Christian Distinctiveness
"Be the Light"
Wisbech St Mary Church of England Academy is a Voluntary-Aided primary school within the Diocese of Ely and part of the Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust (DEMAT). We work hard to develop and sustain our school’s Christian distinctiveness. Our headteacher and governing body have a clear vision of a school with a distinctive Christian character.
As a Church of England Voluntary Aided School, we offer an education that is distinctively Christian. Although each church school are unique, all church schools will share core values based on the Gospel values. Church schools are therefore places where loving God and loving our neighbours, is lived out in the daily life of the school. Our three core values, Ready, Respectful, and Safe are linked closely to and are underpinned by Christian Values. Time is spent exploring what is distinctively Christian about these particular core values. Many other values are explicitly taught throughout the school day such as, friendship, trust, perseverance, resilience, and gratitude. We strive for excellent relationships making our school a happy place to work and learn.
The messages of love and lessons Jesus taught are celebrated and put into action at our school; our mission statement at WSM Academy is, "Be the light." (Matthew, 5:14) just as Jesus is the light for so many and our 'Golden Rule' is "Treat others as you wish to be treated." (Like 6:31)
We choose Be the Light as our vision because we want to demonstrate the love of Jesus in our world through our Christian values. Jesus told us in Matthew (5:14-16), “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before all, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Jesus is the true light that shines from within us (John 8:12). We want all members of our school community to thrive and Be the Light in our world, so they make a positive difference today and in the future.
We want to Be the Light for others in their times of darkness, to offer hope, encouragement, kindness, and compassion.
We want to see the good and the beautiful in others.
Being the Light can even be as simple as sharing a smile. Think of your favourite smile, and how it makes you feel. Think of the ways other people have helped your heart to glow even brighter than it has in the past, from a kind word that is said, through encouragement, through a smile that is given or joy that is shared. In deeper relationships it is through the physical touch of someone, the love that is shown and the intimacy that is present or sharing oneself intimately with another.
Sometimes to Be the Light means to carry on the torch for what needs to be completed or be made new. It may mean to give of yourself in a new way to a situation or cause or relationship you are in. It may also mean to just be still and show that nothing really needs to be said at a given time, until the time is right.
To Be the Light is to foster peace and to show others the joy that is present. It also means that you try to protect your flame from being blown out - so that you can be the light, and so that light remains.
The Church of England’s vision for education (2016) is deeply Christian, with Jesus’ promise of ‘life in all its fullness’ at its heart. In line with the Church of England’s role as the established Church, their vision is for the common good of the whole community.
- Educating for wisdom, knowledge and skills: enabling discipline, confidence and delight in seeking wisdom and knowledge, and developing talents in all areas of life.
- Educating for hope and aspiration: enabling healing, repair and renewal, coping wisely when things go wrong, opening horizons and guiding people into ways of fulfilling them.
- Educating for community and living well together: a core focus on relationships, participation in communities and the qualities of character that enable people to flourish together.
- Educating for dignity and respect: the basic principle of respect for the value and preciousness of each person, treating each person as a unique individual of inherent worth.