At Poulton-le-Sands Church of England Primary School, the Christian faith is at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create a nurturing sanctuary of Christian love where every member of our school community feels valued, supported and inspired. Our school is a safe and welcoming place for children to learn, question and explore, growing not only in knowledge but also in character and spirituality. Through our shared values, we aim to help every child flourish and develop a strong sense of hope, compassion and respect.
During the academic year 2018/2019 we consulted on and updated our mission statement and developed our current Vision. We wanted to celebrate and incorporate our history. We reference forging futures as a part of our history as our school was established in 1745, alongside Morecambe Parish Church, by Francis Bowes, a local blacksmith.
The Process
Many people were involved to help us create our vision. Lisa Horobin led staff training on how to set a Christian Vision, Paul Adnitt (our then Diocesan advisor) met and led the governors through a similar meeting. We were challenged to create a 35-word vision and to identify a verse from the scriptures. Parents were encouraged to share their ideas at a social evening and at the February parents’ evening. The community were invited to comment at the local Christmas Tree Festival that year. The children all submitted ideas via the School Council.
Finally, the Vision and Values Committee met several times in 2019 to consider all these opinions and establish a clear cohesive vision for the school:
As a sanctuary of Christian love, we forge futures in our community. We inspire a joy of learning and a delight in one another. In faith, we are refined through challenge, growing with God, together.
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it”. John 1 v.5
Our Vision in Action
As a sanctuary of Christian love, we place relationships at the heart of our school. We create a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment where every child is known, valued and loved as a unique child of God. Through kindness, forgiveness, respect and compassion, we teach our children to care for one another and to live our Christian values in their daily lives.
We forge futures in our community by preparing our children not only academically, but also socially, morally and spiritually. We work closely with our families, the church and the wider community so that our children understand their place in the world and the difference their can make within it. We encourage responsibility, service and a sense of belonging, helping pupils grow into confident and thoughtful citizens.
We inspire a joy of learning and a delight in one another by offering an engaging, creative and inclusive curriculum. Children are encouraged to be curious, resilient and enthusiastic learners who celebrate success and support each other. We value collaboration and teamwork, helping pupils to recognise the strengths in themselves and in others, and to take pride in shared achievement.
In faith, we are refined through challenge, growing with God, together. We teach children that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow, supported by faith and perseverance. Through prayer, worship and reflection, pupils are encouraged to trust God, to develop resilience and to understand that they are never alone in their journey. Together, as a school family, we grow in faith, character and understanding, supporting one another every step of the way.
Our Christian Values
Our Christian values are central to life at Poulton-le-Sands Church of England Primary School and shape the way we learn, live and grow together. Rooted in the teachings of Jesus, these values guide our decisions, our relationships and the way we support one another each day. Through worship, reflection and everyday practice, we encourage our children to embody these qualities.
Compassion
Thankfulness
Friendship
Forgiveness
Hope
Peace
Trust
At Poulton-le-Sands, we are one big family and we take pride in celebrating a strong sense of belonging. As part of this, every child is welcomed into a smaller family group made up of pupils from different year groups. These family groups come together throughout the year to take part in a range of activities, giving children valuable opportunities to build relationships, nurture one another and offer support across all ages. Through these shared experiences, our children learn the importance of community, kindness and looking out for each other.
Morecambe Parish Church
At the heart of our school life is our close relationship with Morecambe Parish Church. Our shared journey of faith reflects our school vision: As a sanctuary of Christian love, we forge futures in our community. We inspire a joy of learning and a delight in one another. In faith, we are refined through challenge, growing with God, together. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it”. John 1 v.5
How we partner with the church:
- Weekly Worship: Every Wednesday, our school visits Morecambe Parish Church for an act of worship led by our Vicar, Rev Chris Krawiec.
- Class Engagement: Rev Chris often visits individual classes, working directly with our children to explore faith, values and community.
- Staff Engagement: Rev Chris is invited to staff meetings to join us in prayer.
- Active Participation: Our children take part in church services and festivals, helping them grow as engaged members of both the school and church communities.
- Community Hub: Morecambe Parish Church is not only our worship partner but also a vibrant hub for the Poulton-le-Sands community. Its activities include weekly services (Awaken, Parish Eucharist, All Together Service, Choral Evensong, S.pace, Choir), as well as community initiatives like Morecambe Pantry, Sanctuary Café, Lighthouse Club, and Poulton Playtime.
- Living Our Values: We are grateful for this close partnership, which allows our children to see first-hand what it means to live out our Christian values in everyday life and within our local community.
