As a Church of England school, our Christian values of respect, kindness, aspiration and perseverance underpin everything that we do. These values express the behaviour we want to see from all members of our school family and play a key role in everyday school life. Worship is central to school life and we believe it is essential to encourage our children’s spiritual development. At St. Matthew’s we have a school prayer and each class has their own class prayer and area for worship or reflection.
Peace Mala
Peace Mala links to our collective worship by connecting our Christian ‘Golden Rule’ and Peace Mala Values to our school values of Respect, Perseverance, Kindness and Aspiration. We use the symbolic double-rainbow peace mala bracelet—where different colored beads sit side-by-side—as a visual focus during assemblies and reflective prayer times.
Shared Moral and Spiritual Foundations
- The Golden Rule: Both Christian teachings and the Peace Mala focus on treating others as you wish to be treated.
- Christian Values: Our school anchors worship around our core values of Respect, Kindness, Aspiration, and Perseverance, using the peace mala beads to show how different communities can live harmoniously side-by-side.
- Global Citizenship: Collective worship incorporates themes of global responsibility, moving pupils to care for others locally and worldwide.
Practical Uses in Worship and School Life
- Visual Focus: Our Junior Peace Mala Ambassadors luse their multi-faith bracelet as an interactive visual aid during assembly stories, times of pupil conflict, debate or talks.
- Quiet Reflection: The beads guide times of silent meditation, prayer, or personal thought in our classroom worship areas or prayers spaces.
- Student Leadership: Pupil Ambassadors help lead prayers, reflections, and values-based assemblies and events. As well as provide workshops or talks for other working professionals about how our work on peace may benefit their workplace.
Our School Prayer
Dear God,
May our school be welcoming,
May our school be encouraging,
Let friendship flourish here,
Let learning fill our day,
Give us the strength to do our best,
Give us the hope to carry on,
Be our guide in all that we do,
Lord, make this school your home too,
Amen
St Matthew’s Day
Every year for St Matthew’s Day (21st September), each class plans something special to give back to our local community. In past years, Year 6 has held a Macmillan coffee morning; Year 5 have been litter-picking in the local area; Year 4 haver collected and organised donations for Stretford Food Bank; Year 3 have visited the Manorhey Care Centre to take part in some arts and crafts with the residents; Year 2 have helped clean St Matthew’s Church; Year 1 have written poems and delivered planted bulbs to neighbours in our local area and Reception and Nursery have planted bulbs ready for Year 1 to deliver.
