INSET Day - 1 September 2025

At the start of every school year our staff come together for an INSET day that sets the tone and focus for the months ahead. On Monday 1 September the whole team gathered to reflect on our shared Christian vision and how it shapes daily life at St John’s.
 

We began by exploring our school’s Bible verse in its original context, thinking about what it meant for the first hearers and what it continues to mean for us today. It was a reminder that our Christian foundation is not just written on paper but is living and active, guiding how we teach, lead and care for one another.
 

Building on this we turned to our six school values: Honesty, Empathy, Respect, Inclusivity, Courage and Flourish. Staff reflected on how each value flows from our Bible verse and is expressed in the small everyday moments of school life. Together we asked: what does this look like in our classrooms, what does it sound like in our playgrounds, and what does it feel like for the children who come through our doors each day?
 

The conversations were practical and energising. We described what this looked like as calm, purposeful rooms and welcoming corridors. We captured what it sounded like as kind voices, clear expectations and brave conversations. We agreed it should feel safe, fair and joyful so every child is known, challenged and supported to thrive.
 

By the end of the session, we had re-centred ourselves on the foundations that make St John’s distinctive and set shared commitments for consistent practice across the school. We look forward to seeing these reflections lived out in the year ahead as we continue to nurture the potential in everyone.

Please see below the notes that the staff came up with on how we can live out each value within our School's Theologically Rooted Christian Vision. There is also a digital version too.