Church and Community links

We are each unique and beautiful and together we are a masterpiece.

The Distinctiveness of being a Church of England School

We are proud to be a Church school and believe that this enables us to produce a caring, nurturing and reflective environment which gives our pupils such a positive start on their educational journey.

We follow Christian values to enable all members of our community to flourish, regardless of their background or starting point. The aim of Church schools has always been to provide an education that enables 'life in all its fullness'.

We have a thriving local church, St Michael's The Archangel Church https://stmichaelsww.org.uk/, with which we have very close links; Reverend Julie Wilmot regularly visits us to lead acts of worship and to work with children and staff. We have services at the church at certain points in the school year.

As a parent, pupil, visitor or member of staff, you will find that Woodham Walter CofE Primary Academy aims to offer the best education, as other schools would, but the way in which the school works is different and distinctive. This distinctive difference is rooted in our Christian values that affect the way in which everyone behaves and the way in which everyone is respected.

In order to nurture children’s spirituality, our Local Governing Body ensures Woodham Walter CofE Primary Academy:

Is led by a Head of School who is committed, with the help of staff, to maintain the Christian character of the school.
Enables children to engage meaningfully in a daily act of Christian worship.
Offers school life that incorporates the values of the Christian faith.
Ensures that 5% of curriculum time is devoted to Religious Education.
Observes the major Christian festivals.
Ensure those children of other faiths are able to and encouraged to mark their major festivals with integrity.
Maintains and develops an active and affirming relationship with the parish church

Community

At our school, we value the importance of engaging with and interacting with the people and organisations around us. Building strong community connections benefits not only the education of our children and the school’s reputation but also helps us operate more effectively as a whole.

We aim to help our children understand the significance of community engagement, both on a local and global scale. Through this, they learn to be courageous advocates and ambassadors for our school and its values.

Our dedicated Church/Links Group meets regularly to foster and strengthen community relationships, ensuring that we continue to grow as a connected and inclusive school.

Collective Worship

At our school, we dedicate part of each day to Collective Worship, which we believe is the unique heartbeat of a Church school. This sacred time offers pupils and adults the opportunity to encounter faith, engage in conversations about God, and reflect both individually and together as a community.

Collective Worship is a special time for:

Giving thanks
Celebrating achievements and events
Receiving wisdom and inspiration
Considering spiritual and moral issues
Exploring personal beliefs

Worship may be expressed through:

Music, song, and dance
Drama and storytelling
Words of praise and prayers
Readings and teachings
Thoughtful silence, meditation, and contemplation
Symbolic actions such as the lighting of a candle

This daily act of worship enriches our community and provides a meaningful space for reflection, connection, and spiritual growth.

Religious Education

Religious Education (RE) at our school aims to inspire curiosity and deepen children’s knowledge of different religious beliefs, enabling them to have informed and respectful conversations about topics such as faith, worship, prayer, creation, God, the meaning of life, and the role of religion in society and people’s lives.

Our approach ensures children learn about and learn from different religious beliefs in a way that avoids judgment or placing greater value on one faith over another.

Children explore religious ideas through:

Inquiry and debate
Asking questions and making connections
Exploring religious artefacts
Discussing sources of belief and examining religious texts
This process helps children identify similarities between major world faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism.

Children develop an in-depth understanding of Christianity through themes such as:

God and Creation
The Fall
The People of God
Incarnation
The Gospel
Salvation
The Kingdom of God

Links are also made between Christian teachings and the beliefs of other faiths to foster a well-rounded perspective.

Big Questions in RE - Religious Education encourages children to reflect on questions such as:

Is there something beyond this world that created the universe?
What are the similarities between different faiths?
Where do these beliefs come from?
How do people of different faiths show their beliefs in everyday life?

Why RE Matters - Religious Education is vital for providing children with the knowledge and insight needed to:

Challenge stereotypes
Promote cohesion
Tackle extremism
Explore big questions such as the origins of life, the meaning of existence, and the possibility of something beyond our world

Our Curriculum:
Our RE curriculum is carefully designed, primarily following the Essex Agreed Syllabus. It is further enriched to meet the full RE entitlement outlined in the Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive learning experience for every child.

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