Justice and Responsibility
“If the purpose of education is the promotion of life in all its fullness and human flourishing, then this must, by necessity, involve developing young people who can learn to flourish in every aspect of their lives – young people who can work for the flourishing of others and for the planet we share.” (Church of England ‘Courageous Advocacy’)
Courageous advocacy is defined by the Church of England as “the act of speaking out against an issue of injustice, often on behalf of those whose voice is not heard.”
At Leigh CE we encourage and support our children to become courageous advocates who believe that they can become ‘agents of change’ to strive towards a fairer and more joyous world. This means that they champion causes that are special and meaningful to them; connected to matters and concerns personal and close to home for them or linked to wider global issues.
It is important for our children to appreciate their role as part of a community; to take responsibility, to be able to look after themselves and foster an understanding of their importance, impact and influence in the world. We support our children to have opportunities to implement change and make a real difference to the world around them.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live in unity!
Psalm 133
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“Pupils are zealous in their drive to live out the vision and create a better future for others. They explore the actions of courageous advocates, both past and present, and use this as inspiration. What they see and hear drives them to make a positive difference, tackle social injustice and become agents of change. Several pupils are currently outraged by the effects of fly tipping near to the school. They arranged the removal of litter to prevent a resident in a mobility scooter having to drive around it into the road. Now they are taking further action, a letter requesting bins, to their local MP. For pupils, living out the vision by watching over the local and wider global community, is ‘just what we do’.” (SIAMS, June 2023) |
“Relationships are particularly strong at Leigh, fostered by the care each member of staff displays for every child. Pupils see and emulate this in their interactions with each other. For them, exemplary behaviour and polite conduct is so normal, they hardly give it a thought. They spontaneously demonstrate acceptance, love and care for their peers, value diversity and eagerly welcome new arrivals.” (SIAMS, June 2023) |
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