As a Church of England academy, Stretton provides many opportunities to reflect on and apply our core Christian values and build an understanding of Christianity, and other faiths.

Whole-school worship is led jointly by senior leaders and Year 6 Worship ambassadors, and all pupils in school are encouraged to contribute. We provide opportunities to express our ideas in music, stories, images and drama, as well as providing time for personal and shared reflection. In Key Stage 1 worship sessions, Year 2 worship leaders take the lead. Families are invited to weekly celebration worships (as well as visits to church). Worship may be delivered on a theme of one of school’s Christian values (Truth, Love, Hope, Fairness, Peace & Reconciliation and Perseverance) which are widely discussed with and between children as part of learning, assessment and personal development/behaviour for learning. Worship will also give us opportunities to share and reflect on stories (including Bible stories) and on examples of people who represent a principle of faith in their actions.

We encourage all children to reflect on the key messages they have reflected on in worship (and how these link to our core values), what it made them think about, and how they think it may affect the way they lead their life. These reflections are recorded in a class worship journal which is maintained throughout the year.  We also encourage children to record prayers that they have written in response to the worship theme. In this way our approach to curriculum learning in R.E. (developing understanding, exploring, expressing and living religious principles) is mirrored in the way that we conduct our worship in school.

Stretton has strong links with St John the Divine Church, Willenhall.  Members of the clergy team regularly visit us in school and shares in our worship and the vicar is a member of the Governing body. The church also support us to run a divine club which enables children to explore Christian ideas further. Some worship sessions are also led by our KICK mentor, who provides another opportunity to reflect on ‘living’ Christian faith.

Coventry Cathedral is a vital part of our community and children will have the opportunity to visit at least once while at Stretton. In History, Year 6 children also study the bombing and reconstruction of the cathedral, exploring the orgins of the peace and reconciliation movement that emerged from Coventry.  In Art, children will investigate the stained-glass windows and explore the imagery of faith and Christian life in the cathedral. As an Icon school, Stretton is proud to take part in Coventry Cathedral’s Cross of Nails programme and we are keen to express this commitment within and beyond the classroom.

We are seeking to develop links with faith communities, increasing opportunities to welcome visitors into school and supporting children to visit places of worship. Each year, we run a faith day to enable children to explore one of the religions in more depth and develop their response in different ways. We are also encouraging children to present their reflections on R.E. creatively by beginning to participate in the Spirited Arts challenge.

Throughout the year, we encourage children to participate in charitable events (e.g. Macmillan Coffee morning, Red Nose day, Children in Need, etc.) and develop environmental awareness (e.g. via Eco-Ambassadors) to develop our understanding of, and opportunities to practice, Christian responsibility and stewardship.