ALL SAINTS' SCHOOL

Article for Annual report of All Saints Church 2013.  This year has been one of the most important in the life of the school. This time last year the school was actually two schools; a Community  Infants and Nursery and a Voluntary Controlled Junior School. Today it is one Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School. The advantages are many; one school with a clear Christian ethos, a closer link with All Saints Church, easier management of finances and resources, one admission policy and having staff that can work across the whole school. The change in status took place on the 1st September 2012 and was formally recognised by The Bishop of Croydon on a visit to the school in October. He took part in a whole school assembly, visited all the classes, which included being interviewed by a class on “What does a Bishop do?” He then had the opportunity of meeting parents and governors. Many thanks to the members of All Saints Church who joined us. The Bishop’s visit was given a full page spread in The Croydon Advertiser. The link between church and school was further recognised by the Sunday service in the Church on the following Sunday, which was attended by The Bishop and The Director of Education of the Southwark Diocese, Barbara Lane. For the children the sense of being one school was the wearing of a new school uniform, a new school badge, a new school motto “All believing, all achieving,” and the opportunities of having whole school assemblies. To make sure the children were at the heart of this change, the new motto and new school badge was designed by them in an open competition which all children had a chance of entering. The new school uniform has been very popular with parents and the children are very proud to display the school motto on their wristbands in the new school colours which were given to them at the start of term. In October it was a delight to see all the infant and junior classes together in the church to celebrate harvest. This was followed up by the juniors in the church to celebrate All Saints Day with a more informal service for the infants in the school hall. Christmas was also celebrated with services in the church. The younger children were shown the Christmas nativity scene in the stained glass window in the lady chapel and the older children enhanced their service with a high standard of singing and using the layout of the church to act out the nativity story. The plan for the future is to have a yearly calendar of school services in the church with all classes having the opportunity of leading a service. We will publicise these dates and would give a warm welcome to any members of All Saints Church who would like to join us. Items for prayer. -That the school seeks to provide the best education for all the children -For children as they grow up in a world were so many seek to influence them. -For all the staff as they seek to teach all the children to be the best they can be. -For the new Governing Body as it seeks to identify the best ways of supporting and challenging the school -For parents and carers as they seek to guide their children through the challenges of life. -For closer links between the church and school Arthur Williams Chair of Governors.