St Mary's Church of England Academy Logo

Values

Our Mission

We are a Church community school open to pupils of all faiths and none, welcoming and valuing every individual in all their diversity.Our mission is to build a community of joy and love, providing an excellent education in which every child develops their full potential safely in the context of Christian belief and practice.  Whilst proud of our links with the Church, we welcome all faiths under the principle that God LOVEs all. 

  • Committed to developing JOY in the lives of our children.  By becoming well-rounded, happy, nurtured children, set in an environment where the whole child matters and a playful delight in learning is encouraged.  
  • Being recognised as a place of LOVE, with caring nurturing relationships, respecting others and allowing each individual to develop emotionally, socially and spiritually.
  • Providing a broad and diverse child-centred curriculum that encourages a reflective WISDOM where children have curiosity and courage to face new challenges.  A curriculum with an awareness of our natural world and the impact we have on it.  
  • Encouraging children to think ‘BIG’ and progress to the next chapter of their lives with the skills, knowledge and experiences to achieve. Having a concern for those who are vulnerable in our community, society and globally, realising our responsibility as stewards of creation.  Living with HOPE and integrity.  Working together with families as partners to raise standards of achievement and wellbeing.  Pupils are willing to risk failure and are supported when they do.
     

Our Vision

‘In the light of Christ we will shine together’

Jesus said: I am the light of the world. John 8.12

Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is all that is good and true and right. Ephesians 5.8-9


In Jesus we have an example of selfless unconditional love and service: welcoming the stranger, delighting in children, forgiving and compassionate. He demonstrated the promise of God’s love for all and taught that we should value ourselves and love one another in a community of trust, friendship, justice and forgiveness. Through his Spirit He promised to lead us in searching for truth and growing in wisdom.  He challenges us to reflect his loving light in all we do, shining as lights together, so that we become a community of joy and love, facing the future with wisdom and hope.

We can hang everything we do on these verses. 


This Vision is reflected in the school logo with its three elements of Rainbow, Star and Children linked together.

Rainbow:  a sign of God’s promise to care for all in love and safety. A sign of hope after times of challenge and difficulty

Star:  a reminder that everyone can shine, reflecting the love of Christ and joyful in their achievements

Linked children:  the acknowledgement that it is together that we grow, develop and achieve and that we all benefit from hands to hold in love and friendship.

Our Values 

Core Value Joy Love Wisdom  Hope
Linked values

Friendship

Wonder

Thankfulness

Diversity

Compassion

Forgiveness

Respect / Acceptance

Service

Curiosity

Humility

Perseverance

Responsibility

Courage

Generosity

Justice

Truthfulness / Integrity
Explored through (Word Clouds) Delightful, playful, plugged in, happiness, praise, thankfulness, wonder.

Welcoming, nurturing, flourish, openness, acceptance, trust, 

service, family, safety, friendship.

 Finding agency, meaning, agents for change, reflectiveness, truth-seeking, risk taking. Being open to more, aspiration, serving the common good, positivity, forward thinking, bouncing back, trust, vision, resilience.




The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has had a partnership with Kagera Diocese in North-West Tanzania for more than 20 years. The Education Team encourages all schools to find out about life in Kagera. We offer materials teachers can delve into themselves, please see below or for further information about this link please below.

The St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese

Little Bird

Our Values are lived throughout our school in meaningful ways. An important expresion of our values is through our school book project. 

This is due to be poublished and launched in March 2026.  The book has been written by staff and illustrated by children, with a clear message about the importance of discovering your spiritual light. 

Every story begins with a seed — a spark of light, a whisper of hope.

Our book begins with a little bird.

The little bird reminds us that even the smallest of creatures can carry great meaning. It teaches us about hope when the winds are strong, about joy as it sings its morning song, and about wisdom as it learns to fly higher and further each day. Most of all, the little bird reminds us of love — that gentle presence which holds us and lifts us, just as wings lift the bird into the sky.

These pages are for children and grown-ups alike: to pause, to wonder, to find comfort, and to be reminded that within each of us is a little bird — fragile and yet strong, ordinary and yet extraordinary.

May this book give flight to your imagination, steady your heart, and remind you that you too are made to soar.

With enormous thanks to Mrs Wilsher and Mrs Torbitt for your absolute belief in the power of this book. For your creativity in bringing this dream to life. 

To the children for their joy and energy in creating the artwork that makes this project a work of art. 

We have created a gem which I hope remains for a long while after our small turn around this school is over. 

With love, joy, wisdom and hope.