“At Pilsley C of E we shine God’s light: learning, growing and serving together so that every child may flourish.”

At Pilsley Church of England Primary School, we believe that every child carries their own unique light — their talents, character and God-given potential. Our vision is to enable all children to fulfil their potential — academic, social, physical and spiritual — so that they may shine brightly in their learning, their lives and their communities.

We aim for excellence in all that we do, building self-confidence and independence so that children become happy, well-motivated learners: curious, courageous and ready to embrace change. Through our strong Christian ethos, we value difference and diversity, growing together as a community of lifelong learners.

“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.”

Biblical foundation

After consulting stakeholders, we choose  “Let your light shine…” from Matthew 5:16, which calls us to live out our faith visibly through love, service and excellence, reflecting God’s glory (Matt 5:16). This verse underpins our Christian identity and inspires us to be a community where each person’s God-given light is discovered, nurtured and shared. This verse provides the practical application of Jesus' teaching about being "the light of the world." We teach our children that they can display the light of Jesus by living out our school Christian values and thereby doing the good works which God intends for us. 

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Our vision invites every member of the Pilsley school family to discover, nurture and share their God-given light. We believe that as children grow in wisdom, knowledge and character they will shine: in their learning, in their relationships, and in service to others. Through this vision we seek to enable all pupils and adults to flourish — academically, spiritually, morally and socially — fulfilling the promise of Jesus to offer life in all its fullness. Our Christian vision — “Let your light shine” — is more than words on a wall. It shapes our decisions, our relationships, and our learning. It drives us to help every child flourish, to build a strong and compassionate community, and to ensure that every pupil leaves us as a confident, happy citizen — ready to shine their light in the world.

Our Values – The “How” of Living the Vision

To help our vision of shining God’s light become real day-to-day, we commit to these core Christian values (you may choose 4-6 values). For example:

• Kindness – we let our light shine by showing compassion and care to others.

• Courage – we speak out, we try new things, we stand up for what is right.

• Excellence – we strive to do our best in learning, behaviour and service.

• Community – we belong to each other, we work together, we serve together.

• Respect – we value every person and all creation, recognising God’s image in everyone.

These values are rooted in our scripture verse and support the vision: ‘letting our light shine’ means living these values visibly.