Issue #20 – 13/04/18 – RE Questionnaire Outcomes

[heading]RE Questionnaire Outcomes [/heading]

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for your responses to the RE questionnaire that was sent out last term. We also asked the children about their experiences of R.E and Collective Worship at Cathedral School through questionnaires, class discussions and School Council meetings. We really value everyone’s feedback because it is instrumental as we plan and develop our R.E and Collective Worship provision. The information is also shared with The Governing Body. It is useful to hear when you ‘don’t know’ as it helps us to identify where we need to be clearer.

This newsletter is designed to answer the ‘don’t knows’ and give you more clarity on our approach to the following aspects:

2% = 1 response

  1. The school teaches Christian values that help my child to develop spiritually

Our Mission Statement clearly states that Christian values are built into our ethos. Our mission statement is followed by every member of staff and every member of the Governing Body.

Our School Motto, “life in all its fullness” John 10:10 was decided upon after consultation with staff, children and governors. Year 6 reflected on the motto during a service in Southwark Cathedral. We also have regular acts of collective worship and a recent school project where children and parents worked together to communicate what the motto means to them.

Christian Values: We focus on the Fruits of Friendship with God.  These values are known by Christians as the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ and are particularly remembered when people think of ‘God in Action’. Christians believe it is God in and through them which helps them to produce these fruits.

For more information please visit the Fruits of Friendship with God page on our school website for definitions, bible quotations and a prayer.

Pupils are given many opportunities to develop spiritually including during RE lessons, as part of our half-termly Reflective Time, during Collective Worship and at Cathedral Services. Clergy from Southwark Cathedral visit KS2 classes to help them prepare acts of worship.

2. The school enables my child to develop morally and socially

We are proud of the way staff, parents and governors work together to encourage pupils at Cathedral School to develop morally and socially. Our mission statement, school motto and work on the Fruits of Friendship with God ensure that the school community has a framework in which to develop.

“The children and the staff are incredibly respectful. The children are very calm and engaged, always being kind and considerate and willing to help….what I find so fascinating, is that the children and for most part, the parents all follow suit and want the very best for each other in their faith, relationships and learning."

- Part of a letter from a parent.

3. The school provides opportunities for the cultural development of my child

We work hard to provide opportunities for cultural development. World Faiths Week and International Week are both highlights of the school calendar. Pupils are given the opportunity to learn about a range of cultures across the curriculum.

“I like the way that RE is part of lots of different subjects – sometimes geography, like during International Week, definitely PSHE, history – when you have to understand why people might have made certain decisions, music – because that is a way of giving praise and literacy – I like it when we wrote newspaper articles about Jesus’ miracles in extended writing. I liked it when some of us said we wanted to do more drama in RE and then we did!”

– Year 6 child, July 2016

4. The school has high expectations of behaviour which reflect its Christian values

Our mission statement, school motto and work on The Fruits of Friendship with God underpin our high expectations for behaviour.

“Exceptional features of this school include the overall ethos of including, listening to, challenging and supporting all children; the excellent behaviour, self-confidence and positive attitudes of pupils; the excellent teamwork and reflective practice of teaching and support staff; the wonderful opportunities provided for pupils and the overall positive, happy family ethos of this exceptionally high achieving school.”

  • IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) Centre of Excellence reaccreditation report May 2017

5. Relationships between members of the school community reflect the school's Christian values

As a school we work hard to foster positive relationships between all members of the school community. Cathedral Tots and Stay and Play sessions in the EYFS help us to connect with parents of our youngest children. The charity work undertaken by pupils reflects some of the Fruits of Friendship with God including the Harvest Festival collection for a local food bank and the relationship between the school choir and Lucy Brown House.

We appreciate the hard work of the Parent Fundraisers who work hard to raise money for the school and to organise events that bring the community together.

6. Collective worship is important in the life of the school

Collective Worship is seen as an opportunity to reaffirm the school motto and further explore The Fruits of Friendship with God. The whole school has the privilege of worshipping at Southwark Cathedral 6 times a year and clergy from the Cathedral lead worship at school every week. The senior leadership and clergy work together to plan worship and also take into account feedback from pupils. In the summer term we are planning worship based around the hymns we sing - this idea was suggested by a pupil.

Pupils who are communicant in their own church attend a Eucharist at Southwark Cathedral 3 times a year.

Pupils have many opportunities to lead and plan worship at school and take part in special services at the Cathedral. The planning process for services at Southwark Cathedral includes reflecting on a Bible reading with a member of the clergy, writing reflections and prayers as well as designing the service sheet. For class-led Collective Worship the process involves reflecting on recent RE topics or topics that link to RE then writing reflections and prayers based on the chosen theme. It is always so enjoyable to welcome parents to the class-led Collective Worship which happen termly.

Children have the opportunity to give suggestions and feedback on Collective Worship through their School Council Representatives, pupil questionnaires and ad hoc feedback to members of staff.

Thank you to the parent who suggested some alternative sources of collective worship material; we are hoping to incorporate some of those into our summer term worship calendar.

Here are some of the common themes that arose from the pupil questionnaire on Collective Worship:

  1. What makes Collective Worship special at Cathedral School?
  • A calm and peaceful start to the day
  • That we are all together as a community
  • That children get to lead and be involved
  1. In what ways do you participate in and contribute to Collective Worship?
  • Acting
  • Singing
  • Answering questions
  • Class led worship
  • Cathedral services
  1. What makes Collective Worship enjoyable?
  • Singing
  • Being altogether
  • When it is funny!
  1. Think about an act of Collective Worship in school that you remember well.
  • Shrove Tuesday – making the pancakes during Collective Worship
  • Life in all its fullness themes
  • Celebration Assemblies
  • Fruits of Friendship with God
  1. What theme or idea would you like to explore next in Collective Worship?
  • Bible stories
  • Events coming up in the Christian Calendar
  • Hymns
  1. Can you think of any ways that Collective Worship could be improved?
  • More School Council assemblies
  • Learning more about other religions – building on R.E lessons
  • More moving around

Some direct quotes from the children:

“In one of our songs it says ‘you light up my world.’ And I’m thinking how my God lights up my world.”  (Year 4 child)

“I really like how the teachers involve the children and how they sometimes let children bring in their own instrument and make everybody calm and peaceful for the day.” (Year 5 child)

“Collective worship is enjoyable because the whole school comes together as a family.” (Year 4 child)

“I enjoy celebration assembly because it is fun to see other people happy and finding happiness in other people’s praise." (Year 4 child)

7. My child is given opportunities for prayer and reflection in school

Children are given the opportunity to reflect upon the relevance and meaning of the Christian faith personally and within the communities in which they live. Through stories, songs and discussions, children are able to develop a sound understanding of the Christian faith and are given the opportunity to adopt the Christian values. The school acknowledges the beliefs of all faiths and none.

Prayers are said at the beginning of the day, lunchtime and at the end of the school day. Each has classroom and the hall has a prayer area. Prayers from these books are read out regularly in class and Collective Worship. The Year 6 Prayer Helpers organise the Prayer Book in the Hall and say the prayers as they are put into the book.

A poster of the Lord’s Prayer over the entrance to the hall acts as a reminder to younger children who might not know the words yet and a symbol of the centrality of prayer in the school community.

Reflective Time was introduced in September 2017 in order to ensure children have a space to reflect silently. Each half term pupils from Y1-6 spend 20 minutes in the hall with another class, in silent reflection. Feedback is listened to and acted on in order to develop the experience e.g. pupils wanted to remove their shoes after seeing a senior member of staff doing it.

Responses to Reflection Time from pupils and staff have been overwhelmingly positive, including:

“I thought about my family and how lucky I am”.

“I said the Lord’s Prayer and really thought about the words in it.”

“It was good to take a breath and be quiet with my class. We all appreciated being still.”

8. My child has a good knowledge and understanding of Christianity

The school uses the SDBE curriculum to ensure coverage and encourages teachers to adapt it to need the needs and interest of the class and ensure breadth and depth. Senior members of staff and governors monitor standards in RE through lesson observations, book scrutinies, pupil questionnaires and data evaluation.

Thank you for the comment regarding visits churches other than the Cathedral – we will plan this into next academic year’s curriculum.

9. My child has a good knowledge and understanding of other world faiths

World Faiths Week takes place at the beginning of each academic year and gives each child the opportunity to focus on one of the world religions. Pupils from Year 1 – 6 study the following religions; Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. They focus on at least 1 of these each year which takes up around 1/3 of the curriculum

Thank you for the suggestion that more visitors from other faiths would be beneficial. We are planning this into our curriculum for the next academic year.

10. My child is progressing well in Religious Education (RE)

We use the SDBE (Southwark Diocesan Board of Education) curriculum for RE. We assess children each half term in RE and report to parents on RE at the end of the school year as part of your child’s school report. If you would like to know more please read our RE Policy.

“This is a school where RE is given a very high profile.  The expectations for learning and teaching are ambitious and aspirational.   There is no standing still for the subject – teachers and pupils learn from each other.  Partnerships with other schools mean that their school’s outstanding practice is shared with others.”

Virginia Corbyn, RE Mark Gold 2016

11. The staff and governors of the school promote Christian values

Staff at all levels lead by example and live out and promote our vision which is rooted in Christian values.

Every year all members of staff attend a Staff Rededication Service in The Harvard Chapel at Southwark Cathedral. This is an opportunity for members of staff to reflect on the school mission statement and rededicate themselves to serving the school community.

There is a staff prayer group that meets regularly to pray for the school community.

Governors also lead by example and ensure that the mission statement is being upheld and Christian values are being promoted. There are a number of foundation governors on the Governing Body who are nominated by the diocese and the Cathedral. Canon Michael Rawson is currently the vice-chair of Governors. A prayer is said at the beginning of the Full Governing Body meeting to ensure all decisions made uphold Christian values.

“The governing body is also fully committed to the school’s vision and they play a very positive, active and supportive role in the school. They are active participants in the school’s efforts to include and to care for all pupils. Governors explained how they work very positively with the school to provide challenge and support and how the varied skills of governors are put to good use in the school.

“- Inclusion Quality Mark Assessor

12. There are good partnerships with Southwark Cathedral

It is a privilege to work so closely with Southwark Cathedral and the clergy there. Not only do the children worship there but they also visit the Education Centre to enrich their learning in RE.

 

 

We hope that this newsletter has helped you to have a deeper understanding of RE, Collective Worship and our Christian Distinctiveness at Cathedral School.

Please contact us through the office if you have any comments or suggestions.

Best wishes,

Filiz Scott          &       Nicola Leighton

Headteacher             Assistant Headteacher