Why Choose St. Mary's?

Six Reasons to Choose St. Mary's

❤️ We know your child
📚 We are ambitious for every child
🌳 We believe in learning through experience
🌍 We open doors to the wider world
🤝 We are a community
✨ We help children flourish

A school where your child can flourish

Choosing a primary school is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your child.

You want them to be happy. You want them to feel safe. You want them to make friends, discover what they are good at and develop the confidence to try new things.

But you also want them to receive an excellent education – one that gives them the knowledge, skills, character and confidence they need for the future.

At St Mary’s, we believe you should never have to choose between these things.

We want every child who walks through our doors to flourish – academically, socially, physically, morally and spiritually.

Our Christian vision is simple:

St Mary’s is at the heart of the community, with the flourishing of the community at its heart.

This is more than words on our website. It is the ambition we have for every child and every family who becomes part of our community.

🌟 A place where every child belongs

At St Mary’s, Belonging is one of our four core values.

We are proud to be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community where children are encouraged to be themselves, learn from one another and celebrate what makes each person unique.

We welcome families of all faiths and none. Our Christian character is an important part of who we are, but so too is our commitment to respect, understanding and inclusion.

We want your child to know:

“I belong here. I am valued here. I matter here.”

Our children are encouraged to listen to others, show kindness and respect, understand different perspectives and contribute positively to the community around them.

Because we believe that children learn best when they feel secure, valued and connected.

🎓 High expectations and a love of learning

We are an ambitious school.

We want every child to achieve their very best, whatever their starting point, interests or individual needs.

Our curriculum is carefully designed to build knowledge and understanding over time. Learning is not simply about remembering facts; it is about developing curiosity, asking questions, solving problems, thinking critically and becoming increasingly independent.

From the very beginning of their school journey, we focus on giving children strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics while providing a broad and inspiring curriculum that enables them to discover their interests and talents.

Our approach to reading includes the Little Wandle Letters programme, alongside a strong emphasis on developing a lifelong love of reading.

And because Ambition is one of our core values, we encourage children to set themselves high expectations and to persevere when learning becomes difficult.

We want them to leave St Mary’s thinking:

“I can do this. I can learn this. I can achieve this.”

🌍 Learning that goes far beyond the classroom

We believe that some of the most powerful learning happens when children experience the world for themselves.

That is why our curriculum is enriched with trips, visitors and experiences that bring learning to life.

Children have opportunities to visit places such as:

London
theatres and cinemas
libraries
local parks and woodland
the beach
places of worship
museums and other places further afield

Children in Years 3 to 6 visit London every year, giving them the opportunity to experience the capital and connect their classroom learning with the wider world.

We also provide opportunities through Forest School, outdoor learning, sport, performing arts, community activities and a wide range of extra-curricular experiences.

We want our children to have those moments they remember for years:

“I remember when we…”

Because childhood should be full of experiences, adventure and discovery.

❤️ We care about the whole child

Education is about far more than academic results. At St Mary’s, we nurture the whole child.

We want our pupils to develop:

knowledge and understanding
confidence and independence
resilience and perseverance
kindness and compassion
curiosity and creativity
a strong sense of right and wrong
the confidence to speak up
the ability to work with others

Our wider curriculum and everyday school life provide opportunities for children to develop communication, collaboration, problem-solving, empathy and resilience.

We also encourage children to become courageous advocates – to find their voice, stand up for what they believe is right and make a positive difference to the world around them.

We don't simply want children to succeed at school.

We want to help them become the kind of people who can make a difference.

✝️ A strong Christian foundation, with a welcoming heart

As a Church of England school, our Christian vision and values are woven through school life.

Our links with St Mary’s Church and the wider Diocese enrich our worship, spiritual development and understanding of faith. Children have opportunities to worship, reflect, ask big questions and explore what gives life meaning and purpose.

At the same time, we are an inclusive school that welcomes children and families from all faiths and none.

Our children learn about Christianity as well as a range of other world faiths and beliefs. We encourage them to ask thoughtful questions, listen respectfully and develop an understanding of the diverse world in which they live.

Our Christian values of love, compassion, respect and forgiveness help shape the way we treat one another.

🤝 A partnership with families

Starting school is a huge milestone – not just for your child, but for you too.

We understand that choosing a school can feel daunting, particularly when your child is starting Reception.

That is why we work hard to make the transition into St Mary’s feel positive, personal and reassuring.

Our Reception transition programme includes opportunities such as Stay and Play sessions, welcome meetings, meeting new classmates and teachers, Forest School experiences and opportunities for parents to meet staff and other families. We can also offer home visits where appropriate.

Once children join us, we want parents and carers to feel like part of our community too.

We use regular communication with families and provide opportunities to stay connected with your child's learning and school life.

Because we believe that children flourish when home and school work together.

🛡️ A safe and caring environment

Your child's safety and wellbeing will always come first.

Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility at St Mary’s, with a dedicated safeguarding team and clear systems for protecting children's welfare and wellbeing.

But keeping children safe is about more than policies and procedures.

It is about knowing our children.

It is about building trusting relationships.

It is about creating an environment where children feel confident to talk to an adult when something is worrying them.

And it is about helping children develop the knowledge and confidence they need to keep themselves safe as they grow.