Why Christian Education?

Many people ask, "What is the point of having a Christian School?" There are several important answers to this question. They are based on the Christian way of looking at the world and so some might disagree but the Church's historical role in education is a witness to the fact that it is a perspective that much of the Church has held over the centuries. Four of the most important are listed below.

1. Scriptural Mandate

Scripture requires parents to "bring up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord." The requirement to train children is given to parents and so it is they who should either do this themselves or see that it is done in a way that fulfils their biblical mandate. Mannafields exists as a parent controlled school so those parents can exercise their responsibility. Click 'Scriptures' on the menu for more detail.

2. Curriculum

Education is regarded as an exploration of the world and a preparation to function in it. But what world? The Christian has a particular view of what the world is. It is seen as having been created. It is seen as having been created as a revelation of who God is. Each part of it is seen as having some designed function and meaning. Because of these things, it is a world that is seen as having absolutes. These ideas are the bases of a Christian worldview and will affect the Christian's approach to the whole of education. On the side menu there are many policies to view. Mannafields policies are draw up through consultation with parents and draw on experience from other Christian schools. They should also be read in conjunction with the national 5-14 guidelines. Many of the policy pages are summarised. If you would like to make use or copy these policies please contact us for up to date or fuller copies.

3. Teachers

Education is more than just teaching facts. The Christian is given the biblical mandate of communicating spiritual and moral values to their children. The Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum paper on personal and social development states clearly the importance of educating the whole person in every area of the curriculum. It goes on to say, "teachers... must exemplify moral principles and virtues in order to elicit them from students." So for a Christian they will want to see their children being educated by those who exemplify Christian moral and spiritual values.

4. Ethos

The climate of the school is vital.
• Learning is something that will happen far more readily where a child feels safe and happy.
• In a supportive environment pupils can develop good ways of relating to other pupils, and dealing with the problems that they will come up against.
• Pupils will learn their value in an environment that holds people to be more important than things.
• A Christian school should allow children to see that good character is of greater value that academic ability and so teach them to use whatever ability they have in a positive manner.

In a Christian school the development and maintenance of a good school ethos is paramount. Click 'Ethos' on the menu for our 'Towards Christlike Behaviour' policy

Below are links to more information on the policies that we use as a school.