Our Vision

Encourage each other and build each other up

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Nurturing the infinite worth of every person through love, respect, perseverance, honesty and forgiveness

 

Welcome to Isham Church of England Primary School; a Christian school which has been a feature of the parish of Isham since 1840 and an academy which is part of the wider family of the Peterborough Diocese Education Trust (PDET).

 

We provide a values based education, focussed on developing the whole child, and built on love, respect, perseverance, honesty and forgiveness. We seek to develop resilience and strength in all our children, enabling them to achieve their full potential academically, personally and spiritually.

Our aim is that children leave us with the skills, values and attitudes that together will enable them to become successful citizens in their ever changing world.

 

Let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3 16-18

 

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the Prophets Matthew 7:12

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

 

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. Exodus 20:16

 

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

 

If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day, and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent’, you must forgive them. Luke 17 3-4

Vision Rationale:

 

Isham has always embraced the ‘whole’ child, ensuring academic rigour is set within a wider theological and educational context. We understand that the Arts, Sport and Faith together with good pastoral, spiritual & mental health support drive standards far more rapidly than any diet restricted to English & Maths and, thus, these feature heavily in our school.

 

We also acknowledge that mental health, resilience and good pastoral support is critical in supporting the staff team to pro-actively manage all challenges that they face, in ensuring our children leave us being the best they can be & well prepared for the next phase of their journey.

 

We share PDET’s vision in that the infinite worth of all in our school is measured by far greater outcomes than data alone; it is measured through smiles on faces, through positive attitudes, through standing strong as a team in the face of adversity, through faith, through talents, through laughter in the classrooms & staffroom, and through the vibrant ethos of ‘oneness’ that is nurtured here at Isham.

 

We intend that, in keeping with the Church of England’s Vision for Education, our vision is also for the common good of the whole human community and its environment, whether national, regional or local. It is hospitable to diversity, respects freedom of religion and belief, and encourages others to contribute from the depths of their own traditions and understandings. It invites collaboration, alliances and negotiation of differences, in order to serve the flourishing of a healthily plural society and democracy, together with a healthily plural educational system.

 

To achieve our vision, 5 fundamental Christian and British values lie at the heart of all we do.

 

These are:

 

Love

 ‘To have strong feelings of liking a friend or person in your family’ (Cambridge dictionary)

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.’ Mark 12: 29-31

 

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

 

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3 16-18

 

Respect

‘Admiration felt or shown for someone or something that you believe has good ideas or qualities…

Politeness, honour, and care shown towards someone or something that is considered important…

The feeling you show when you accept that different customs or cultures are different from your own and behave towards them in a way that would not cause offence’. (Cambridge dictionary)

 

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and Prophets. Matt 7:12

 

Love one another warmly as Christian brothers and sisters, and be eager to show respect for one another. Romans 12:10

 

Perseverance

‘Continued effort and determination. The quality of persevering when things are difficult.

Persevere: ‘to try to do or continue doing something in a determined way, despite having problems’ (Cambridge dictionary)

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 

 

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

 

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

 

Honesty

‘the quality of being honest’

Honest: ‘telling the truth or able to be trusted and not likely to steal, cheat, or lie’ (Cambridge dictionary)

 

The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. Proverbs 12:22

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. Exodus 20:16

 

Forgiveness

‘the act of forgiving or the willingness to forgive’

Forgive: ‘to stop blaming or being angry with someone for something that person has done, or not punish them for something.’ (Cambridge dictionary)

 

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

 

So watch yourselves. ‘If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.’ Luke 17: 3-4

 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6