CHRISTIAN VISION & VALUES
» AVA Christian Character Statement
» Flourishing Partnerships
» Berryfields Community Vicar
» Aylesbury Vale Academy Reflection Space
» Governor Link for Christian Character and Vision
» Useful Links
AVA CHRISTIAN CHARACTER STATEMENT
Our aim is to serve the common good by enabling the children, young people, and our wider AVA community to flourish through their experience of education and the opportunities we create. We strive to provide an education which prepares students with the best possible chances for their future, supporting them to discover their role in society, empowering them to make constructive life choices and enabling them to make a meaningful contribution in society.
As a community we have a Christian character that guides and influence us. Our ethos is rooted in a keen sense of moral purpose that exists to make outcomes better for the families we serve. Service to all is a critical expression of our Christian character. It is observed in everything we do as a school and is seen in our core values of RESPECT, ASPIRATION and RESILIENCE…
Our core value of RESPECT is underpinned by our belief in the worth of each student...
'God treats everyone the same,' he said.
'He accepts people from every nation. He accepts anyone who has respect for him and does what is right'.
Acts Ch10 v34-35
This compels us to work to enable every student to fulfil their potential so they might ASPIRE to experience a full life...
…real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
John Ch10 v10.
Finally, we foster student RESILIENCE welcoming the strength of God…
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Phillippians Ch4 v13. NIV Bible.
…and the encouragement of our community.
‘Let us be concerned for one another,
to help one another to show love and to do good'.
Hebrews Ch10 v24.
Flourishing Partnerships
Aylesbury Vale Academy is committed to fostering strong community links and over a number of years has developed partnerships with local faith and community organisations. We have positive working relationships with many including the Church on Berryfields, our local Mosque and Muslim community, the local Hindu community Aylesbury Youth for Christ and Berryfields Parish Council.
Church on Berryfields
In particular, the Academy is blessed through a strong working partnership with the Church on Berryfields and Revd Gareth Lane.
The Church on Berryfields holds weekly Sunday worship in our Primary Phase hall.
Revd Gareth Lane leads frequent assemblies and worship in both the Primary and Secondary Phases of the school.
The Church also supports AVA in many other ways including through the involvement of Gemma Moncada, their Family and Children's Worker. The church supports our students as they transition between phases, through engagement with families in times of crisis and by supporting our charitable and community links through events such as an annual Light Party on 31st October each year.
Click HERE to visit the Church on Berryfields website.
Berryfields Community Vicar – Revd Gareth Lane
Revd Gareth Lane serves as the community vicar for Berryfields, supporting both the local church and wider community, including families connected to the Academy and Berryfields Primary. His unique role helps build a vital bridge between church and community, offering pastoral and spiritual support to pupils, families, and staff, while also leading the development of a new church for the growing Berryfields population.
Gareth grew up in Kent and attended a Church of England secondary school. After school, he moved to High Wycombe to study a BTEC HND in Business Studies and IT. He shares:
“I was always interested in IT—it was probably the only thing I did well in at school. My BTEC helped me start on the IT career ladder, working on a helpdesk and later becoming a networking engineer. I eventually joined a small consultancy firm, working with large companies to develop their IT networks.”
While at college, Gareth became a Christian, beginning a journey that would eventually lead him to church leadership.
“I met my wife Jenny shortly after college, and we became increasingly involved in our church in High Wycombe. Over thirteen years, I found myself leading services and preaching, even helping to set up a service for people in their 20s and 30s. It gave me more of a buzz than designing networks, and I began to feel that God was calling me to full-time ministry.”
Gareth trained for two years in theology to become a priest, followed by a three-year curacy at Church of the Holy Spirit, Bedgrove. This brought him to Aylesbury, where he now calls home.
“Aylesbury has really grown on me—I now consider it home. It’s been exciting to work alongside the Academy and Berryfields Primary. Everyone is so friendly, and I’m here to offer pastoral care and help explore faith in the school context. I’ll be out and about, so please do come and say hello. I want to make myself available to people.”
We’re delighted to have Revd Gareth Lane as a supportive presence in our community.
Aylesbury Vale Academy Reflection Space
We provide dedicated Reflection Spaces for both students and staff. These areas offer a calm environment for quiet reflection, prayer, or meditation and are open to people of all faiths, beliefs, or those simply seeking a moment of personal contemplation.
To ensure the space remains welcoming for everyone, we ask that users maintain an atmosphere of respect and inclusion at all times. This means keeping noise to a minimum, leaving the room clean and tidy, and refraining from eating, drinking, or using mobile phones and headphones. The Reflection Spaces are available during lunchtimes, and all users are expected to respect the practices of others, sharing the area courteously and without disruption.
Governor link for Christian Character and Vision
Robin Scott - Chair of Governors
Useful Links
Oxford Diocesan Board of Education