‘As a family, we grow, learn and flourish together’

At Woodham Walter Church of England Primary Academy our welcoming Christian community creates independent, resilient and articulate lifelong learners, who have the confidence to achieve personal excellence for themselves and for the Glory of God.  As a family, we grow, learn and flourish together.

“I have come that you may have life in all its fullness”.  John 10:10 

Just like a garden needs sunshine, water, and care to grow, we need to support each other to learn and flourish in our school community. Here at Woodham Walter, we believe in knowing one another, valuing each other, and celebrating our achievements.  In adopting the Bible verse “I have come that you may have life in all its fullness”, pupils and staff are called to a full life in mind, body, heart and spirit.   Life in all its fullness is about living a varied and full life full of learning, growing, helping, reward, joy, excitement and caring for each other.  It resonates deeply with our aspirations for our pupils to experience “life to the full” during their time at Woodham Walter and beyond.

The school aims to preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England.  Woodham Walter aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice.  It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

Our purpose is to offer a broad and balanced education of the highest quality in a happy, stimulating, secure and caring environment based on equal regard for each individual by:-

• Helping children to develop a life-long love of learning and discovery.

• Fostering self-respect and independence in children whilst building their confidence and sense of achievement.

• Fostering partnerships with the community, the local early years' forum, Trust schools, the parish church, and maintaining effective communication with parents.

• Recognising and responding to the specific needs and abilities of individual children.

• Creating an atmosphere where all staff feel valued and supported and in which appropriate training and resources ensure high quality teaching and learning.

We intend to achieve these aims by

• Providing a balanced and broadly based curriculum incorporating the Early Learning Goals and the National Curriculum, effectively using appropriate resources and suitable learning programmes in order that all children may achieve their potential.

• Developing and maintaining procedures for assessing, monitoring, evaluating and recording the work of the school in order to achieve continuity, progression and consistency within and between key stages and phases of education.

• Enabling children to work together in harmony to develop a sense of responsibility, mutual respect and tolerance.

• Providing experiences which will promote children’s social, cultural, moral and spiritual development as exemplified by the teachings of the Christian faith, in accordance with the doctrines of the Church of England, whilst having regard for the beliefs of other faiths.

• Helping children to acquire skills, knowledge and understanding and the will to use them.

• Encouraging the development of children who are communicative, articulate and receptive to new ideas.

To achieve our school vision, we have a steadfast commitment to our core values of kindness, respect and honesty. Through them, we aspire to enrich the lives of others, enabling every individual to grow, learn and flourish together so that they may experience “life to the full”.  These three values are not just words on a page; they are the guiding principles that will help our children navigate their educational journey and prepare them for the world beyond our school gates. We are committed to weaving our vision and values into every aspect of school life, from our curriculum to our interactions with one another.

 KINDNESS

Through kindness, we aim to cultivate compassionate individuals who uplift and support one another. We want kindness to be at the heart of our school; kindness in all relationships, kindness towards each other. 

 RESPECT

Through respect, we will teach our children to value diversity, appreciate perspectives and treat others with dignity. Respect yourself, respect others, and respect our environment.  

 HONESTY

Through honesty, we will empower our pupils to be truthful, trustworthy, and to act with integrity in all aspects of their lives.  Honesty is a hard value to learn. It is closely linked with trust, respect, peace and forgiveness, and is essential for relationships to build and grow.

A courageous advocate is someone who champions a cause which is special and meaningful to them.

At Woodham Walter Church of England Primary Academy we have a strong emphasis on encouraging our pupils to become courageous advocates, not just locally, but nationally and globally.

At some point in life, we will all face challenges and need support to help us overcome these barriers. We teach our children that it is important to help others when we can, no matter who they are, where they come from or what challenges they may face. We teach this through the teachings of the bible and learning about other courageous advocates. Our Christian values and carefully planned opportunities in our curriculum ensure that the children regularly discuss and debate the big issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 

It is important for our children to appreciate their role as part of a community; to take responsibility; to be able to look after themselves and to foster an understanding of their importance, impact and influence in the world. 

We support a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally. The school council work with staff, governors, parents, pupils and St. Michael’s Church to identify worthy causes to support.

In recent years we have carried out a range of different fund-raising to support many good causes, some of which include:

• our local food bank;

• Sports Relief;

• Comic Relief;

• Children in Need;

• Macmillan;

• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Our children have an excellent grasp on the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging. Thereby developing their ability to empathise and make a small sacrifice to benefit others. Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embraces a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it:

• Links with the local care home and Church (Christmas carols)

• Charities of significance to our children;

• School Council who seek the views of pupils as to which causes we want to support;

• Strong PTA with community events such as Christmas and Summer Fayres, and discos;

Examples of courageous advocacy in action by pupils at Woodham Walter CofE Primary Academy include: 

• A group of children who recently volunteered to plant hedges around the local farmland. This initiative is a perfect example of how young people can make a real difference in their communities. By planting these hedges, our pupils are helping to support biodiversity, providing shelter and food for a variety of animals, insects, and birds. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to learn about the importance of ecosystems, the role of native plants, and the impact we can have on the environment.
  Driven by our vision, the children are learning that even small actions—like planting seeds and nurturing growth—can have far-reaching benefits. This project is not just about creating green spaces; it’s about instilling a sense of responsibility and hope for the future. Our pupils are becoming courageous advocates for the planet, one hedge at a time, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will continue to have in the world around them.

• A number of children have shown remarkable courage and compassion through their involvement with The Prince's Trust and cancer charities, growing their hair not only to raise money for cancer research but also to donate it to be made into wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment.
  This selfless act of kindness speaks volumes about the empathy and advocacy our students are developing. By offering their hair, they are providing a tangible and deeply meaningful gift to children who have lost their hair as a result of treatment, helping to restore a sense of normality and confidence during a difficult time. Their commitment to this cause goes beyond fundraising—it’s about offering a personal, heartfelt contribution that directly impacts those in need.