School Links with Church
‘Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ Matthew 5:16
The Three Schools provide a quality education within a caring Christian environment. We aim to create a happy, safe environment where children and adults can respect and value each other. We encourage our children to take pride in belonging to our school and all that it offers.
At The Three Schools, we don't hide our light - as shown in our motto 'With HONESTY, RESPECT, FORGIVENESS and LOVE, we persevere, succeed and shine.'
"Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15 -17.
By providing excellent learning opportunities, our aim is for each and every child to reach their full potential both academically and personally. All children at The Three Schools are encouraged and guided to become rounded individuals with an understanding of good citizenship, based on principles of truth, justice, courage, respect and tolerance. We want to create a sense of self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth in every pupil, as well as help each pupil to realise their own potential. In order to achieve this, we utilise children’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder and seek to help pupils develop lively and enquiring minds with a growth mindset and ability to apply themselves to tasks and the skill to interpret the world around them, whilst helping them acquire the knowledge and skills demanded by society in the adult world.
We recognise the importance of home, school, church and the local community working in partnership for the best outcome for our children. All staff endeavour to foster relationships with pupils which reinforce expected attitudes and behaviour in a friendly and caring way, enhancing the quality of school life for all. Promoting an understanding and tolerance of others and an awareness of the wider world ensures that children leave The Three Schools with a compassionate and open mindset. These aims are supported by a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum which is carefully structured to build on prior successes.
Our Church and Community Links
- St Swithun's Church (Swanbourne) - Swanbourne CE School
St Mary the Virgin (Mursley).- Mursley CE School
- Holy Trinity (Drayton Parslow) - Drayton Parslow Village School
At The Three Schools, we endeavour to build upon children's existing knowledge and understanding both academically and spiritually. We place great emphasis on the community and family spirit, our children enjoy regularly celebrating in the local Churches.
School governors, parents and members of the school community are invited to share in our regular celebrations at both churches at significant times of the year including; Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Leavers' Worship services.
Through our links with the Church we aim to develop the children's Christian beliefs and values whilst showing empathy for other religion, races and ways of life.
The 5 Parishes
The 5 Parishes is made up of the Benefice of Newton Longville, Mursley, Swanbourne, Little Horwood and Drayton Parslow. Situated in the Aylesbury Vale, North Bucks in the diocese of Oxford.
Reverend Yvonne Mullins is the Rector of the 5 Parishes and since October 2022, she has been a a regular visitor to our schools. She delivers half termly Collective worship to the whole school. She also visits classes to support the delivery of RE lessons or provide a different perspective within a specific topic including 'The Easter Experience' at St Swithun's Church and Mursley Church.
Our children also visit church for our Harvest Service (EYFS, KS1 and KS2), Easter Services (EYFS, KS1 and KS2), Christmas Service (KS2), Christingle Services (EYFS and KS1) and attend numerous events that we put on throughout the year, including; Christmas concerts and Leavers’ services to name but a few.
The 5 Parishes (www.5parishes.org.uk)
Milton Keynes Bridge Builder Trust (MKBT)
We have been lucky enough to receive outreach support from MKBT to support teachers with Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development and Christianity as a part of Religious Education. Everything they do is designed to be interactive, fun, inspiring and educational, using drama, games, group activities, personal reflection, stories, video clips and talks. All of the MKBT schools outreach support is inclusive and suitable for students and staff of all faiths and none.
Every half-term, the MKBT team deliver Collective Worship sessions to explore relevant issues that promote character development and social responsibility and help our pupils think about their own beliefs and Christian values, including; Respect, Choices, Generosity and Christian beliefs about Easter and Christmas.
Milton Keynes Bridge Builder Trust (www.mkbt.org.uk)
Local Community
We have been developed links with our local community as part of the Archbishop of York Young Leaders Award. The focus of the award was to support national charities and our local communities. Our Young Leaders have organised and undertaken different events throughout the year including bulb planting in Drayton Parslow Village, raising money for the Vale Wildlife Animal Charity. They work with the School council to invite the local community to come into our schools to enjoy either a morning or afternoon in our school. Previously, the local community has been invited to watch EYFS and KS1 Harvest Services, join KS2 for a Remembrance Service, watch the EYFS and KS2 Nativity performance and enjoy the KS2 Easter and Christmas services.
YLA Archbishop of York Youth Trust
Gambia Schools Project
As our vision is to let our light shine and show our good deeds, we believe it is important to support others who are less fortunate than ourselves. In recent years our schools have supported the Gambia Schools Project a Charity who have been raising money to build schools for local communities in Gambia since 2004.
We enjoy regular updates from John and Janet Mason who come into our schools sharing videos and photos to highlight climate and cultural differences between the children at The Three Schools and the children in Gambia, as well as how we have and can continue to support the building of schools in villages.
We also hold regular fundraising events and have further donation events planned for later in the year. The children love supporting this charity and it really helps demonstrate to the children that Christianity is a global faith where ‘showing our good deeds’ can really make a difference.
Please click on the link below to find out more about this amazing charity;