Our Vision and Values

Our Aims

• To nurture compassionate and resilient individuals who embody the values of kindness, courage, and community, enabling them to contribute positively to the world.
• To foster a love of learning and personal growth in a safe and respectful environment where every pupil is encouraged to strive for excellence and achieve their dreams.
• To inspire pupils to live out Christian values in their daily lives, promoting faith, hope, and love as a foundation for making a meaningful difference in their community and beyond.

Our Vision

“Living by our Christian Values: Together in Faith, Hope and Love”

At Horbury Bridge Academy, our vision is rooted in Christian values and inspired by the heritage of our local community. This vision reflects our belief that every pupil is a unique and valued part of one family of God, and that by working together, we can make a meaningful difference in the world.

Our vision takes inspiration from the words of Rev’d Sabine Baring-Gould, curate of Horbury Bridge, who in 1864 wrote the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers. This hymn, created specifically for the children of Horbury Bridge, was intended to feed their spirit and instil determination to live out Christian values as they marched to their mother church in Horbury.

The hymn draws from significant Bible passages:

• 1 Corinthians 13:13: Highlighting unity in faith, hope, and love: “We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.”
• Ephesians 6:13-18: Emphasising living by Christian values, symbolised as the “armour of God”: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and prayer

This vision continues to reflect our commitment to the community and parish, and it underpins our ethos of fostering a spirit of togetherness and service.

How Our Vision Evolved

The development of our vision was led by Year 6 pupils, who explored our school’s heritage and the significance of Onward Christian Soldiers. Through thoughtful discussion and collaboration, they concluded that this hymn encapsulates the essence of our school and their own experiences as pupils.

They shared their findings and ideas through letters to the Headteacher and Governors, classroom discussions, and dialogue with the church community. This collaborative process has left a lasting legacy, giving us a vision that is not only rooted in Christian teaching and historical heritage but also aligned with the daily life of our school community.

Our Values: Living Our Vision Every Day

Our vision is brought to life through our core values: Kindness, Courage, and Community. These values guide our daily actions and underpin every aspect of school life.

• Kindness: Encouraging compassion and understanding, ensuring everyone feels valued and respected.
• Courage: Inspiring resilience, determination, and the confidence to take on challenges and grow.
• Community: Promoting a sense of belonging and working together to achieve shared goals.

Embedding Our Values into School Life

Our values shape the culture and practices of Horbury Bridge Academy and are central to how we celebrate and reward achievements:

• Team Points: Encouraging teamwork and recognising collective success.
• Above and Beyond Bands: Celebrating exceptional effort and contributions.
• Star of the Week: Honouring pupils who exemplify our values in their actions and attitudes.
• Class Recognition Boards: Celebrating collective achievements and reinforcing positive behaviour within each class.

These values also underpin our three school rules:

• Ready: Encouraging pupils to be prepared and willing to engage positively.
• Respectful: Instilling respect for oneself, others, and the environment.
• Safe: Prioritising safety and wellbeing in all that we do.

Through our vision, values, and the practical ways we live them out, Horbury Bridge Academy remains committed to nurturing pupils who are prepared to make a positive impact on the world, rooted in faith, hope, and love.

Our Heritage

The first school in Horbury Bridge began on St Catherine’s day, November 25th, 1864 when Canon Sharp of St Peter's Church, Horbury, sent his new Curate, the Rev’d Sabine Baring-Gould, to provide Christian teaching and worship at the recently-formed community at Horbury Bridge ('The Brig').  The school was set up as a church-based school, in the upstairs room of one of the houses just round the corner from our present site. It was known as The Brig Mission. 

In the following year, after buying a plot of land, Sabine founded a new mission church and school – this building still stands and is now part of the present school site.  

                       The Brig Mission-then and now

Baring-Gould was most famous for composing the hymn ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ for the children to sing as they marched up Quarry Hill on their way to St Peter’s Church on Whit Sunday. We are proud of this wonderful legacy: our hymn has become famous throughout the world. 

To commemorate our 150th anniversary as a church school, we commissioned a stained glass window which is installed above the main entrance door and blessed  by the Bishop of Pontefract in a special school service.
The design of a cross, with rays of light shining out behind and circled by the crown of thorns, symbolises 'Jesus the Light of the World'. The cross and background include our school colours of green and blue.