ST MARY'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
Personal Development
At St Mary's, we place great emphasis on personal development alongside academic progress. Our rich curriculum provides diverse opportunities for pupils to explore their interests, discover new talents, and grow into well-rounded individuals.
Through our core values, we nurture essential character traits like resilience, empathy and appreciation for individual differences. With many of our pupils having English as an additional language, fostering mutual understanding and celebrating our cultural diversity is paramount.
We ensure pupils understand fundamental British values such as democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and respect for different faiths and beliefs. Our RSHE curriculum equips them to navigate risks online and offline while building healthy relationships.
Personal development is woven through all aspects of school life at St Mary's. We empower pupils to develop confidence, independence and the skills needed to thrive in the next phase of their education and beyond as responsible, active citizens.
At St Mary's, our curriculum extends far beyond the National Curriculum requirements. We provide a rich tapestry of experiences and opportunities that punctuate the school day, week and year for all pupils from Reception to Year 6.
Our specialist club programme complements and enhances our core curriculum offering. It provides a broad array of activities led by our talented staff and external specialists. From Minecraft to netball, gymnastics to sewing, and art club to Mini Vinnies (our junior charity group), we aim to spark every child's passion and nurture their unique interests.
School staff share their expertise through clubs like coding, chess, choir and drama. We also partner with professional coaches and instructors to run sports clubs like football, dance, tennis and football. Our art, craft, and design technology clubs allow pupils to be creative.
The diverse club lineup ensures something piques every pupil's curiosity and allows them to explore new areas beyond the classroom setting. Participating in these activities fosters essential skills like teamwork, discipline and confidence in a fun, social environment.
Throughout the year, pupils across all year groups embark on engaging trips and visits carefully linked to our curriculum learning challenges. These immersive experiences deepen understanding and allow concepts to come alive.
We also welcome external speakers and facilitators to deliver interactive workshops and talks, exposing pupils to new perspectives and expertise. Wherever relevant, we tap into the local community and environment as a vibrant source of learning.
A particular highlight is our Year 6 residential trip, designed to build independence and resilience and foster new skills through outdoor adventure. By experiencing different contexts outside their routines, pupils gain invaluable life lessons that prepare them for future transitions.
Our comprehensive programme of educational visits, along with in-school enrichment activities, provides pupils with many rich encounters that spark curiosity, create lasting memories and instil a lifelong love of learning.
PE, Sport and Healthy Living
At St Mary's, we are committed to promoting active lifestyles and providing diverse sporting opportunities. Our comprehensive extracurricular programme allows pupils to represent the school in various competitive sports through dedicated squads and teams. From football and netball to athletics and gymnastics, we nurture pupils' talents and instil the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and healthy competition.
Alongside competitive pathways, we offer engaging physical activities purely for enjoyment, such as dance, yoga and outdoor adventure clubs. These foster physical and mental well-being while teaching lifelong skills. We aim for every child to discover an activity they love and develop habits supporting an active, balanced lifestyle.
Music Enrichment
We believe music nurtures creativity, discipline and cultural appreciation. That's why we provide extensive opportunities for musical exploration beyond the classroom. Pupils can learn to play instruments like piano, guitar, drums and violin through our visiting peripatetic teachers.
Our choir and music ensembles allow budding musicians to develop their skills while experiencing the joy of collaborative performance. From festive concerts to community events, pupils showcase their talents while building confidence and camaraderie.
By immersing pupils in diverse physical pursuits and musical experiences, we nurture well-rounded individuals prepared to lead fulfilling lives.
Nurturing Young Leaders
At St Mary's, we believe in empowering our pupils to take on meaningful leadership roles from an early age. We provide a range of opportunities for pupils to develop essential skills like communication, organisation, and responsibility while positively impacting our school community.
Our Chaplaincy Team and Mini Vinnies group allow faith leaders to arise, planning liturgies and spearheading charitable initiatives that exemplify our Catholic ethos and values.
Pupil voice is championed through our School Council and Eco Council, where young ambassadors represent their peers, advocate for improvements, and drive environmental consciousness.
Our Year 6 Buddies act as role models, mentoring younger pupils and assisting them during breaks and lunch periods. Sports Leaders encourage active lifestyles by organising games and activities.
Digital Leaders harness technology skills to support teachers and peers, ensuring we integrate educational technology effectively.
Through these varied leadership pathways, pupils gain confidence, learn to collaborate effectively and develop a sense of ownership and pride in their school. We nurture the leaders of tomorrow equipped with invaluable skills for future success.