Our vision, ethos and aims are at the core of everything we do. Our teaching and learning provides an environment which prepares our pupils to be confident, happy citizens, rooted on our Christian distinctiveness.
Like the Wise Man who built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24-28; Luke 6:46-49), St James Church of England Primary and Nursery School is built with strong foundations and we encourage pupils to be resilient, like the Wise Man, by tackling all challenges with grit and determination to succeed. The preface to this story is that everyone who hears these words will be wise.
The school vision is IGNITE, EXPLORE, BELIEVE... Together.
IGNITE Kindling a love of learning | Valuing all children as unique, getting to know them as individuals, starting with Home Visits. Igniting a spark of interest from the child themselves. Tailoring our learning around the children’s needs and interests. Sparking children’s interests ensures that children feel motivated to learn, no matter what their background and previous knowledge. |
EXPLORE Discovering the wonder of the world around | Valuing explorative learning opportunities. Links to our Learning behaviours. Links to our local area – exploring Dartmoor and lots of outdoor learning experiences. Links to our history in Okehampton – the St James from Victorian times. Links to our symbol – the shell and St James on a pilgrimage. We want children to see learning as an adventure that they will undertake for life. |
BELIEVE Inspiring high standards, self-confidence and faith in something greater than ourselves | We believe that everyone can achieve their full potential and have high expectations for all pupils. Developing children’s self-belief and self-confidence as well as mental and physical health. Believing in our community and local support. Our belief in God to guide us to be the best that we can be. |
TOGETHER | We believe that the children at St James are interconnected to the world and beyond. For one to flourish, we all must flourish |
Our Ethos
A Christian ethos is at the heart of our school community but we embrace and learn from other religions, cultures and beliefs.
We aim for our children:
The school pursues the highest standards of achievement and personal development within a climate that values the unique talents of everyone associated with the school. We promote a caring approach to teaching, encouraging good behaviour and developing a sense of right and wrong. Above all, we seek to recognise the special gifts of each individual.