As we pursue our vision, we rely on our culture of togetherness where we actively seek to serve one another. We learn together through a broad, challenging curriculum. We grow together in faith, wisdom and character. We struggle and face challenge together. We celebrate and succeed together. We shine together, enacting positive change at a local, national and global level.

We strive to build a culture of service. The leadership of Jesus was characterised by service – the washing of the disciples’ feet at the last supper provides a powerful image of the sort of servant-leadership that defined Jesus. At Parbold Douglas, we seek an ecology of service where every member of our community is both servant to others and served by others.

Service is powerful. By serving others, we empower them, enable them and energise them.
Service builds trust. It brings people together. It equips people to achieve, excel and grow!

Service is good for us. When we serve others, we flourish, we have a purpose and we grow in wisdom.

Ultimately, we serve children by seeking the best for them (and of them) every day: providing a safe environment; providing an opportunity to meet with Jesus; providing a world-class curriculum with excellent teachers; taking a deep interest in their lives; and by giving them the opportunity to serve others and to serve society.

During the Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses a crowd and reveals eight blessings (known as The Beatitudes). He then goes on to explain:

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16

As a Christian school family, we take great encouragement from the words "you are the light of the world"; this reveals to us that Jesus, who himself tells us "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), is within all of us. We are all God's children and are called to "give glory" to our Father in heaven through our "good works". This reminds us of the importance of our actions. Our actions allow us to let our light shine. Our actions allow us to share the light of Jesus with those around us, transforming society and enacting positive change.

The words "a city built on a hill cannot be hid" have particular relevance for us as our school, and our parish church (Christ Church Parbold), are both, literally, on the side of a hill. We want our school and church to be beacons that shine far and wide, transforming our region with the light of Jesus. 

As a school community, we seek to live by our Christian values. Pupils are supported to develop their understanding of these values through collective worship, through our curriculum, through our extra-curricular provision and through our approach to supporting excellent behaviour. 

If we are to be successful in our the pursuit of our ambitious vision, we need to provide a values-based education. 

Our values are:

The Department for Education states that there is a need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014. Our school supports the identification of a clear set of values that promote a culture where every member of the human family is valued and respected within an inclusive, harmonious, loving society. 

The social, moral, spiritual, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils is a priority. This can be seen across our website, within our vision, our curriculum, and our commitment to an exceptional extra-curricular offer. 

At Parbold Douglas CE Academy, British values are incorporated across our curriculum and reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded in our school. Our pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and regular questionnaires. They are often asked to vote for activities or individuals to represent them.

The rule of law

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Our school has rules which are deeply embedded in our work every day and encompass our Christian values. Each class discusses and displays the school rules which are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every pupil is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Details about school rewards and sanctions, choice and consequences are detailed in our behaviour policy.

Individual liberty

Within our school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment, an empowering education and a curriculum based upon clear Christian values. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our Computing and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through the choice of challenge; of how they record or of participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities, our pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual respect

Respect is one of our core values and key to our school rules and it is deeply embedded in all that we do at the school. Our pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. Our children also value the importance of respecting God’s world. The core value of respect at Parbold Douglas CE Academy underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith

Our core value of respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. Parbold Douglas CE Academy enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies following the Blackburn Diocese scheme; PSHE work, visits to places of worship, welcoming visitors of other faiths, respecting and the different faiths and beliefs of our own members of staff and enjoying in-depth of study during themed weeks. Through this our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.