Our vision and values

Our vision and values are at the core of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens.

Our Christian vision for the school

Our vision as a Church of England Infant school, is to develop happy children with enquiring minds, providing roots to grow and wings to fly. We support children to develop a spirit of curiosity and respect for themselves, others, and the environment which we live in so that they will have the skills and resilience to thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

As part of the Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust, we have a shared vision of ‘Together, living life in all its fullness’, educating for

• wisdom, knowledge and skills: enabling discipline, confidence and delight in seeking wisdom and knowledge, and developing talents in all areas of life.

• hope and aspiration: enabling healing, repair and renewal, coping wisely when things go wrong, opening horizons and guiding people into ways of fulfilling them.

• community and living well together: a core focus on relationships, participation in communities and the qualities of character that enable people to flourish together.

• dignity and respect: the basic principle of respect for the value and preciousness of each person, treating each person as a unique individual of inherent worth

Our theologically rooted school vision of roots to grow, wings to fly draws inspiration from the Parable of the mustard seed, which is found in the  gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

Jesus told his followers the Parable of the Mustard Seed:

• A farmer went to plant some seeds in his field.
• He looked at the mustard seeds – they looked very small and not at all important.
• The famer planted the seeds in good soil and took great care to ensure they had everything that they needed.
• Slowly, the little seeds grew into small plants.
• Each day the farmer tended to the plants, and they continued to grow taller and taller still.
• The plants grew into the biggest of all plants, into the size of a tree! The birds came and nested in the branches of the trees.
• The parable teaches us that the smallest things we do can grow into something bigger than we could ever imagine.

The meaning of the parable can be interpreted as below:

• Just like the mustard seeds who appeared small in the beginning, children start their journey at the academy at a young age.
• Dunchurch is the good soil for the children, providing them with the teachings of academic learning, values, learning behaviours, extra-curricular trip and visitors, character and personal development and the word of God.
• Provided with high quality teaching, learning experiences, and a development of character the children begin to develop their roots.
• Through the development of values and learning behaviours, children persevere and become resilient, and begin to learn how they can begin to make a difference in the world. The roots become stronger still, supporting the children to grow.
• As farmers, the adults continuously tend to the children with love, supporting them to develop deep roots that enable them to grow and flourish into all that they can be.
• Just like the branches of the mustard tree that are safe spaces for the birds, our school is a welcoming safe space for all, regardless of background or ability.
• Having developed strong roots to grow, just like the birds in the parable, our children are ready to grow their wings and fly onto their next stage of education, be that their next class or next school.
• Great things come from small beginnings – just  like our small children who have grown and flourished in their time at school.

At Dunchurch, we strive to provide the rich soil that enables our children and adults to develop the deep roots to enable them to grow and flourish, from small beginnings comes great things. We aim that everyone feels valued and has respect for themselves, others and the environment in which we live, living together as a school family, just as the birds did within the plant. Within our community, we nurture growth and support everyone to have the courage to face challenge and the resilience to persevere, even when confronted by difficulties. We endeavour to provide abundant opportunities which provide a platform for unique strengths and talents to blossom, providing all with the wings to fly.