Living Life to the Fullest - JOHN 10:10B

"Pupils appreciate how adults arrange experiences they have never tried before"

OFSTED December 2021

Everything we do here at St. Francis embodies our Parish meta-narrative - JOHN 10:10B  'living life to the fullest', which encompasses and asks us to reflect deeply about how we might best live our lives so they are the richest they can be and hold the greatest meaning for us. 

When we are living our lives to the fullest we have a healthy internal dialogue both emotionally and physically.  We are creating something richer, deeper, more meaningful and longer lasting so our St. Francis children leave us with a wise and generous spirit.

We do this in many ways, one of which is through our ambitious and personalised curriculum which supports every child (particularly those who are most disadvantaged or who have additional needs) and encourages them to learn deeply.  We focus on developing the whole child, their skills, knowledge, attitudes and interests with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to be successful throughout their lives.

To ensure our children are living their lives to the fullest wherever possible, learning is grounded in real life experiences providing children with the the opportunity to broaden their horizons.  This is achieved through outdoor learning and by embracing a variety of local community and school projects.  

One project we have been particularly privileged to have been involved with is the Oxford Homeless Project, a voluntary run Muslim community project with the aim of serving the homeless in Oxford. One of our parents started the initiative after giving out food to the city’s homeless during the month of Ramadan. It was a truly valuable experience for the children demonstrating to them that, given the opportunity to give to others, we are able to recognise that whatever our situation, we are all just the same.  We received some great coverage in the Oxford Mail which you can read about here:  https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18033216.meals-project-homeless-celebrates-fourth-birthday/

Another example is the Oxford Leider Project which we were recently invited to be involved with.  The project gave every child from reception to year 6 the opportunity to work alongside a professional opera singer, composer and musician in a project entitled "Connections Across Time". They were also given the chance to perform their song in the festival virtually, providing a real sense of achievement for them all.