Why is it called 'Christ the Sower'?

It comes from one of the many brief but intriguing stories that Jesus was famous for. He tells of a farmer who was sowing seed on his land. No efficient machines in those days, of course. Seed was scattered by hand. The story goes that some of the seed fell on the path, some on stony ground, some among weeds. Little came of it. But some fell on good soil and produced a harvest beyond the farmer's dreams. Over the years people came to identify Jesus with the sower who found the rich soil where the seed could grow and flourish. Even later, someone painted an icon portraying the story.

The name 'Christ the Sower' was chosen because, through its origins in this story, it speaks about growth and transformation. We think our school is about both of these, providing a rich environment where children - and adults, too - can grow and flourish. There's also an agricultural link. Our site in Grange Farm was, not so long ago, producing crops on good North Buckinghamshire soil. Some of the people who lived and worked there, and who had to leave when Milton Keynes was built, still live in the area. Through the name, we remember the sacrifices that people had to make to turn the planners' dreams into reality.

The story lives on. We are finding many different levels of meaning in it. We're hoping that an artist will work with our children to explore the images contained in it and that the design for a special window will emerge.