Christian Distinctiveness

Our Christian Vision and Values

“You are the light of the world.”
— Matthew 5:14

Rationale

Jesus calls us to be the light of the world and reminds us that each and every one of us is uniquely created and deeply valued. He teaches us to SHINE our light by bringing joy, hope, goodness and kindness into the world.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:11

At St Michael’s, this biblical foundation shapes who we are and how we live together. Our Christian vision was developed in partnership with pupils, staff, governors, parents, our parish church and the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education (SDBE). It underpins every aspect of school life, including leadership, curriculum, behaviour, relationships and decision-making.

We live to SHINE at St Michael’s and in our wider community as we:

   Strive – to be the very best we can be in all that we do

   Hope – trusting in God’s promises and looking forward with confidence

   Include – valuing and celebrating every individual

   Nurture – caring for ourselves, one another and God’s world

   Encourage – lifting others up so that they too can shine

Our Six Key Values

Our vision is lived out through our six key Christian values:

• Integrity
• Perseverance
• Kindness
• Respect
• Compassion
• Courage

These values shape our learning, our relationships and our service. They are explicitly taught, modelled and celebrated across the school.

Our Partnerships

We work closely with the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education (SDBE), who provide guidance, challenge and professional development to ensure we remain a strong and effective Church school.

We are also part of the SDBE Multi-Academy Trust, whose vision of:

“Creating inspiring learning communities, where all can grow and flourish,

rooted in God’s love, bearing fruit abundantly”

supports our school’s Christian vision by enabling us to provide an environment where everyone in our community can SHINE.

Through these partnerships we:

• Engage in leadership and governance training
• Strengthen our Christian vision and its impact
• Develop high-quality Religious Education
• Prepare for SIAMS inspection
• Collaborate with other Church schools
• Access professional development for staff

Our school works very closely with St Michael’s East Wickham Parish Church.

We visit St Michael’s Church regularly for services at Michaelmas, Christmas, Ash Wednesday and Easter.  Parents and friends of the school are always welcomed at these services. Clergy from St Michael's also regularly lead Thursday Morning Worship at school. 

Classes also visit the church to look round and learn more about the building and its uses in the community.

These partnerships ensures that our Christian foundation continues to grow in depth, authenticity and impact, while enabling every child and adult in our school community to flourish.