Courageous Advocacy

All members of the school community demonstrate Christian compassion and concern for justice in local, national and global settings.

SIAMS Inspection, December 2019

What is courageous advocacy?

Courageous advocacy is the act of speaking out and taking social action against issues of injustice, often on behalf of those whose voice is not heard.

At Christ Church CE Primary School, we place a strong emphasis on encouraging our children to become courageous advocates for the common good, locally, nationally and globally. We recognise that life is full of ups and downs and that at times all people will face challenges that they need help and support in overcoming. We teach our children that it is important to help others when we can, no matter who they are, where they come from or what challenges they may face.  The Christian gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not. We hold and courageously advocate the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.

Our Christian values of Community, Hope,  Resilience, Integrity, Service and Thoughtfulness ensure that opportunities to discuss the big issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present. 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 to foster an understanding of their importance, impact and influence in the world.

Who are our class courageous advocates?

At Christ Church CE Primary School our Christian Vision states that, "With God, all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). These words inspire the whole school community to believe in change for the better and engage in social action and to be courageous advocates for the common good in the local, national and global community.

To have a secure understanding of what courageous advocacy is, each year group explores a person across the globe, both past and present, that has faced injustice and overcome barriers in order to help others, instigate change and make a difference through their actions. These people are all wonderful and inspiring examples of courageous advocacy.

Each year our children choose their own special courageous advocate to learn about and create a class display telling others in the school community about what they have learned; their reflections on the injustice these courageous advocates have faced and how they changed the world for the better.    

How do we show courageous advocacy?

At Christ Church, we understand that life can be challenging at times and that all people, including friends, family and global citizens will face difficulties that they need help to persevere with in order to overcome them. We have a long tradition of supporting charities and aim to inspire courageous advocacy and instil our Christian values in our school community by participating in, as well as organising, fundraising to benefit a wide range of causes, including locally, nationally and globally.  Some of these include:   

Within the community, our school is a beacon of light where we stand up for what we believe in.  Our Christian Values (Community, Hope, Resilience, Integrity, Service and Thoughtfulness) and British Values (Rule of Law, Tolerance, Democracy, Mutual Respect and Individual Liberty) ensure that opportunities to discuss current world issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present. Such as: 

Our children have an excellent grasp on the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging.  Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embrace a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it through a range of projects and initiatives including: