How our vision is achieved through our Values

Our Christian vision is expressed through 6 values. Hope, Community, Courage, Joy, Justice and Peace. This order was specifically chosen so that we start each new school year filled with Hope as the term moves on we learn the value of community, we establish our class communities, our whole school community and then look at our wider community through events relating to Harvest, Advent and Christmas. We host celebrations for the community in the church.  In the new Year we consider Courage, following the mid winter lull, the difficulties some may be facing financially, the different experiences over the holidays, we learn about having courage, using our community and knowing we always have Hope – linking back to the previous values. Then we look at Joy, as quite literally we feel the Joy of Spring, we look at why, why Easter brings new beginnings, new life, forgiveness and the holy Spirit so that we can always open our hearts to Joy. In the following term our focus is Justice. We delve into equality and equity, the ‘Ows’, ‘Wows’ and ‘Nows’ of social justice and environmental justice. We learn about courageous advocacy so that we can ensure others find the joy in the world that we do, so that we know the right thing can and does take courage because not everyone shares this view and the values of being agents of change on a community. Finally, we end the Year focusing on Peace. For those moving on, for facing the future, and the different Peace in the world compared to what God offers.

Christian Character is developed through our values:

Community is at the heart of our school and that commitment to our school community and their commitment to us is always visible. Community is one of our School Drivers which means it feeds through our curriculum and beyond.

We have a very strong and supportive community at St Mary's and this gives our school a small family feel but with the benefits of a wider community so that our curriculum offer and wider offer to our curriculum can be enhance through these connections.

We are proud of our community, our PTFA and our relationship with our church.

We have built up many relationships through the community allowing us to provide above and beyond the daily curriculum. Some examples of this are:

• Biannual Science and Technology Fair - the PTFA lead this event and bring together Scientists and Engineers from around the South West to exhibit what they do, involve children in immersive experiences setting high aspirations for their futures and engaging children in our whole community in Thornbury how Scientist, Medics and Engineers work to make a better future.
• Biannual Creative Arts Fair - this is new for 2024 and runs every other year to the Science and Technology Fair. This is also open to the whole community, providing opportunities to explore the creative arts from dance to pottery. Again local business, artist and creatives are coming together to offer this huge experience for children and adults in Thornbury.
• New this year, we have a Carol Singer Choir going to Beech House to bring some Christmas Joy and spread Christmas cheer.

We are supported by our community in many ways too. Some examples of this are:

• The Lions club have donated money and their time to help us paint our School; they have also donated books and funds for more books to add to our library.
• We have obtained a grant from a local beneficiary for our outdoor space to promote health and well-being.
• We have had volunteers readers come into school to listen to children read
• Our PTFA, parents and friends have helped us paint every classroom, the libraries and the hall.
• The B and A Group - a local company - have given us £3000 towards our new chrome books.