Courageous Advocacy

What is Courageous Advocacy?

Courageous advocacy is defined by the Church of England as “the act of speaking out against an issue of injustice, often on behalf of those whose voice is not heard.”

At Bentley St Paul’s, we are committed to nurturing children who are courageous advocates for positive change—both locally and globally. We teach our pupils the importance of helping others, regardless of their circumstances, by focusing on our Christian values, biblical teachings, and the study of other faiths and worldviews.

We encourage children to think critically, challenge injustice, and take an active role in creating a better world. Our core values of Friendship, Forgiveness, Trust, Peace, Wisdom, Responsibility, and Respect guide our actions and help shape a society where everyone can live well together.

Bentley St Paul’s is a vibrant Christian community where every child feels valued and supported. We recognise that each pupil is a unique individual, and our priority is to help every child reach their full potential. This belief underpins the positive ethos we uphold, as reflected in our vision and mission statement:

“Growing together in faith, love and trust, we will succeed.”

Through collective worship, RE lessons, and quiet moments of reflection, we explore the Bible to deepen our understanding of our Christian values and their relevance in our daily lives. Inspired by the example of Jesus, we aim to live out our faith by demonstrating love, trust, and faith in all we do.

By engaging with biblical principles and encouraging active participation in service and advocacy, we create a caring and supportive environment that fosters personal growth, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to making a difference in the world.

Jesus taught us the importance of standing up for those who are marginalised or overlooked. At Bentley St Paul’s, we encourage our children to reflect on His example and to develop their own sense of justice, empathy, and compassion.

Through PSHE lessons and the exploration of British values, we equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become active, responsible citizens. We aim to inspire them to speak up for others, challenge injustice, and make a positive contribution to their communities and the wider world.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. - Proverbs 31: 8-9

In recent years, we have actively engaged in fundraising initiatives to raise awareness of important issues and support organisations working for positive change. These efforts have included supporting:

• Sport Relief

• Comic Relief

• Children in Need

• The Brentwood Food Bank

• Kids Inspire

• Guide Dogs for the Blind

• PDSA

• Great Ormond Street

• St Francis Hospice

• The British Legion Poppy Appeal

Through these campaigns, our children learn the value of compassion, generosity, and social responsibility, recognising their ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

We want our children to develop a strong sense of community and a lifelong commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Our aim is to inspire them to connect with and care for both their local and global communities, taking meaningful action to improve the lives of others.

Some of the ways we support this include:

• Links with The Brentwood Food Bank, encouraging social awareness and compassionate service.

• Our School Council, which provides a platform for pupils to express their views, raise concerns, and suggest improvements, helping them develop leadership and active citizenship.

• School newsletters and social media, which are used to support local events and promote community information, strengthening the connection between school, families, and the wider community.

• Trust Ambassadors, encouraging the children to think beyond our own school community and work together for the best of all the children and families within the Trust.

• School Ministers, to take on responsibility through leadership roles within the last year of Primary School to encourage change and develop different aspects across the school.

• School Prefects, to show support and to be nurturing to younger children.

• Team Captains, encourages children to lead a group within the school to strive to be the best they can be and work together as a team. 

• Year 6 Parliament Visit, to gain an understanding of how our parliament works in this country and to understand democracy and the impact it has on people.

• Lesson time, through a variety of subjects children across the school explore both local and global issues, they create posters and persuasive writing, hold debates and discussions and explore different ways change for the better can be reached.  

• Anti-bullying week and Black History Month, children gain an understanding of the impact they can have on others around them and the changes they can make to ensure all are treated with respect.

• Remembrance Day, to consider the impact that conflict can have on the world.

• Celebrating School and Community members actions, as a school we recognise when someone does something positive to impact others, these include parents running the London Marathon for charity, children choosing to have their hair cut to make wigs for other children.