Christian Distinctiveness

Distinctiveness of a Church school:

At Nyewood CE Junior School we ensure that we maintain and develop the school’s religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Churches at Parish and Diocesan level.

The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

Our strong Christian ethos and values underpin everything that we do.  We seek to encourage children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development alongside positively encouraging everyone to value themselves, respect each other whilst contributing to the school and wider community.

We offer a positive learning environment which supports and values each individual by encouraging them to be ’the best that they can be.’ By providing a broad and balanced curriculum which provides stimulating opportunities to enrich and extend the children’s learning experiences, we aim not just for excellence, but also for creativity and enjoyment. We strive to develop the whole child and provide them with the skills and attributes to flourish and succeed in a diverse and rapidly changing society.

There are three distinct kinds of Church of England school in partnership with local authorities (LAs):

• Voluntary Aided:

The school is owned by the church, a majority of the Governors are appointed by the Church, the teachers are appointed and employed by the governing body, the cost of repairs and capital projects is raised by the governing body with 90% grant from the DfES, religious education and worship are distinctively Anglican, the governing body is the admissions authority;

• Voluntary Controlled:

The school is owned by the Church, the Church appoints Governors, but there is no Church majority on the governing body, the teachers are employed by the Local Education Authority, the LEA funds repairs and capital projects, religious education follows the local agreed syllabus, the worship is Anglican;

• Foundation:

The foundation owns the school, the governing body employs the staff and is the admissions authority, the Church appoints a minority of Governors, religious education follows an agreed syllabus and the worship is Anglican.

Nyewood CE Junior School is a Voluntary Aided School

Collective worship.

A daily act of Christian Collective Worship  is provided for all pupils with participation from all encouraged.

A mixture of senior leaders, local clergy or our worship group lead a Worship each week. Our children take an active part in our Worship and are encouraged to take leading roles.  Each term there is a Eucharist, led by a member of the local clergy, which is celebrated in school or at one of our local churches.  

Within classes there are dedicated ‘Reflection/Prayer areas’ where children can spend time to reflect on their thoughts and feelings whenever they wish. These special areas reflect and support the current values being studied at the time.

We respect the beliefs of our parents who do retain the right to withdraw their children from Collective Worship or Religious Education by written request. Alternative provision for the withdrawn child can be negotiated with the individual's family.

Our Church links.

Although situated in the parish of St. Wilfrid’s (Bognor), our school catchment area covers three further parishes.  The partnership that we foster between ourselves and these churches, together with the wider community is crucial to our success in developing our school as a Church of England School.

We are very proud to work in partnership with:

• St Wilfrid’s (Bognor);
• St Richard’s (Aldwick);
• St Thomas A’Becket (Pagham);
• Holy Cross (North Bersted).

Throughout the year clergy regularly visit the school to hold worship, Eucharist, events and meeting with pupils. Children also get the opportunity to visit and learn about the local churches and parishes through our RE curriculum taught in school. 

Further Church links:

•  Diocese of Chichester
•  Church of England
•  Church of England vision statement for education

Eucharist

Our termly Eucharist services led by Mother Lucy and take place either at our school or at St. Richard’s church. These services are a joy and attended and enjoyed by all our children and staff.

Our Worship Group

The Worship Group is led by Mr. Spurle. The group meet  to plan, discuss and evaluate  all things Worship at Nyewood. The group have also worked with fellow worship groups and led worship at local schools to develop their skills in delivering effective worship. During Eucharist and Christian festivals they prepare Bible readings and prayers for the services.

The children are committed to promoting Christian values throughout the school. They take their tasks seriously and set good examples for others to follow.

SIAMs Inspection

SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspection plays an important role in the improvement of Church schools. It does this by affirming that which is effective and by highlighting key areas for improvement. By focusing on impact above all else, SIAMS explores ways in which each school’s theologically rooted Christian vision drives the work, and enables the school to live up to its foundation as a Church school.

SIAMS inspectors will explore with school and trust leaders how they understand the specific context of the school, and whether they know how to respond to it theologically. Local, diocesan, and national expertise will help school and trust leaders to explore this, so that they can be confident in answering three key questions:

1. Who are we as a school?

2. What are we doing here?

3. How, then, shall we live and learn together?