The school’s aims form its objectives both in relationships and through the curriculum. We are a Christian school, not merely a school for Christians and welcome children from other religious denominations and faiths. We are proud of our strong links
to St Thomas a Becket Church and with our Vicar Reverend Christopher Kilgour, who spends much time working with the Head Teacher, the teachers and the children of our school and who is a member of our Governing Body. In the context of this, all
children will receive teaching in Religious Education which, whilst having a multi-cultural element, will be based on the beliefs of the Church of England. Each year group in school studies Christianity, Judaism and Islam. We build on our understanding
and interpretations as we grow and learn throughout the school and the children learn through an enquiry based approach using 'ultimate questions' and philosophical debate as a foundation.
Church and Worship
Please see below for our Worhip Diary
Our Christian ethos
We work closely with our local and associated church, St Thomas a Becket as well as with our local community. We value the contribution that everyone makes to school life, placing importance on the welfare of individuals. It is our aim that at the end of our pupils’ time at Northaw Church of England School they will have developed a sense of achievement and self-esteem as a result of their experiences here and will leave us for their secondary school, happy, effective learners, with a positive attitude to life long learning.
Collective worship
Worship in our school is inspirational and uplifting with carefully planned themes based firmly on the Bible and Christian values. Revd. Kilgour, the Head Teacher and all staff are keen to ensure pupils have a meaningful experience where God, Jesus and the Trinitarian nature of Christianity is at the heart of worship. Prayer and reflection are central to the experience of our collective worships and in addition pupils are offered a deeper and more personal experience in class through teaching, discussion and further reflection. Consequently, our pupils talk articulately, confidently and enthusiastically about their beliefs and ideas about faith.
Worship diary
8th March
This week Mrs Cullingford asked the children to think about which of our senses is the most important. Figures show that 80% of our sensory perception comes through vision. She told a story about a blind beggar who was helped when a lady altered the wording on his sign. The lady was unable to give him his sight back but her actions had a positive impact on his wellbeing.
In assembly on Wednesday, Mr Napoleon talked about social injustice and standing up for what’s right. He referred to a book called "The Yellow Star" which tells the story of the King of Denmark and how he stood up to the Nazi invaders during World War II. Danish Jews were instructed to wear a yellow star by the Nazis, however the King, who wasn’t Jewish said he would wear one as well, which led to all the Danish people wearing them so the Jews were not singled out.
1st March
Our value this half term is Justice. We will be discussing what Justice is, what it looks like, where it is needed and how it can be achieved.
In assembly this week Mrs Whales asked Nicholas to dress up in a super hero costume. The children have been invited to design a logo and choose a name for our school super hero.
In Worship, tying in with the season of Lent, we have started to talk about the "Stations of the Cross" – there are 14 in total and they take us through the journey that leads to Christ’s crucifiction.
15th February
In Worship on Monday we heard about love persevering. In Corinthians Chapter 13 verses 7-8 the Bible says
"It (Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away".
8th February
This week in worship we have heard lots of stories about lost things. On Monday we heard The Parable of the Lost Coin. Luke15:8-10. Later in the week we heard about the Lost Sheep. These stories tell of people who persevere in looking for lost things.
But the parables reflect God’s perseverance in loving us. He never gives up!
1st February 2019
In worship, Rev’d Kilgour told us about Candlemas. This is a traditional Christian festival that commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after the birth of her son Jesus. On this day, Christians remember the presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple. In the Gospel of Luke we hear about how Mary was met at the Temple by Simeon, a very old man who had been waiting for the Messiah. When he saw Jesus he declared "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
Later in the week Mrs Burton told the story, of Gerald the giraffe in Giraffes Can’t Dance. She also played the children a song by Bruno Mars and the Sesame Street gang about never giving up. The children really enjoyed the music.
25th January 2019
Perseverance can be demonstrated in many ways. Whether it’s physical training in sport or tackling the weeds in the garden; both require determination and a will to succeed! Another demonstration of perseverance can simply be waiting patiently and trusting God’s plans – just as farmers do after their hard work in planting their crops.
In Church on Monday, we heard the familiar story of The Prodigal Son. You may recall how a father was delighted when his son returned home. But if we look deeper into the story we see how the father never gave up hope for his son’s return. Because this is a parable, it reflects God’s relationship with mankind; His perseverance in us; His patience with us as and His overwhelming love for us.
18th January 2019
In worship this week we have continued to look at Perseverance.
On Monday Rev’d Chris talked about God’s perseverance with man. In the book of Genesis we read about how Adam and Eve disobeyed God, but although He punished them He kept offering mankind forgiveness, ultimately through His son Jesus.
In Hebrews Chapter 12 verses 1-2 the Bible says "Let us run with perseverance the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end".
On Tuesday Mrs Whales talked about perseverance being slow and steady - not a "quick fix". She retold the story of ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ to illustrate the resilience needed to achieve success.
11th January 2019
Our value this term is Perseverance.
During worship we will be looking at how perseverance features in the Bible. This week we have started with Epiphany. Epiphany means "to show, make known, reveal".
Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the wise men who came to see Jesus Christ soon after he was born. These wise men used perseverance to visit the baby Jesus. They travelled great distances at a time when there were no cars or planes.
20th December 2018
As the school term and 2018 draws to a close, it is a good time for Reflection.
Not only a time to look back at all we have done this year, but also to reflect on how well we did things.
Sometimes we can look back and see where God was working in our lives and situations. Trusting that He is with us in all we do is a great platform on which to start the new year!
3rd December 2018
We have continued to think about trusting God’s promises this week. Revd Chris told us about Isaiah, who was a Prophet in the Old Testament. Isaiah foretold about the birth of Jesus 800 years before it happened! He was the first person to call Jesus "Emmanuel" (which means ‘God with us’)
The first Advent Candle, which is purple, represents the Prophets.
26th November 2018
Our worship on Monday focused on a story about trust from the Bible found in the book of Daniel.
It tells of three men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who would not worship the false gods as instructed by King Nebuchadnezzar. They were very brave and did the right thing even though they knew they might be killed. They trusted that God would look afer them.
They were thrown into a furnace, but they did not perish.
19th November 2018
Our worship this week has been looking at Truth and Trust. Why we should tell the truth and how we should trust people to tell the truth.
Mrs Whales used the story of Blondin, the tightrope walker as an example of trust. Crowds watched Blondin walk over Niagara Falls, he even walked along the tightrope with a wheel barrow. He then asked if anyone would volunteer to sit in the wheel barrow while he walked across – only one little old lady stepped forward. She got into the wheelbarrow and trusted him to take her across safely. The lady was his mot
12th November 2018
How much do we trust God?
In worship on Monday Rev’d Chris told the story of the parting of the Red Sea. The Israelites trusted that God would lead them out of Egypt, it must have been scary for them, but their trust was well placed
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left". Exodus 14. Ch 21-22
5th November 2018
This half term our value is "Trust".
Through our assemblies and worship we will be thinking about who we should trust and who we do trust.
Trust is an integral part of our relationships; with family, friends, work colleagues, schools, doctors, ministers to name but a few.
Our human frailty means that sometimes trust can be lost. Our focus in worship will be trusting God’s plan for all of us.
As we draw our half term value of Thankfulness to a close we heard about Eucharist in our church assembly. This is the Christian celebration of taking bread and wine to remember what Christ did for us and be thankful.Jesus instructed his disciples
at the last supper to remember him by breaking bread; a symbol of His body and drinking wine; a symbol of His blood.And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance
of me."In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.Luke 22. Verses 19-20
15th October 2018
This week we were reminded that we should always say thank you to God for answered prayer.
Mary said thank you in song when she was told of God’s plan for her. The passage in scripture can be found in Luke Chapter 1 verses 46-55. Mary’s words have been used to write a very popular hymn "Tell out my soul".
Saying thank you is not just good manners. It can create a sense of well-being in another person if they feel appreciated.
With Christmas just around the corner maybe we should all start practising our thankfulness.
8th October 2018
On Monday Rev’d Chris talked about giving thanks to God even when times are hard. In the Bible Paul always gave thanks even when he was imprisoned.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1 verse3-6
1st October 2018
Our Harvest Festival assembly in Church on Monday was a wonderful opportunity for us to show our thankfulness and share our learning about families in Malawi as part of Bishop’s Harvest Appeal "Give Peas a Chance".
The children shared their hopes, wishes and thanks, and their singing was delightful!
Thank you for all the generous donations which will go to the Broxbourne Food Bank – the gifts are used to help local families in crisis.
On Wednesday we had a visit from Archdeacon Janet. She led our assembly and talked about liturgical colours and the special clothes that she wears as part of the Anglican tradition.
