We are delighted to be part of the wider family of Church of England schools.  We thrive as an organisation by building strong partnerships. This starts with our links to the Salisbury Diocese and to the Village Church and, significantly, as part of the Initio Learning Trust.
Being a church school means that, at our very core, we look to reflect biblical principles in how we conduct ourselves and in what we want to achieve for our young people.
This mission is explored below in our wider Vision statement and in how we develop values throughout school.

Vision Statement  

Inspired by the call to "Live a life of love, just as Jesus loved us" (Ephesians 5:2), our school provides a distinctively Christian foundation where every child can grow, flourish, and achieve their full potential.

As a cherished member of our school family, each child is recognised as uniquely valued by God. We empower our pupils to pursue their highest ambitions while building the confidence to act as courageous advocates for social justice, standing up for the issues they care about deeply.

Within our nurturing environment, children develop into confident, curious, and

resilient learners who celebrate diversity and respect the unique needs of others. Guided by our Christian vision, our Behaviour, Relationships, and Anti-Bullying policies centre on forgiveness and reconciliation, equipping our pupils to embody a life of love in all that they do.

Living out daily through our core Christian values, we inspire others, build courage, and show respect, enabling our whole community to live life in all its fullness (John 10:10) all through love.  

Our Vision and Values statement can be found here

Our core values taught through the story of the Loves and Fishes, John 6 v1-16 help us to live out a life of love in the following ways:

Love:   

Self:

Children learn that love means making good choices — sharing, being patient, and thinking about others, even when it costs them something, just like the boy who shared his food.

Others:

In school, children show love by being kind to classmates, including others in play, sharing resources, forgiving mistakes, and helping friends who are struggling.

World & Beyond:

Children begin to understand that love is not just for friends but for everyone. Through charity events, caring for the environment, and helping the wider community, they learn how small acts of love can make a big difference in the world.

Courage:

Self:

Children experience courage when they try something new, speak up, or make the right choice, even when they feel nervous or unsure.

Others:

In school life, children show courage by standing up for others, being “brave enough to be kind,” telling the truth, and challenging unkind behaviour.

World & Beyond:

Children learn that courage helps them face challenges in the wider world — seeking fairness, showing resilience, and trusting that God is with them when things feel difficult or uncertain.

Inspiration:

Self:

Children are inspired to believe in themselves and recognise that their efforts matter. They learn that they don’t have to be perfect — just willing to try and do their best.

Others:

In school, children inspire one another through positive attitudes, encouragement, teamwork, and by using their talents to help and uplift others.

World & Beyond:

Children begin to see how their actions can inspire change beyond the classroom. With God’s help, they understand that even small actions can lead to big outcomes and encourage others to do good in the wider world.

Daily Collective Worship

"Live a life of love, just as Jesus loved us." — Ephesians 5:2

At Witchampton C of E First School, Daily Collective Worship is the heart of our school life. Grounded in our vision to "Live a life of love" (Ephesians 5:2) and Jesus’ promise of "life in all its fullness" (John 10:10), worship provides a daily opportunity for our whole school family to gather, reflect, praise, and grow together.

Our worship is intentionally inclusive, invitational, and inspiring, welcoming all staff and pupils of any faith or none to engage at their own level.

How Worship Works

• Values-Led Themes: Each half-term, we focus on one of our core values (Love, Courage, Inspiration, and Respect), exploring relevant Bible stories and their real-world application so children are supported to "Start off on the way they should go" (Proverbs 22:6).

• Varied & Engaging Experiences: Worship incorporates scripture, drama, guided imagery, poetry, singing, audio-visual media, and discussions on current local and global events.

• Spiritual Development (OWS): We nurture spirituality through reflection using a three-part model:

  • Ourselves (Inward): Reflecting on our choices, feelings, and personal growth.

  • World (Outward): Considering our place in God's world and responding with compassion to global issues.

  • Stillness & God (Upward): Moments of quiet prayer, awe, wonder, and contemplation.

Pupil Leadership & Prayer

Children are active leaders of worship rather than passive listeners:

• Student-Led Prayer: Pupils write and share their own prayers, and The Lord’s Prayer is featured on our class Reflection Tables.

• Worship Team: Each term, two children per class are elected to represent the school on our Worship Team. Meeting fortnightly, they help plan, deliver, and evaluate worship sessions to develop our school's Christian character.

• Respecting Rights & Beliefs: We teach pupils that everyone has the right to explore their own beliefs and practice their religion with dignity, honoring Article 14 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Church & Community Links

• Open the Book: Every Wednesday, a team from our local church leads interactive Open the Book sessions, bringing Bible stories to life through drama and costume with enthusiastic pupil participation.

• Key Festivals & Services: At key times in the Anglican liturgical calendar (Harvest, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Leavers), parents and the wider community join us for services at St. Mary's Church or in school.

• Visiting Speakers: We regularly welcome guest speakers from local churches and Christian charities to widen our pupils' understanding of living out faith in the world.

SIAMS Inspection & Legal Framework

Following our statutory inspection, Witchampton C of E First School was judged 'Excellent' by SIAMS. SIAMS evaluates how a school's theologically rooted Christian vision drives its ethos, enabling all pupils to flourish.

Our Church school distinctiveness remains a core strength of our community. You can read our full report on our school website.

Parental Right of Withdrawal: Collective Worship is provided in accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Parents have the statutory right to withdraw their children from acts of Collective Worship. Any parent considering this option is invited to discuss the matter with the Headteacher.