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All Saints' C of E Primary School History and Background

AS History  2AS History

Our Christian Distinctiveness: Rooted in History, Flourishing in Faith

All Saints’ Church of England Primary School has a proud heritage that dates back to around 1854, when it was established by All Saints’ Church under a Trust Deed with a clear and compassionate mission: to provide education for the working-class and poor families of the local area. The Deed emphasised religious instruction alongside essential skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, all firmly grounded in the principles of the Church of England. Children were to be nurtured in the Christian faith through the liturgy and Catechism, shaping not only their minds but also their moral character.

This founding purpose continues to inspire and guide us today. We remain deeply committed to serving our local community and supporting our most vulnerable families, just as we did over 170 years ago. At the heart of our school is a rich, inclusive curriculum rooted in Christian values: Curiosity, Kindness, Respect, Courageous Determination, and Joyfulness. These values are lived out daily in our relationships, our learning, and our collective aspiration to help every child flourish — academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Our historic foundation and our ongoing commitment to our Christian vision enable us to offer an education that is both distinctive and inclusive — preparing children not just for exams, but for life.

Theologically Rooted Vision Story

A Journey Through The Forest

 

I approached the school, as I had done on many previous occasions.  But this time, much to my surprise, I found my way blocked by a large forest, which seemed to have grown up around the school ……

 

My only chance of reaching school seemed to be through a narrow entrance into the forest.  I stepped through and followed the forest path, trusting that it would take me to the school.  I noticed that by the side of the path, someone had placed a sign which read “The All Saints’ Way”, so I was encouraged to continue on my journey.

 

As I rounded a bend in the path, a shaft of sunlight burst through the trees and illuminated the way ahead of me.  The path had previously seemed dark and uninviting but now I could see some words on the ground in front of me, words which had been scorched into the earth beneath my feet.  The words were familiar to me and gave me a sense of reassurance.  They were from Psalm 32 V8: “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life”.

 

As I continued along the forest path, the sun faded from view and I could hear the gentle patter of rain on the trees above me.  I noticed a small copse ahead which contained three tall trees – much taller than all the rest of the trees in the forest.  As I approached them, I noticed that the owner of the forest had attached labels to the base of each of the trees.  The first tree was labeled ‘The Tree of Discovery”, the second one “The Tree of Learning” and the third one “The Tree of Achievement”.

 

As I looked at each of the trees, I saw that - higher up their trunks - someone had carved some words into them.  On the Tree of Discovery, the words “Discovering God” had been carved; on the Tree of Learning, the words “Learning Together”; and on the Tree of Achievement, the words “Achieving Our Best”.

 

As I stood there, thinking about the words in front of me, another shaft of sunlight broke through the dense canopy of the forest.  The rain was still coming down and I could see a rainbow forming in the sky above me.  Beneath my feet, however, the sunlight that had created the rainbow seemed to penetrate the very ground on which I stood, and the roots of the three trees somehow became visible to my eyes.  The roots went deep into the earth, and as I looked more closely I could see that they had become twisted around the pages of a book, one which I soon recognised as a copy of the Bible.

 

Under the Tree of Discovery, where “Discovering God” had been carved, I could just make out some words from a page in the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament: “You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart”.

 

Then, beneath the Tree of Learning, where “Learning Together” had been carved, I saw some words from a page of Matthew’s gospel account of the life of Jesus: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”.

 

Finally, under the Tree of Achievement, where “Achieving our Best” had been carved. I could clearly see the words from a page of Paul’s New Testament Letter to the Colossians “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart”.

 

As my eyes rested on the roots of this third tree, the light faded.  The words which I had seen so clearly only a few moments ago were now no longer visible.  All I could see was the earth beneath my feet.   

 

As I stood there, my gaze moved from the base of the trees to the top.  As the rainbow illuminated the sky, another shaft of sunlight broke through the canopy of the forest.  This time I could see, high up, blossom and fruit on the branches of the trees.  On the Tree of Discovery, I could see Curiosity blossoming in abundance; on the Tree of Learning, the fruits of Kindness and Respect were developing and maturing; and on the Tree of Achievement, Courageous Determination was blossoming into the fruit of Joyfulness.

 

I had never seen trees like this before.  Where had they come from?  And who had planted them?

 

So many thoughts were racing through my mind.  In my heart, I wanted to stay in that copse of trees, but I knew that I needed to move on and find my way out of the forest.  I continued on the All Saints’ Way, reflecting on everything I had seen so far.  There was too much detail for me to remember it all, but I held on to the three words I could recall:

Discover, Learn, Achieve. 

 

Then, the words carved into the trees came back to me:  Discovering God, Learning Together, Achieving Our Best.  These words filled my mind, and I began to realise that this was really the All Saints’ Way.  Not just a path that I was travelling on through the forest, but much more - a way of living, a way of behaving, a way of being.

 

I continued on and, as I followed the next bend in the path, I could see the exit from the forest ahead of me and, beyond that, the familiar outline of the school.

 

Soon I stepped out of the forest into the comforting light of day.

 

As I did so, I turned to see if those three tall trees were visible above the canopy of the forest.  But, somehow, the forest had disappeared.  And all that remained to remind me of the All Saints’ Way was the rainbow in the sky…

 

Bible Verses linked to our theologically rooted vision

5 Christian Values

🌟 Our Christian Values at All Saints’

At All Saints’ Church of England Primary School, our five core Christian Values are central to our vision of
"Discovering God, Learning Together, Achieving Our Best."
These values were chosen by the whole school community—including pupils, staff, parents, governors and church partners—during our post-Covid recovery, as a way to rebuild with purpose, hope, and unity.

Together, we identified the values we believe are essential for living well with God and with one another.


✝️ Our Five Christian Values

Each half term, we focus on one of our values through Collective Worship, class reflection, and everyday school life. Pupils and staff explore how each value is rooted in the Bible, how it connects with our lives today, and how it shapes the kind of people we are becoming.

  • Autumn 1 – Curiosity
    “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find.” – Matthew 7:7
    We encourage children to ask big questions, explore new ideas, and be open to discovering God in the world around them.

  • Autumn 2 – Respect
    “Show proper respect to everyone.” – 1 Peter 2:17
    Respect means recognising the God-given worth of every person, treating each other with kindness, dignity, and fairness.

  • Spring 1 – Kindness
    “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” – Ephesians 4:32
    We believe in showing love through our actions—small and big. Kindness builds friendship, belonging and healing.

  • Spring 2 – Courageous Determination
    “Be strong and courageous… the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
    This value helps us face challenges, try new things, and keep going—even when it's tough.

  • Summer 1 – Joyfulness
    “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10
    Joyfulness is about finding and sharing joy in learning, relationships, nature, and faith—even during ordinary moments.

  • Summer 2 – Reflect & Celebrate
    A time to revisit all our values, reflect on our spiritual growth, and celebrate how we’ve lived out our Christian vision throughout the year.


💬 Living Out Our Values

Our values are not just words on a display wall—they shape our daily life. They guide how we:

  • Learn and play together

  • Make decisions

  • Celebrate successes

  • Resolve conflict

  • Support one another as a community rooted in love and faith

Our values are theologically grounded, visibly lived, and form a foundation for:

Spiritual flourishing 
Character and moral development 
Collective Worship that inspires and invites reflection
A culture of justice, compassion, and responsibility 


“Our values help us be the best version of ourselves. They remind us to think of others, be brave, and always keep learning.”
– Year 5 Pupil

All Saints' Prayer

PrayerPhilippeans

Philippians 4:6–7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God... will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Power of Prayer in Our Church School

At the heart of our Church School is the belief that prayer is an important part of our daily life, shaping who we are and who we are becoming. Prayer offers children and staff time to reflect, be still, connect with God, and seek guidance, peace, and hope. It plays a central role in nurturing our spiritual growth and in building a compassionate, faithful community.

Prayer contributes to spiritual flourishing, and deepens pupils' experiences of Christian living and worship. Our pupils understand that prayer is a powerful way of expressing love, gratitude and concern for others, including in times of challenge (OWs) and celebration (WOWs).

Prayer at All Saints’ Church

Prayer is a vital part of the relationship between All Saints’ School and All Saints’ Church. Our children and staff are regularly included in the prayers of the church congregation, reflecting the strong bonds of care and faith that unite us.

Church groups such as the Evergreens (our elderly fellowship group) have played a meaningful role in supporting our school through prayer, reflection, and generosity—ranging from creating beautiful poetry books to fundraising for residentials and school trips. Their involvement shows the power of intergenerational connection and the deep love the wider church community has for our pupils and staff.

We are truly blessed to know that so many people hold our school families in their hearts and prayers. This spirit of prayerful support extends to our school governance too, where every Governors’ meeting begins with prayer—inviting God’s wisdom, strength, and hope to guide important decisions about the future of All Saints’.

Wellbeing and Mental Health

Willow

Supporting Wellbeing Through Nurture and Compassion

At our Church School, we are deeply committed to nurturing the social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of every child, in line with our Christian vision of love, care, and inclusion. We recognise that children thrive when they feel safe, valued, and understood—and we have developed key support systems to ensure that all pupils, especially the most vulnerable, are able to flourish.

The Wellbeing Room
Our Wellbeing Room, led by our dedicated Learning Mentor Miss Daley, offers a calm, welcoming, and purposeful space where children can express themselves openly and feel heard. This safe haven is especially beneficial for pupils with social, emotional, mental health (SEMH) needs or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It provides an environment where they can build confidence, resilience, and independence, while also having space to share joyful moments and receive emotional support.  Children engage in fun games and with play based resources to keep them smiling, happy and to ensure that they thoroughly enjoy their special 1- 1 or small group time with Miss. Daley. 

Children are individually assessed using the Boxall Profile, which helps us to identify specific social and emotional needs. From these assessments, bespoke intervention programmes are created, tailored to support each child’s areas of difficulty. These programmes are typically delivered over half a term to a full term, with clear measures in place to assess progress and impact.

Willow, Our Pets As Therapy Dog
We are also blessed to have Willow, our Pets As Therapy (PAT) Dog, who visits school twice a week with her proud owner, Amanda. Willow brings comfort, joy, and a sense of calm to pupils, particularly those who have experienced a challenging week. Her presence supports children’s mental health and wellbeing, offering a positive emotional boost and an opportunity for gentle connection in a non-judgemental space.

Together, these initiatives reflect our deep-rooted commitment to the wellbeing of every child, grounded in our Christian ethos of compassion, dignity, and hope.

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