For additional information and to see how SIAMS relates to our performance, please click here. 

Back to Top