Christian Vision

“At The Blue School, children don’t just learn, they flourish.”

Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Our Christian Vision For All

Nurturing wisdom, hope and dignity in everyone, to build Christian community

As one of the oldest Church of England schools in the country, The Blue School has a proud heritage of providing a distinctive Christian education that continues to shape young lives for the future. Our school vision, rooted in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him,”  guides every aspect of school life.

Through our vision our community is guided to:

• Speak – words of wisdom and hope

• Act – with dignity and respect

• Be thankful – as one community, from the heart

The Blue School is a community flourishing through wisdom, hope and dignity giving thanks to God in all that we do.

At The Blue school, our Christian values are at the heart of daily school life. They are rooted in our vision; their ethos enhances our daily collective worship and informs all that we do as a Church of England school. Our school values are underpinned by the Church of England’s Vision for Education.

Hope gives us a mission to accomplish and speaks to tomorrow being better than today.

Dignity gives us a culture to embrace and speaks to treating everyone as precious in the sight of God.

Wisdom gives us a place to grow and speaks to knowing how to make a positive difference. 

Community gives us people to enjoy and speaks to living and loving well, together.

Why choose The Blue School?

With the Lord Jesus at the heart of all we do, we celebrate the unique God given gifts of every individual (James 1:17). Rooted in Christian hope, dignity and wisdom, pupils flourish in faith, excel academically and are championed to follow their creative and physical pursuits; equipping all children to lead full and happy lives in the knowingness that God has a plan of hope and prosperity for all futures (Jeremiah 29:11). Through Jesus’ teachings we embrace our mission and inspire all children to reach beyond their potential and give thanks to God in all that they do; to be courageous advocates caring for others and their world; to be compassionate citizens and thrive as part of one global Christian community.

How can our community support the school’s Christian vision?

We value all members of our school community and their involvement:

You can support our Christian vision by:

• Discussing with your child the values they are learning about at school
• Attending school worship events when parents are invited
• Supporting charitable initiatives organised by the school
• Sharing your thoughts and feedback about our Christian character
• Participating in community events that celebrate our school value
• Discuss at home our worship questions that go home weekly and feature in our newsletter

Collective Worship

At The Blue School, Collective Worship underpins the Christian vision, values and ethos of our school and allows for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils. Opportunities to gather together in worship are provided daily. Each week, we hold four whole-school worships in the main hall, bringing everyone together to share in collective reflection and celebration. In addition, one worship each week is class-based, allowing for smaller group discussions, deeper reflection, and more personal opportunities to share thoughts and experiences.

All Collective Worship is based on Biblical teachings and uses a thematic approach for the week. Collective Worship (as directed by the Church of England) is inspiring, inclusive and invitational, so that it can be delivered and enjoyed by those of all faiths and none.

We aim to reflect the diverse and vibrant community we are part of, and our worship incorporates a variety of Christian traditions and styles. This helps our pupils to experience different expressions of faith and to develop a deeper understanding of Christian values. 

We are proud to be supported by five clergy members from five local churches, who take turns to lead our worship each week on Wednesday. Their involvement brings a rich variety of perspectives and worship practices, and strengthens the strong links between our school and the local church community.

Through Collective Worship, we encourage all children to explore faith, reflect on moral values, and develop a sense of belonging, respect, and hope.

Planning of Worship

Collective worship at The Blue School is planned collaboratively by staff, the Collective Worship Leader, and local clergy, with a focus on providing diverse, creative opportunities for spiritual engagement. Resources from the London Diocesan Board (LDBS) are used, and the school’s values are reflected in the weekly themes. Themes for each week are listed here: Collective Worship Themes Autumn 2025

• Thematic approach: Each week focuses on a theme rooted in Biblical teaching, and can also include one of the school’s core values (e.g., wisdom, dignity, hope, community).
• Inclusive and invitational: Worship is designed to be accessible to all pupils, regardless of their faith background. It is structured in a way that invites participation without compulsion, encouraging all to engage in reflection, prayer, and discussion.

 

Pattern of Worship

The pattern of collective worship at The Blue School follows a consistent structure to create an environment of reflection and reverence.

• Daily format: Worship follows the same format each day to provide a sense of continuity:
  1. Greeting: Pupils and staff gather in silence, with instrumental music played to set a reflective tone.
  2. Word of God: A Bible reading or Christian teaching is shared, followed by reflection or an activity.
  3. Response: Pupils are invited to share their thoughts or participate in prayer, song, or quiet reflection.
  4. Sending out: The worship closes with a blessing or final prayer, sending pupils out with a message to guide their day.

 

Aims of Collective Worship

The aims of collective worship at The Blue School align with our Christian vision and the values we hold (hope, community, dignity and wisdom). Through collective worship, we aim to:

• Explore the school’s vision and values: Help pupils understand the Christian foundation of our vision (Colossians 3:17) and our values (wisdom, hope, dignity, and community), and how these values shape their actions and behaviour.
• Reflect on Christian teachings: Encourage reflection on key Biblical principles such as compassion, justice, humility, and forgiveness, while fostering virtues like resilience, creativity, and determination.
• Inspire awe and wonder: Create an atmosphere of inspiration and awe, encouraging pupils to feel a sense of thankfulness, mystery, and joy through their encounter with God.
• Encourage inclusion and respect: Worship is inclusive and invitational, recognising and respecting people of all faiths and none.
• Provide spiritual nourishment: Enable pupils to appreciate their worth in God’s eyes and recognise their gifts and talents.
• Engage with the Trinity: Focus on developing an understanding of the nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Foster understanding of the Bible: Encourage an understanding of the ‘Bible Big Story’ and help pupils reflect on how the Bible’s message speaks to them today.

Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are encouraged to support their children’s participation in collective worship. However, they have the legal right to withdraw their children from worship. Parents wishing to withdraw their child from collective worship must make a formal request to the headteacher following a discussion.