At St. Andrew's Southgate we have a love of learning and strive to nourish the God-given potential of each individual. We value our caring and prayerful Christian environment where children develop as critical thinkers with self-worth and resilience. We have joy in diversity and an ambition for our children to enhance their lives and the lives of others.
We are a one-form entry primary school and pride ourselves on providing a broad and stimulating curriculum whilst developing spiritual, moral, and cultural understanding in our pupils. Relationships between pupils and adults are excellent and we have a strong link with St Andrew's Church on Chase Side. St Andrew's School has been providing education for local children since 1863 and today there are 210 pupils on the roll, their ages ranging from 4-11.
As a Church School, every aspect of life at St Andrew’s is rooted in and imbued with the values we share as Christians. Although many values might help to describe the uniqueness of Christian life, we feel that six words most clearly speak of our shared vision to embody the love of Jesus Christ and to reflect the infinite value of each individual, and the potential for goodness and growth in God’s creation, as shown in the scriptures. Each year group has a particular focus on one value and has adopted a saint whose own life offers a helpful example of the value lived out.
We believe in the importance of quiet and reflective time, not only to enhance concentration but also well-being. We ensure that our collective worship and classroom time involves frequent spaces and moments for stillness, thought, and prayer. We recognize the need for antagonism to be resolved not just in consequences and resolution but in reconciliation and forgiveness. These elements allow a true “Shalom” or peace that includes a sense of being whole and complete. Our children are made aware of the need to pray for and work towards an end to war and violence throughout the world.
Being grateful can be important but we promote not just an inner feeling but an outward reaction to appreciating the life we are given and the opportunities placed before us. Children are taught that our response to people in need is a result of our gladness that we are blessed. We encourage one another to be joyful in all that we do and to support and take pleasure in each other’s gifts and talents.
We believe in a God who created all things. The children of St Andrew’s are shown and taught in countless ways how to care for and take responsibility for the environment around us. Children have the opportunity within the school to care for animals (including chickens) but also to tend and cultivate the earth in our mini allotments. Our whole school community is engaged with making the very most of our premises with parents and guardians regularly invited to take part in the maintenance or decorating working parties. But perhaps most importantly the children are helped to make the connection between succeeding and participating and God’s desire that we all use the gifts given to us in their fullness.
