Life in our Church School
Christian values and beliefs permeate everyday life and underpin the life of our school. This includes having God at the centre of many aspects of our daily practice, including the classroom/school environment, collective worship, relationships with pupils as well as in our daily lessons. As a Christian school, our Religious Education enhances these values and promotes deeper understanding. Our Christian character aims to' nourish those of faith, encourage those of other faiths and to challenge those of no faith,’ (Archbishop Runcie).
Although we are a Christian school, we respect all children’s and parents' values and beliefs. We welcome families of different faiths and cultures to our school.
St Andrew’s church
At The Royal Kent School, we are incredibly fortunate to have a close and supportive relationship with St Andrew’s Church, which plays a vital role in the life of our Church of England school. The partnership between the church and school enriches our community in many ways, helping to nurture both the educational and spiritual growth of our pupils. You can visit the St Andrew's website to find out about this vibrant church and its brilliant work in the community by clicking here.
Reverent Patrick Davies is not only the vicar at St Andrew’s but also a school governor and parent at RKS, and he plays an important role in guiding our school. His involvement as a governor brings a unique perspective to decision-making, helping to ensure that our school’s values align with the spiritual and moral well-being of our children. As a parent, he understands the needs and aspirations of our families, making his contributions even more meaningful. Patrick has recently been highly involved in work to renew the school’s long term vision, alongside the governing body.
Each week, volunteers from St Andrew’s come into school to lead the extremely popular ‘Open The Book’ assemblies. These gatherings are an important time for our children to reflect, listen to stories from the Bible, and think about the values that shape our lives. The volunteers bring warmth and joy to these sessions, and we are always grateful for their time and dedication!
It goes without saying that the church itself is also a wonderful resource for us! Throughout our pupils’ time at school, St Andrew’s will be the place they visit most when at school. Throughout the year, we hold special services at St Andrew’s, whether it’s for Christmas, Easter, or Harvest. The church provides a beautiful setting for these important moments, and it’s a place where the whole school community - pupils, parents, and staff - can come together. Further enrichment takes place in the form of 'reflection days' at the festivals of Christmas and Easter.
A particularly special event is our beginning of Reception ‘Welcome to RKS’ service, a wonderful opportunity to induct pupils and parents into the school and church community, where the Year 6 ‘Big Buddies’ present their Reception class ‘Little Buddies’ with a bible. This special event is reversed at the end of the summer term, when once again the two classes head over to the church, but this time the Little Buddies provide their elder counterparts with a leavers’ bible, as they prepare to embark on their journeys to secondary school!