Community

Those of us who are regularly involved with the school have long felt that we have a little gem here in our community, so it was satisfying when the school received such good reports recently from OFSTED and SIAS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools.)
The extent of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development was described in both inspection reports as outstanding.


To put this into context, we live in a society where children are exposed to influences over which parents have little control; where selfishness and materialism dominate. A recent UNICEF report found that British children are among the unhappiest in the developed world, yet the inspection reports described Kirby Hill’s pupils as happy, confident and considerate; valuing and respecting each other’s differences and feelings from an early age.

So what is it that our primary school is getting right? There is an African saying - it takes a village to raise a child. The school is extremely fortunate to have such an outstanding headteacher and skilled and dedicated staff, and the parents, the PTA, the governors, our vicar and church community and, of course, the children themselves, all have an input and make a vital contribution. Between us we are that village.

 

The secularists would argue that you don’t have to be a Christian faith school to achieve these things, but it soon becomes clear to regular visitors to our school how important worship is in developing those qualities that impressed the inspectors so much. Collective worship, conducted by Mrs Farby, The Rev. Alison, teachers, church worship group and children, plays a key part in developing in school the Christian ethos described by one teacher as being ‘like writing through a stick of rock, it goes all the way through.’

I often hear the children sing their Community Song, the last verse of which goes, “It’s me, it’s you, it’s us, it’s love, it’s God that builds community.”  I think that says it all.

   
Ric Welsby
Chair of School Governors