Our Mission, Ethos and Values
At St Aelred’s we live by our school mission statement of ‘Learning Together in Friendship with God ’
Whilst there are many important pieces of scripture that weave in and out of our mission, there is one that really stands out:
~ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another ~
John 13: 34-35
School Vision Statement
Our vision is to give every child the chance to excel as they achieve and progress spiritually, socially and academically. In friendship with God we learn and grow together, developing the courage to be the best we can be. We model respect to ourselves and others and we follow Jesus’s command of loving one another, just as Jesus loved His Disciples and loves us too.
Mission
Our children know that like St. Aelred, they have a friendship with God; they are chosen; they are special, and they are loved.
We try to be like Jesus and follow in His path by showing kindness, compassion and respect to everyone we meet through friendship with others.
In God’s love we have the courage to be the best we can be.
Our Values
- Friendship
- Courage
- Respect
Friendship- We are all special and have a friendship with Jesus. Every day we share His light by showing love and compassion to others.
Courage- Like St. Aelred our friendship with God brings us courage: knowing that God will be with us wherever we go and whatever we do. In God’s love we have the strength to be the best we can be and the courage to choose the right path.
Respect- As friends of Jesus, we respect everyone in our school and wider community, showing love and kindness to everyone we meet.
A family of God
We are a community of school, home and parish and as a Catholic school, we see our community as part of God’s family. As a family we are inclusive and nurturing; we are accepting – all are welcome here; we work in partnership; we are ambitious for one another and we share in one another’s successes as well as support each other through hardship; we have high levels of trust.
As a Catholic school we carry out the Bishop of Middlesbrough’s vision, ‘to make Christ known and loved’, in every aspect of school life, whether this is through the energy we put in to providing the best teaching and learning for each pupil, the quality of our pastoral care, helping pupils, staff and families grow closer to God, our approach to behaviour and reconciliation, the respect we show for one another, or putting our faith into action either within our community or by connecting globally in prayer or charitable work.
At St Aelred’s, children experience warmth and acceptance with high expectations – the sort of safe and supportive environment that builds self-esteem, confidence, independence, positive relationships, and resilience. At St Aelred’s, children learn compassion by being cared for and build self-worth by being known and valued. As in a family, children are encouraged to be themselves, develop their personalities, their talents and their interests.
Our School Prayer
Our new school prayer has been written by our Mini Vinnies group and our Year Four class, with contributions and shaping from our staff team and our Parish Priest. It links to our mission, our values and what it means to be a part of our St Aelred’s
Catholic Ethos
Through worship, in our relationships, in teaching, and at play, St Aelred’s is committed to the expression of the Catholic faith, both explicitly and – perhaps more importantly – in our daily life together. Daily, we try to live out our vision of our school that is: A family of God, living life in all its fullness – playing, learning and growing, together. Members of our school community are encouraged to show God’s love through our core values of friendship, courage and respect. It is in our day-to-day actions and interactions; in the care that we show for one-another; in our dedication to providing the best for each child; that we hope that God’s love shines through.
Informed by our Catholic beliefs and values, school offers a welcoming, forgiving, secure and loving community for every child, which nurtures their development as an individual human person, encourages them on their faith journey, and challenges them to show God’s love through the service of others. Service of others might be helping another pupil; taking on a responsibility in school; taking part in visiting Lamel Beeches, locally; joining in with fundraising for CAFOD, for example; or praying for others. Children are helped to understand their world and their lives in the light of their faith. Our Catholic faith encourages children to develop into the person God wants us to be and is at the centre of our curriculum and behaviour strategies.
For School leadership, our Catholic values are the touchstone: for us as role models; in our decision making; in the service of others; and in our interactions in school and within the wider school community.
There are explicit outward signs of the Catholic faith in our school, such as displays, prayer spaces, crucifixes, and a display in the entrance which captures our vision and values. These are outward signs of our Catholic identity, which help to communicate the liturgical, sacramental and spiritual life of the school and inform and inspire children, staff and visitors.
Although the school has a Catholic foundation, we welcome and respect children and families of all faiths or of none. Equally, we expect that families who are not Catholic, who have chosen St Aelred’s for their child, to support and respect the Catholic distinctiveness of the school.
