Being a Church School
“Though your beginning was small, your future will flourish indeed.’ (Job 8:7)
Courageous optimism
It takes courage to hope for a better future. We champion a ‘can do’ attitude and encourage our pupils and staff to tackle challenges with resilience and perseverance as they reach for ambitious targets.
Boundless creativity
Through captivating discoveries in the classroom and eye-opening adventures in the outside world, we give pupils freedom and promote varied learning experiences which stimulate innovation and develop adaptability.
Heartfelt compassion
We show love and respect to each member of our community as we nurture a powerful collective spirit. In humility we embrace difference and individuality, show forgiveness when necessary, and are united by compassion.
Christian Distinctiveness
What is added by being a Church of England School?
The Church of England’s vision for education is deeply Christian, with Jesus’ promise of ‘life in all its fullness’ at its heart (https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/vision-education). Church schools have Christian beliefs and values at their heart. This means that every child and adult associated with the school is not just important because they are members of the school but because they are seen as unique individuals within God’s creation.
Church schools recognise that as well as academic and emotional intelligence human beings also have spiritual intelligence. The spiritual aspects of life will be recognised and nurtured alongside the academic and emotional needs of all. Please see our Spirituality Policy for more information. (to follow – will be a hyperlink)
Church schools are places where challenge through questioning is encouraged as through this we can make sense of the world, the gift of life and the purpose of our own personal lives.
What differences should you notice?
As a pupil, parent, visitor or member of staff you should feel that the way the school works is different and distinctive. That distinctive difference will be theologically rooted in our Christian values and our vision that guide our day-to-day work. We want all children and adults at Dr Walker’s to flourish, as per the Church of England Vision for Education.
We promote our vision and Christianity through daily Collective Worship, which all staff and children at the school are invited to attend daily (see our Collective Worship Policy – to follow via hyperlink).
Religious Education is a core subject at Dr Walker’s and so is given the same importance as reading, writing and maths. At least 50% of our RE lessons have a Christian focus the curriculum is progressive and sequential. It is important that the curriculum allows children time to be reflective and it fulfils the RE Statement of Entitlement 2019 alongside the Essex Locally Agreed Syllabus 2021.
We have a strong working relationship with our local church, St Nicholas’, and Rev. Sam Brazier-Gibbs. We visit the church regularly and the Rev. Sam Brazier-Gibbs visits school fortnightly to deliver Collective Worship. Our children are courageous advocates of change in our local, national and global society. We are proud to celebrate Christian festivals, such as Harvest, Christmas and Easter.