Theological Roots
Learning together in friendship and faith…
‘Life in all its fullness’ John 10:10
The phrase ‘life in all its fullness’ comes from the Bible, specifically from the book of John chapter 10 verse 10, in which Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” This is Jesus calling us to a full life in mind, body, heart and spirit.
At Charlton Horethorne Primary School we understand that life can be full of WOW and OW moments: the awe and wonder moments where your heart and soul sing, you feel blessed, you gasp with excitement or feel truly happy and also the moments where we are brought up short, when we are shocked or saddened or surprised. We believe the purpose of education is to nurture and enable every child to thrive and to be the person they are fully capable of being.
We aim to:
- live ‘life in all its fullness’ in school, at home, in our community and beyond
- use our values to support others to enable them to learn in the same way
- use our values to support people who need our help in our local area and beyond, such as supporting charities and people that are in need
Our school is a special place where we value every child as unique and we strive to develop them academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually in our happy and nurturing environment.
SPIRITUALITY in Charlton Horethorne
As a church school spirituality is very important to us and is a journey where we explore who we are, our relationships with one another, our community, the world around us and beyond. We use Windows, Mirrors, Doors to help children understand the fundamental concepts of spirituality: looking out, looking in and looking ahead whilst we learn from, reflect on and respond to our experiences.
We know the development of spirituality can have a beneficial influence on a child’s well-being and their mental health and we aim to create an environment that will nurture people’s minds, body and soul. However, we acknowledge it is a deeply personal journey.
Spirituality at Charlton Horethorne
SIAMS Report Charlton Horethorne
Please take a moment to read our latest SIAMS report from June 2025
Together we give our children an environment where they can LEARN, ENJOY, ACHIEVE and FLOURISH.
‘He’s the good shepherd…everywhere I go he knows’
COLLECTIVE WORSHIP and OUR VALUES
Our values are important to us as we live and learn together in our school. We have 12 in total, and are on a two year rolling programme incorporating the values as set out in the Collective Worship resource ‘Imaginor: Roots and Fruits.’ There are 6 values per year, one each half term and these remind us how to live and learn successfully together, in a caring environment that allows us all to flourish.
Charlton Horethorne Collective Worship PolicyCollective Worship Timetable Truth and Truthfulness Summer 2
Collective Worship Timetable Service Summer 1
Collective Worship Timetable Perseverance Spring 1
Collective Worship Timetable Trust Autumn 2
Collective Worship Timetable - Thankfulness Autumn 1
We also have Daniel England from Daniel England Ministries (DEM) visiting us each half term bringing his wonderful worship experience: songs, Bible stories, his guitar and always fun and laughter. ” Sharing God’s love with all those we meet” https://dem.org.uk
Our 12 Values
Year A:
Generosity
‘Love thy neighbour as yourself.’ (Mark 12.31)
“The person who gives with a smile is the best giver because God loves a cheerful giver.” Mother Teresa
Being generous is a conscious decision from the heart to do something with
what you have. Christians believe that God calls his people to be generous with
what he has given to them. It is a sign of trust in God, that there will be enough
for everyone, so share it. Being generous isn’t always about money, we can be
generous in so many other practical ways.
Compassion (Love)
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Luke 10. 27)
‘Compassion’ and ‘sympathy’ have much in common and both are stronger in meaning than simply ‘feeling sorry for’ someone. The words have their roots in the idea of ‘suffering with’ someone, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and experiencing what they experience. This leads to a desire to act, to do something. It is not about ‘doing good’ from a position of strength or ‘remembering those less fortunate than ourselves.’ Compassion requires an act of imagination and humility to share in the lives of others.
Courage
Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’
Courage is often about continuing to do what you would normally do even
when faced with extraordinary situations. Many Christians believe that God asks
us to offer our skills, talents and abilities in the face of adversity, and that he will
use that courageousness to achieve great things. The word ‘courage’ comes
from the Latin word ‘cor’ = heart.
Forgiveness
‘Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us.’ (Luke 11.4)
Forgiveness is fundamental to the character of God. Throughout the Bible, God is described as slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin (Numbers 14:18). Forgiveness cannot be given or received unless it is asked for, and the asking must be genuine and from the heart. Too often ‘sorry’ is said very easily, implying: ‘All I need to do is say I’m sorry and everything will be OK’. Real repentance demands that we take what we have done wrong with the utmost seriousness and have a deep desire not to do it again.
Friendship
‘A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.’ (Proverbs 17.17)
Friends are incredibly important as children grow up. As part of this value we consider how to be a good friend and how to encourage each other. Friendship is a key concept in the Christian framework with Jesus being criticised for being a ‘friend of sinners’.
Jesus tells stories about a heavenly banquet to which all are invited. The barriers between people are broken down in a loving community based around God.
True friendship allows each person to grow, to become themselves. This ensures that the unique individuality of each person is recognised, echoing the value placed by God on the preciousness of each person.
Respect
‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7.12)
Respect is readiness to listen/Everyone being valued/Showing appreciation/Praying for people/Expressing opinions sensitively/Caring for our environment/ Treating property carefully
Christians believe that each person is unique and everyone is special to God. It is important to respect and value difference. When St Peter was writing a letter to his friends who were going through difficult times he said ‘Show proper respect to everyone’ (1 Peter 2.17)
Year B
Thankfulness
‘Always be thankful.’ (1 Thessolonians 5.16)
Thankfulness and praise are at the heart of Christian worship. Thankfulness is directed at God who gives and sustains life. Seeing the world as God’s creation underpins the way we approach everything in life; seeing it as a gift. Paul frequently encourages us to ‘be thankful’ and says that our lives should ‘overflow with thankfulness’. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Thessalonians 5:18
Trust
‘My God is my strength in whom I trust.’ (Psalm 18.2)
Trust is the very essence of faith; trust in the God who is trustworthy. Trust is essential to human life and lies at the heart of all relationships. Trust entails vulnerability, putting yourself in others’ hands. We have to trust experts – pilots, dentists, surgeons. Yet, within our society, there often seems to be mutual distrust between people and those responsible for governing them.
Perseverance
I call do all things through Him who strengthens me’ ( Philippians 4.13)
Emphasis upon endurance is common in the New Testament where it is linked with patience and suffering. St Paul is certain that endurance is honed by suffering, is character building and is characterised by love (Romans 5:3-4; I Corinthians 4:12 – 13). It is linked with self-control, godliness (2 Peter 1:6) and steadfastness.
At its root, endurance is recognition that life is sometimes difficult and painful, and that it is important not to give up in the face of adversity. Endurance and perseverance are only possible where there is hope and that hope is based on the enduring nature of God’s love and faithfulness. Even Jesus, for all his strength and ability to endure, looked to his disciples to help and sustain him by watching and praying with him (Matthew 26).
Justice
‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6.8)
Justice is not about a culture which encourages everyone to insist on their own rights at the expense of others. It is about a community that knows that everyone’s well-being is bound up with that of everyone else.
A commitment to justice leads to fierce opposition to injustice in whatever form it may be found. Justice means giving all people – particularly the poor and oppressed – what it is right and fair for them to have: life, health, freedom and dignity. It is about acting out of a concern for what is right and seeing right prevail. It is about social justice, especially for those who suffer most and are least able to protect themselves.
Service
‘Serve one another in love.’ (Galatians 5.13)
Words relating to ‘servant’ and ‘service’ are central in Christian theology. Some of the most important prophecies in Isaiah speak of the coming of the ‘Servant of the Lord’ and his role as a ‘suffering servant.’ That is why Jesus said that he ‘came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. This turned upside down the normal relationship between master and disciple, leader and follower. In many ways, this astonishing action symbolizes the essence of the Incarnation: God stooping to share the human condition. Jesus is very clear about the meaning of his action: ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.’
Truth and Truthfulness
‘Tell the truth to each other’ (Zechariah 8.16)
‘God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do’ (Ephesians 4.15)
Truth is such an important element of life and sometimes we need courage to be honest. In our worship and our discussions we ask big questions about why it can difficult for us to face the truth, to admit the truth or to even recognise what is true. We also ask what it means to be true to oneself!
Our Values
Year A
Autumn 1– Generosity
Autumn 2– Compassion
Spring 1– Courage
Spring 2– Forgiveness
Summer 1– Friendship
Summer 2– Respect
Year B
Autumn 1-Thankfulness
Autumn 2– Trust
Spring 1– Perseverance
Spring 2– Justice
Summer 1– Service
Summer 2– Truthfulness
Our School Prayer and Blessing
Lord, bless our school
That working together and playing together
We may learn to serve you
And to serve each other.
Amen
May God, who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless us. Amen