At St. Mark’s we believe that every child is loved by God. This means that we strive to ensure that every child is given the opportunities and support they need to reach their maximum learning potential within a safe, caring, and welcoming environment. This is at the root of our Mission Statement and Aims.
St Mark’s School was founded on these strong Christian principles, more than one hundred years ago, to provide a good education to local children. Today we still give priority to those who live in the locality (defined by the parish of St Mark). However we also believe that God welcomes all, and therefore we encourage applications from children and families from any faith or none who wish to share in our loving community where the Christian faith helps us develop children’s values and support their well-being.
The values we promote within the school are drawn from the Bible. We believe these Christian values will help children become better people throughout their lives and we celebrate the fact that these values can be shared by all regardless of religious belief.
We are very proud of our Christian Ethos and we draw strength and inspiration from the diversity of our school community. We believe that both help us to offer a unique and special environment in which children can grow. These are just some of the many aspects of school life that make our community special: -
- Collective Worship
- Religious Education
- Working with St. Mark’s Church
- Class Friends
- Prayer Spaces
- Parent Prayer Group
- Charity Fair
To ensure that as a school we offer the very best distinctively and effective Christian environment the Church of England, through the Diocese of Rochester, regularly monitors the school’s distinctively Christian Character. To do so it uses the National Society's framework for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005.
SIAMS inspections take place every 3-5 years.
The school, with support from the governors, ensures that we are meeting the criteria for this inspection through the very best Christian Leadership.
Grounded in Christian faith and worship, St Mark’s C of E Primary School is:
- A caring community welcoming of all
- Dedicated to high standards of achievement and behavior
- Where learning is enjoyable and rewarding
- And the gifts and abilities of every child are recognized and nurtured.
St. Mark's is a welcoming school where we create a loving, caring community in which children are encouraged to achieve their academic potential and grow in confidence, assurance, and consideration for others as they learn about themselves and the world in which they live. At the same time, we aim to develop a spirit of adventure and inquiry so that children may meet the opportunities and challenges in our changing society.
At St. Mark’s school, we strive to create a loving, caring community reinforced by the teachings of Christ. We follow St. Paul’s advice to the Colossians. As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly teach one another in all wisdom and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. From this, our school reading, we take the values of:
- Fellowship
- Compassion
- Kindness
- Humility
- Gentleness
- Patience
- Forgiveness
- Love
- Peace
- Thankfulness
- Wisdom
These values are promoted across the school by all children and adults, in all that we do in our classrooms, outside them, and throughout our wider community. They reinforce our relationships and our behavior. They help us to create confident, self-assured children who know how to treat others, as well as establishing a sense of community that is demonstrated by the life-long friendships formed here.
The Aquinas Church of England Education Trust offers a clear educational vision of ‘Life Transforming Learning’ for the local communities we serve within the Diocese of Rochester. Formed through a partnership between primary and secondary phases, we offer an unparalleled understanding of the whole child’s educational journey, mindful of both academic achievement and personal development.
We are proud that each school in the trust is distinctive in its own right guided by the children, families, and professionals who form the learning community. What brings us together is our distinctive Christian ethos that ensures that everyone is equally valued as a child of God. Our schools are truly inclusive – we welcome all children regardless of background or belief.
Aquinas sets the highest standards for all our children without exception. We are committed to providing exemplary teaching across all our schools and challenge professionals to work ‘beyond outstanding’. Whilst we celebrate excellence we move quickly to respond to the needs of individuals and close gaps with personalized provision. Professionals can access a broad range of experience and expertise ensuring good practice is developed between schools.
As an education trust, we empower school leaders to grow their schools. In this way, we ensure the most appropriate provision in every school on a day-to-day basis whilst delivering innovative teaching and exemplary pastoral care. At the same time, we offer strong governance that supports and challenges in equal measure in a relentless pursuit of the highest standards and continual improvement.
