Whitegate CE Primary School
Our Ethos Group
What is an Ethos Group?
- The group is comprised of up to 10 key Stage 2 children who have expressed a commitment to become involved in the core Christian values of the school.
- It supports the school in developing its Christian values and distinctiveness.
- It reports to the Senior Leadership Team and governors on what it has discussed.
What does it do?
- The group meets weekly to discuss aspects of the school’s commitment to its Christian ethos and values.
- It asks pupils their opinion about the school’s values and worship.
- It takes an active role in collective worship, planning and leading Collective Worship in each class every half term as well as a whole school Worship in the Summer term.
- It tries hard to develop the spirituality within school by celebrating examples of Christian Values in action throughout the school.
Breaking News!
- The Prayer Shed is open! The Ethos Group is exited to welcome each class to come and take part in activities that link to the theme of Fruits of the Spirit. Look in your classroom for information about when your class’s day in the Shed is.
- The Ethos Group have also been delivering Collective Worship to the whole school through individual class worship. This will be exploring the fruits of the spirit and how they support all of us to do our best to live the school’s vision to ‘Trust in God, grow in wisdom.’
- New members of the group are always welcome! Just speak to one of the current members or Mr Heathcote.
Christian Values
After careful consideration of our School Vision, six values were established that encompassed our vision.
Here are the 6 values and a definition of what they mean.
Thankfulness - Thankfulness is expressing gratitude and appreciation for everything we have and receive.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Trust – Trust is a firm belief in anything. Through our faith we trust in the Lord and have the confidence to serve.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Growth - Growth is coming into being; to grow naturally and spiritually.
Colossians 2:7 Let your roots grow down into him (Jesus), and let your lives be built on Him.
Love – Love is a strong feeling of affection. It is a deep affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, attachment, or endearment. As a church school we seek always to show the love of God to all and our Collective Worship are times filled with love and joy that everyone can experience, whether they share our faith or not.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Shine - To be bright and glow in your service and achievements. Through following our Christian values, we celebrate the children as they shine in their actions, words and deeds.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Faith - Living by faith means every day, no matter what, having a quiet confidence that God is good.
Psalm 119:68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
Wisdom – The quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgment; quality of being wise.
James 3:13 Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that come from wisdom.
School Prayer
The Ethos group has created our school prayer. It encompasses all six of the school values and has been used in collective worship. The Ethos group continue to develop new way of engaging the school with the values and the prayer is just one example.
Ethos Group - Vision Ambassadors Conference 2024
Two members of our Ethos group collaborated with schools from across the Chester Dicocese at the annual Ethos Group conference. This year's focus was on how to be effective ambassadors of the school vision. The children were intrigued to learn about other schools' visions and how, like ourselves, each school's unique identity was rooted in their history.