Our Vision
“We are God’s family – learning together, loving together, growing together – striving to be the best we can be for ourselves, for God and for others. “
Our vision is rooted in the theological scripture of the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4–7), and “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
Every member of our school community is important, unique, special, and valued. At this school, no one gets left behind or left out – ‘we are God’s family’. God is like the shepherd; he loves us all, just like the shepherd loves his sheep. In the same way, the leaders and staff care for their precious sheep and look after each member. Following His example, all are loved and encouraged as individuals. Children and staff are valued and supported to flourish and ‘be the best they can be’.
At Sutton-at-Hone, no one gets left behind or left out – ‘we are God’s family’. As a school community we learn, grow, and love together – growing and developing, both as individuals and in relation to one another and to God.
Our School Values
These values are promoted across the school by all adults. Each term a value is shared with the school through Collective Worship and in class. Our school’s values are deeply embedded in the daily life of the school and all members of our school identify how they affect our daily lives and our achievements, including being demonstrated through our words and actions.
Community
Love
Service
Forgiveness
Perseverance
Thankfulness
We are an inclusive school, where everyone has a valuable contribution to make to our school community. Our foundation in Christian belief and practice helps us to embrace not only the spiritual but also the physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, and social development, of our children. Our vision is rooted in a desire to enable children at Sutton-at-Hone to be the best they can be, ‘for themselves, for God and for others, living life in all its fullness (John 10:10).
Our curriculum is designed to provide all our children with the core knowledge and experiences that enable them to flourish. Our strong Christian vision and six associated values underpin all aspects of school life; what we do, who we are, and how we live. In our daily lives, this is lived out through our love and care for others, respectful behaviour, and empathetic attitudes. These values act as a set of moral standards we should understand and try to live out. They align with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
“The school’s Christian vision is transformational and underpins everything the school does. School leaders, governors and trust leaders are committed to ensuring that ‘no child is left behind’. They have made bold decisions to ensure that the vision specifically serves its community well, with equity at the core” – (SIAMS, 2023).
Our British Values
As part of Aletheia Academies Trust, Sutton-at-Hone is committed to Fundamental British Values:
The Trust actively promotes British Values in all of our academies. We aim to establish a strong community where all pupils are encouraged to demonstrate respect and tolerance through an inclusive nature regardless of faith, race and culture.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a pupil leadership team which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class meetings. The PLT member from each class is voted for by their class. Children are able to share their views and ideas for the school through their PLT representative. In year 6 we have house captains. The candidates prepare a speech which they present to their house, children from year 1 to year 5. They then vote on who they want to be their house captains and vice-captains. Visits from local councillors help to reinforce the process and value of democracy.
At Sutton-at-Hone, the importance of laws – whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country – are consistently reinforced. Our school has ‘Golden Rules’, which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class also discusses and sets its own rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws – that they govern and protect us; the responsibilities that this involves; and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Our behaviour policy is underpinned by everyone’s rights and responsibilities. Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through a choice of learning challenge; of how they record; of participation in our extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities; pupils are given the freedom to make choices and express their point of view.
Respect is an important value of our school and can be seen through our Christian vision and associated values, which are deeply embedded in all that we do at the school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have, and to everything, however big or small. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. Our school has high expectations where courtesy and good manners are shown towards all. Children treat others how they would want to be treated. Children are given the opportunity to reflect on behaviour and understand their impact upon others. As a Christian school, we value forgiveness and restore respect through this.
The significance and meaning of our Christian vision and associated values ensure tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Sutton-at-Hone Primary School enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through our RE curriculum, which reinforces an understanding of other religions and cultures, as well as through our selection of texts in English and topics covered in History and Geography. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to other faiths as well as visit our own church.
Equality Objectives
Aletheia Academies Trust’s overarching Equality Objectives are:
- To use performance data to monitor student achievement and respond to variations between groups of learners, subjects, courses and key stages, trends over time and comparisons with other schools.
- To provide professional development which continues to support staff to promote equality and diversity routinely in their daily activity.
- To provide an environment that welcomes protects and respects diverse people.
- To ensure that all students are given the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the life of the school.
- Foster ownership amongst our students for the development of a set of positive behaviours which reflect the very best in all cultures, but reaffirm the understanding of and compliance with the rule of British law and British Values.
- To address cultural events through year worship activities to increase student awareness and understanding of issues in different communities