PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & WORSHIP
Our Christian Character
At Aylesbury Vale Academy we are proud to be a Church of England School. We embrace the Church of England’s vision that…
The ultimate worth of each person is grounded in being created in the image of God and in God’s love and compassion for each. | |
Church of England Vision for Education Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good |
We believe that every one of us is loved unconditionally by God and…
“…nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God” | |
Romans Ch 8 v39 New Living Translation |
At AVA we strive to deliver excellence in education and pursue through our vision the very best outcomes for children and young people so that they can achieve their fullest potential and contribute to the common good of society.
We welcome diversity, respect freedom of religion and belief, and encourage all to contribute from their own traditions and understandings.
The Aylesbury Vale Academy school values of Respect, Aspiration and Resilience embody the ethos of the whole school and are the practical daily embodiment of the Church’s Vision for Education, where as a school we …
- Educate for Wisdom, Knowledge and Skills
- Educate for Hope and Aspiration
- Educate for Community and Living Well Together
- Educate for Dignity and Respect
Worship in the Primary Phase
All Pupils from Reception to Year 6 participate in a daily act of worship.
Within the Primary Phase worship occurs at various times of day and with a mixture of groupings of pupils. This may be as part of a shared assembly, within class at a relevant moment or at the end of the day.
As a school we make a distinction between assembly and worship. Although assemblies can and do provide a shared space for worship to occur, their content will vary depending on current themes and local and national issues. We believe worship has a significance that goes beyond gathering together in an assembly. We support both children and adults to prepare for worship by clearly indicating when worship and reflection is about to occur, for example, we use a worship candle to indicate the distinct act of worship within an assembly gathering.
Within worship both staff and pupils are encouraged to consider spiritual and moral issues, to explore their own beliefs and to develop community spirit. All are encouraged to consider our shared values, and receive inspiration.
At AVA our worship is invitational and aims to…
- nurture reflection, stillness, meditation and prayer;
- provide pupils with (age appropriate) opportunities to explore the spiritual dimension of their lives.
- provide a sense of occasion that is separate from the rest of the school day
Through reflection, prayer and song, staff and pupils have an opportunity to go beyond the everyday and to worship God. In worship we create the opportunity to explore the place of faith in each of our lives, and in the communities in which we live. This helps to develop an appreciation of what it means to be human: to understand ourselves and to make sense of the world d around us and of how we relate to one another.
Our school is a community that celebrates religious, cultural and ethnic diversity and encourages dialogue and understanding. We believe that we can all learn from each other and that collective worship is an educational entitlement for all. As a Church of England School we reflect that Christianity is an inclusive faith which mirrors the attitude of Christ in the Gospels. Thus, we welcome children and staff of all faiths to our worship.
At AVA Our worship is inclusive and aims to…
- recognise and celebrate the diversity of cultures, life styles and faiths which exist in our school and local community;
- have an atmosphere in which everyone feels valued and safe;
- be appropriate for every student to attend
Our school prayer…
This is our school.
Let peace live here.
Let the rooms be full of happiness.
Let love live here:
love of one another, love of mankind,
love of life itself and love of God.
Let us remember that;
as many hands build a house,
so many hearts make a school.