William Westley is a Church Of England School.

William Westley is a Church of England School which is part of the Diocese of Ely. Church school and academies serve the needs of all faiths and none and are open to children and parents from across the community regardless of background, perspective, religion or culture. They are not faith schools but community schools. They are however part of the Church’s mission to educate children in an environment that reflects our Christian values in the communities served. Church schools and academies are popular with parents of all faiths and none.

Church schools in Cambridgeshire are overseen, monitored and inspected via the Diocese of Ely.

Further information about the Diocese of Ely can be found here: https://www.elyeducation.org/main/

Links with St Mary’s and St Andrew’s Church, 

As a Church of England school, we have strong and meaningful links with the church, particularly our parish church of St Mary’s and St Andrew’s. Here we celebrate Harvest Festival and William Westley Day each year. The church supports the children to nurture a love of God and to encourage each child to ‘Let their Light Shine’.

Our School also has connections with our local URC Church, where we come together to celebrate at Christmas and Easter.

https://revoliviacoles.wixsite.com/whittlesford-church

https://www.urc-eastern.org.uk/contact-us/where-we-are

Throughout the year there are other occasions when the children visit the church, for instance to learn about the Church Building in RE and local History Projects.

The school Eco Club have also developed links with the Church to help develop nature projects within the Church Grounds.

The Church supports the school with its values of Kindness, Positivity, Self-Control, Celebration, Respect and Self Worth.

Other Links with the Church and Diocese

The school regularly takes part in the Bishop Stephen’s Lent Challenge, and other Diocese initiatives. Our Art Coordinator Mrs Shepherd  has led a variety of projects amongst which was to create  a large scale mural depicting the ‘Fruits of the Spirit.’

Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) Report 2016

The inspection in 2016 highlighted the many strengths of our school which contributed to its ‘Outstanding’ inspection grade:

• A clear emphasis is placed upon the children’s spiritual, social and cultural development via mechanisms such as the school council and Eco Council, both of which ensure that pupil voice is heard.
• The School encourages its children to grow in the ‘Fruits of the Spirit: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
• The children understand how important it is that they are encouraged to play a meaningful and responsible role within their local community as well as the world community through their charitable work and especially through their well-established links with the SOS Children’s Charity in Tlokweng, Botswana.
• Children talk enthusiastically about their RE lessons.
• The children say that they particularly appreciate the opportunities that they are given to be creative. The high quality, colourful displays throughout the school testify to the high standards achieved in this regard.

The full report can be read by clicking the link below.

https://www.elyeducation.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/william-westley-vc-2016.pdf