Vision

 

At St Meriadoc, we are committed to providing the best education for our children so they may be happy and successful in life. Through high academic standards and an exciting, enriched curriculum, our children will flourish spiritually, emotionally, physically and academically. They will feel valued in our safe, caring environment, and develop a love of learning and a desire to make a positive impact on their community and beyond. The children lie at the heart of everything we do. We aspire for our pupils to be the best they can be, in an inclusive Christian learning environment.

Our school vision 'Let Your Light Shine' (Matthew 5:16) helps us to remember the importance of trying our best in all we do, believing in ourselves so that we can shine our lights brightly. It is also about shining our lights on others and supporting others around us so that they can also thrive and flourish. 

We aim to give our children every opportunity possible so they may experience and achieve "Life in all its fullness" (John 10:10). Our pupils have the opportunities to shine, develop and flourish through offering high quality enriching experiences.

Values @ the Juniors

At St Meriadoc Junior Academy, we follow six Christian values which impact all areas of school life. These values have been chosen by our pupils, staff, parents, carers and governors.

 

Each term we focus on a particular value within our school and look out for people who are demonstrating this value. We celebrate these examples together and use them to develop ourselves and each other. Children enjoy collecting values stickers which are awarded by staff who recognise when our Christian values are being lived out.

Every Wednesday we hold a Clergy Assembly, where we have special visitors from local churches who come and take our collective worship. We work closely with our partner church of St Martin and St Meriadoc, as well as Tuckingmill Baptist Church and 'Open the Book' who are also members from our partner church of St Martin and St Meriadoc.

As a Church of England Academy we are monitored through an inspection called SIAMS. This is an inspection that focusses on the religious aspects of our school including our school vision and how we live this on a daily basis through assemblies, RE lessons, the ethos of the school and staff as well as the social, moral, spiritual and cultural opportunities the school provides for it's pupils. 

Values @ the Infants

 

To support our Core Christian Values of Faith, Love, Respect, Perseverance and Forgiveness and their accompanying story characters of Believing Betsy Butterfly, Loving Lizzie Lioness, Respectful Rufus Rhino, Persevering Percy Penguin and Forgiving Frankie Falcon children can be awarded Christian Values badges. There is one badge per value linked to the values character - shown below:

These are given to children who have shown these values in their conduct and choices.

Children could be presented with their badge for consistently showing one value or it could be one major event which shows that value. Children who have collected all 5 badges are invited to become Worship Leaders and help lead our Collective Worship in school.

Lived out through our Core Christian Values Character Stories

Our core Christian Values of: Faith, Love, Respect, Perseverance and Forgiveness are quite tricky concepts to understand for young children. So, we have written and produced our own storybooks, featuring our own linked values characters to help our children begin to understand and learn about these values. Our intention is that these stories will inspire them to live their lives through these values and model them in their own behaviour and life choices.

There are printed copies of the stories in each classroom and FLIPHTML5 Ebook versions (links below) which are used for whole class/school worship. These are also shared on our school Facebook page for parents/carers to use at home.

Our stories focus around Journeying Gerald Giraffe, who somehow ends up lost far away from home and needs help in getting back to his family. On his journey Gerald meets Persevering Percy Penguin, Forgiving Frankie Falcon, Respectful Rufus Rhino, Loving Lizzie Lioness and finally Believing Betsy Butterfly and it is through their teachings of our core Christian values that Gerald chooses to live these values which enables him to get home. On his travels, Gerald learns about Christianity, learns a multitude of Bible stories and becomes a Christian Worship Leader.

Gerald's journey is serialised in five books, each focused on a different value. 

Click the links below to read our Christian Values stories about Journeying Gerald Giraffe.

Gerald also learns about the linked  Bible stories (a parable, miracle and core Bible story) as well as the linked British Value. We have chosen to have one set of values as a school (Faith, Love, Respect, Perseverance and Forgiveness) for children to learn, which fully encompasses the teaching of British Values and children's rights as detailed in the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child, to ensure a clear, simple and straightforward  understanding is enabled equally for all of our children. 

Christian Value	British Value	Rights of the Child linked Articles
Faith	Tolerance of different Faiths and Beliefs 'We don't all believe the same.' 'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.' Hebrews 11:1	Article 14: Right to a Faith
Love	Democracy 'We value each other's opinions.' 'For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.' 2 Timothy 1:7	Article 12: Right to a Voice
Respect	Mutual Respect 'We are all equal'. 'Treat others just as you would want to be treated'. Luke 6:31	Article 28: Right to an Education
Perseverance	Individual Liberty 'We can make our own choices'. 'Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.' 1 Peter 4:10	Article 29: Right to be the Best we can be.
Forgiveness	Rule of Law 'We follow our rules, but sometimes make mistakes'. 'Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.' Philippians 4:8	Article 31: Right to Relax and Play