Parish of Hempsted with
St Mary de Lode and St Mary de Crypt
Hempsted School
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St Swithun’s Church and Hempsted Church of England Primary School
working together to serve our community
#OurLIFEstory
Hempsted Church of England Primary School and St Swithun’s Church, Hempsted are committed to working together to serve the people of Hempsted. Under the Imagination priority of the diocesan LIFE vision, the PCC has as a priority the placing of Hempsted CofE Primary School at the heart of our mission with creative connections between church and school. As one school parent recently commented: ‘I love how the Church is a massive part of the school too.’
Parishioners joined pupils picking blackberries in the local fields as part of our centenary commemoration of World War 1
The vicar, Canon Nikki Arthy, is a frequent visitor, along with members of the Open the Book team, the Foundation Governors and the parish Pastoral Assistants. Nikki leads Collective Worship in school regularly, as does the Open the Book team weekly. Nikki has worked with the school to define the school’s understanding of spirituality as: ‘Appreciating and being inspired by the awe and wonder of God’s world through reflection and meaningful connections.’
The governors worked alongside the Senior Leadership Team, parents, pupils and the wider community to articulate the new school vision:
Growing Together in God’s Love
Our vision is to provide an inspirational education that engages our pupils, allowing them to achieve their unique God given potential underpinned by their strong values rooted in the Christian faith.
Our Mission Statement
We aim to achieve our vision by:
- Ensuring that our children are happy, creative and successful learners who strive to be their best.
- Providing a well-
balanced, structured and challenging curriculum, which embraces our Christian values, so that each child can fulfil their potential; spiritually, morally, socially, culturally and academically. - Being an inclusive school where all children feel safe, hopeful and happy; fostering self-
esteem and respect. - Placing our church school at the heart of this community for the common good of all.
- Welcoming and working in partnership with our families, the ‘Friends’, the church and wider community to nurture our pupils.
- Developing an age appropriate understanding of the Christian faith; the faith of others and the cultural values of the world; underpinned by our deeply Christian ethos.
- Structuring our Collective Worship so that children can understand our Christian values and live them in their daily life.
- Maintaining a culture of enthusiasm, endeavour and achievement that truly celebrates everyone’s unique abilities.
Members of the Senior Leadership Team regularly attend diocesan training
with the vicar, other Foundation Governors and Chair of Governors
The theme for our popular Messy Church continues to reflect the school value for the term. Members of the Messy Church and Open the Book teams share in the leading of services for the school in St Swithun’s Church. The whole school community attends church for a service at Harvest, Christmas and Easter and there is a service for reception children and their families in September.
Once a month, children from school attend the mid week Eucharist in St Swithun’s where they observe and participate in all aspects of the service. This dimension to our worship is appreciated by all who attend.
Mid week Eucharist
Coffee and Chat is a weekly drop in for parents in the Lysons Hall run jointly by the parish pastoral team and Hempsted CofE pastoral team, supported by a staff member from The Family Haven. We are particularly pleased that parents enjoy attending and benefit from the support offered.
Coffee and Chat
There is a monthly Prayer Group which is open to parents, staff, governors and friends of the school with an invitation to pray for all members of the school community and their concerns. Prayer requests may be left in prayer boxes in the school foyer, at church, at Coffee and Chat or by email prayerrequest@hempsted.gloucs.sch.uk Members of the church recently worked with school staff to organise an annual creative prayer day for the whole school community.
Prayer Group
We were delighted to welcome ISingPop to church for a tremendous concert. This was a fabulous opportunity to celebrate our Christian faith together.
ISingPop
School and Church
