‘To act Justly, to love with Mercy and to walk Humbly with our God – Micah 6:8’
At Ellesmere Port Church of England College we seek to build a community of faith where our students have the cultural capital to follow unlimited ideas and dreams. Above all else, we want our students to experience the fullness of life, where the sort of person they become is of paramount importance. To BE MORE is to be a community which aspires to act justly in all situations; to be kind towards those inside and outside the College; and to be open to God’s guidance in all areas of our lives.
To BE MORE is to be a community which aspires to act justly in all situations; to be kind towards those inside and outside the College; and to be open to God’s guidance in all areas of our lives.
Underpinning our ethos is our College vision “To act justly, to love with mercy and to walk humbly with our God”. (Micah 6:8) This, along with the Oscar Romero quote, ‘Aspire not to have more but to be more’ and our Moral Virtues underpins everything that we do.
We seek every opportunity to develop pupils understanding of Christianity and the Moral Virtues they extol.
The designated Senior Leader in charge of collective worship, ensures that all the community cares for people who have faith (or no faith), as well as nurture and develop the spiritual life of the school community through Christian living. This is central to our inclusive ethos at The Ellesmere Port Church of England College.
Collective Worship and various Christian celebrations are consistently marked within our calendar. Liturgical themes are reflected upon on a weekly basis and there are supported activities to enable form tutors to provide a daily act of worship during Academic Review time. Whilst parents do have the legal right to withdraw pupils from this does not mean that the pupils will be in any way exempt from the Christian ethos of the school which underpins the whole of our College life.
As a College we have extensive links within the wider community in order to actively seek to strengthen ties to existing churches and other agencies based locally, particularly St Thomas’ Church. This is done through the promotion of charitable causes and events that take place within the life of the school community to promote the living faith of Christianity in the Ellesmere Port area. Regularly pupils support the local Food bank and other local community events.
Pupil Voice
Moral Virtue and Spiritual ambassadors play a vital role as part of our wider pupil leadership team in helping to shape the spiritual life of the College. Regular meetings enable fresh perspectives to be given to collective and individual ways of worship and Christian living which help to impact the school and wider community. They also provide ways we can explore Spiritual growth for all pupils.
Prayer Spaces
We believe that our faith is not held in any one particular space but can be expressed throughout the whole school community. A prayer space is an interactive experience which encourages pupils to consider big questions and reflect on their responses to them or simply to be still and silent. Our Chapel, however, is at the heart of our building and is used by all pupils throughout the year to reflect and pray if they wish to do so.
Services and Collective Worship
As well as daily involvement in Academic Review (Form Time) and weekly involvement with Year assemblies / collective worship, we also have larger assemblies and services at key points in the Church year. These occasions help to mark and celebrate our Virtues and the liturgical year. It enables opportunity to promote enjoyment and involvement in the spiritual aspects of our school community.
Our annual Prayer Space Event is integral in supporting our pupils to consider the wider world around them and their place within the world.
Charitable Focus
There is whole school involvement in promoting charitable works locally, nationally and internationally and pupils engage with meeting representatives from charities and fund raising for them.
What is Prayer?
Prayer is simply us meeting God as we are. It is a journey that is ongoing throughout the whole of our lives. Prayer can be led but can also be a personal, private thought or reflection that pupils may have on a range of issues in life.
Creating a Space
It often helps to identify a particular space, and a particular time that you will use in which to pray; having a routine helps pupils to focus. The College Chapel is a facility that is also available to be used for reflections and acts of worship. Our annual Prayer Space event is integral in supporting out pupils to consider the wider world around them and their place within the world.
Being Still
Ask your pupils to sit comfortably and close their eyes and to simply be still. Being still and silent can at times be a really powerful way in which to reflect on ourselves and others.
Use Music
Music plays a part in most people’s lives and can be listened to on various levels, reflecting our thoughts and emotions. Music can also be used in our prayer lives in various ways. It is good to use a range of styles and to be prepared to use ‘secular’ and even popular styles, as well as specifically ‘religious’ music.
Using the News
Keep an eye out for relevant news items which provoke thought and discussion, linking to our Moral Virtues wherever possible. Help pupils to make connections between ideas and our own lives. Prayer should always be rooted in the reality of life.
Praying in Action
God can see as well as hear. Your actions can be a prayer.
Light a candle against the darkness – or blow one out to symbolise acceptance and trust. If you are new to teaching in a faith school, or if you need any resources or help, please contact our designated Senior Leader in charge of collective worship who will be able to offer assistance.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is a wider understanding of ourselves, others, the world and God. It is a connection to something that is bigger than ourselves that encompasses the following, allowing our pupils to spiritually flourish: Awe and wonder, suffering and challenge, asking big questions, stillness and reflection, advocacy and justice, creativity, beliefs and perspectives. All of this supports our pupils’ Spiritual Development.
What is Courageous Advocacy?
This is the act of speaking out against an issue of injustice, often on behalf of those whose voice is not heard.
Our College Prayer
We are fortunate enough to have a College prayer and ask you to say this with your classes at the beginning and the end of the day (period 1 and 5).
“We pray that our College be a place of great discovery, adventure and creativity, a community of people who aspire to be more rather than have more.
Where we value and respect one another, act and speak in ways that promote justice and kindness, where we have opportunities to learn about you.
In Jesus’ name. Amen”