OUTSTANDING – CSI Report 5th May 2023
Diocesan inspection report said:
“Leaders and governors are inspirational in promoting the school’s mission. They are deeply committed and passionate and constantly support everyone. The school seeks to work well with the local parish and show a commitment to its mission. The school promotes parental engagement; they are highly supportive of developing their child’s vocation.
One parent commented, ‘The school’s ethos supports and reflects the Catholic faith. Christ is at the centre of everything that they do.’
Staff speak highly of the care and love that leaders demonstrate and told inspectors, ‘Our school promotes a love of faith which is engaging and inspiring for all our children. Our Catholic ethos is intrinsic in all that we say and do.’ There is an open-door well-being policy, and staff feel confident they can readily access support. One staff commented, ‘St Mary’s is a wonderful place where strong relationships are formed, and everyone is respected.’ Governors make highly significant contributions, effectively evaluating with rigour, analysis, and targeted improvement.”
OFSTED report said:
“There is a strong sense of pastoral care across the school, which reflects the school’s Catholic values.
Leaders promote pupils’ personal development well. They teach them how to be responsible, active citizens. Pupils raise money for charity or make donations to organisations in the local community.
Parents and carers value the opportunities available to their children. A comment made by a parent reflects the views of many others: ‘My child is not just learning academically, but also spiritually and how to be a kind and caring person.” OFSTED December 2022
Our Mission at St. Mary’s
The Catholic Life of the school is given the highest priority where the development of an authentic Catholic ethos is actively sought by all. Children are empowered to have a thorough understanding of the Church’s liturgical year, its seasons, rites and symbols. Within the school community, prayer has a profound and visible effect on the development of all pupils and staff irrespective of ability or faith background. As a school, we promote a love of faith; engaging and inspiring our children to take responsibility for promoting the Catholic ethos of our community whilst seeking to lead and develop this further. Developing a greater understanding of vocation is fundamental in giving our children a meaningful reason to live out their faith. Teachers ensure that children are provided with opportunities to develop their thinking and respond to questions of faith. Our school celebrates, develops and enhances the Catholic Life of our children and ensures our Catholic ethos underpins all that we do and strive to achieve.
Christ has no body on earth but ours.
Ours are the hands with which He heals.
Ours are His eyes, His feet, His lips.
Ours are the hearts through which He loves.
Teresa of Avila
Our Curriculum – Catholic Social Teaching Coverage
Our whole school curriculum is centred around the principles of Building the Kingdom and Catholic Social Teaching. In principle, this means bringing the unchangeable values of the Gospel into an everchanging modern society. Our curriculum and pedagogical approach provides our children with a foundation to make the world a better place. Our children realise that they are not too young to make a difference and that each individual’s unique vocation is not for the future but for now. All of the children’s learning leads them towards answering one of these Big Questions at the end of each learning block. Please see our ‘Curriculum’ page to view our overviews and find more information.
As part of our Catholic Life Pledge to care for God’s world, Nursery have been busy making minibeast hotels to help look after our environment!
Following on from our exciting World Environment Day visit from Rent-a-Beast, the children have been learning all about where minibeasts live and how we can protect their habitats.
We’ve been using natural materials to create safe and welcoming spaces for our tiny garden friends, showing love and respect for even the smallest of God’s creatures. 💚
Well done, Nursery — you’re truly living out our mission to care for our common home! 🙌🌿
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🕊️ Happy Pentecost from St. Mary's! 🕊️
This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, filling them with courage, wisdom and a deep sense of mission. It marks the birth of the Church and reminds us that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in our world today—guiding, inspiring and helping us live out the message of Jesus.
In school this week, our children have taken part in beautiful liturgies, reflecting on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit. They thought about how the Spirit helps us grow in love, joy, kindness, patience and peace—qualities that help us shine God's light in the world.
We join together now in prayer:
🙏 Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with Your presence.
Help us to use Your gifts with love and share Your fruits with others.
Guide us to be people of peace, joy, and faith, today and always.
Amen.
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To end our Multi-Faith Week, the children have taken part in a liturgy giving thanks for diversity and acceptance. It reminded us that we should be tolerant and can learn a lot from other religions and cultures.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught us to love our neighbor and to be peacemakers.
Help us to see Your image in every person, regardless of their faith.
Grant us the humility to listen, the wisdom to understand
and the charity to embrace others with compassion and respect.🙏
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🌍✨ Multi-Faith Week Showcase! ✨🌍
This week, our school community came together to celebrate Multi-Faith Week with a wonderful assembly showcasing everything the children have learnt about different world religions. It was a truly enriching experience for all!
Each year group explored a different faith:
🕌 Year 1 – Islam
✡️ Year 2 – Judaism
🕉️ Year 3 – Hinduism
🕌 Year 4 – Islam
☸️ Year 5 – Buddhism
🪯 Year 6 – Sikhism
We are incredibly grateful to all the visitors who generously shared their faith, stories and traditions with us. Thank you also to our amazing staff for organising such meaningful and unique learning opportunities.
This week was a beautiful reminder of the importance of understanding, respect and unity in our diverse world.
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Well done to our three RE Homework competition winners: Emily, Bethany and Joanna for their fantastic depictions of stories in Mary's life. They were truly beautiful representations with some thoughtful reflections on the scripture. #restm #catholiclifestm … See MoreSee Less
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Nursery have been celebrating their class saint, Saint Mary today. We have read bible stories and talked about Saint Mary, made a giant rosary, made blue icing biscuits, decorated Saint Mary with beautiful flower crowns and said a Hail Mary prayer.
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🌸 May Crowning 🌸
Thank you to all the children who took part in our May Crowning this morning. It was a truly special occasion, made even more meaningful by the presence of so many parents and parishioners.
It was a beautiful way to honour our patron saint and heavenly mother, Mary and to reflect on her example of faith, love, and humility. 💙🙏
Prayer to Mary
O Mary, our Mother and Queen,
we crown you with love and devotion.
Guide us always to your Son, Jesus.
Help us to live with hearts open to God’s will,
with kindness, humility, and peace.
Pray for us now and always. Amen.
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Beautiful, so sorry I missed it xxx
Thank you, it was so lovely and everyone did amazingly. Well done x
A reminder for our May Crowning tomorrow morning at 9:15am 🙏🌸 May Crowning Celebration – All Are Welcome 🌸
We are delighted to invite our school community to this year’s May Crowning, which will take place on Wednesday 21st May at 9:15am. This special celebration will be led by some of our wonderful Year 5 pupils.
The tradition of May Crowning is a cherished part of the Catholic faith, honouring Mary, the Mother of Jesus, during the month of May – a time traditionally dedicated to her. In this ceremony, we crown a statue of Mary with flowers, acknowledging her as Queen of Heaven and asking for her intercession and loving guidance.
👪 Parents, families and parishioners are warmly invited to join us for this prayerful occasion. Please arrive at the Stanier Street entrance, where a member of staff will be there to greet you.
Let us come together in faith and community to honour Mary, our school’s patron saint and ask for her blessings over all our children and families.
🙏 Prayer to Mary, Our Patron Saint
O Mary, Mother of God and our gentle Queen,
watch over our school and guide us each day.
Help us to follow your example of love, faith, and kindness.
Pray for us, protect us, and lead us closer to your Son, Jesus.
Amen.
We look forward to seeing you there! 💐
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🌸 MAY HALF TERM HOMEWORK PROJECT 🌸
This May half term, we are inviting our children to take part in a special homework project in honour of our Patron Saint — Mary, the Mother of Jesus 💙🙏
Each year group will focus on an important event in Mary’s life and create a beautiful artistic depiction of the story. You can use any materials you like — paints, tissue paper, card, crayons, felt tips, or even collage! 🎨✂️🖍️
Alongside your artwork, please include a short reflection:
How did this story make you feel?
How did those feelings influence your creative choices?
📖 Please see below for your year group's story and a helpful Bible link to guide your reflection:
EYFS – The Annunciation
🔗 www.goodnews.ie/annunciation.shtml
Year 1 – The Visitation
🔗 www.goodnews.ie/marysvisit.shtml
Year 2 – The Birth of Jesus
🔗 www.goodnews.ie/jesusisborn.shtml
Year 3 – The Presentation in the Temple
🔗 www.goodnews.ie/jesuintemple.shtml
Year 4 – The Wedding at Cana
🔗 www.goodnews.ie/marriage.shtml
Year 5 – At the Foot of the Cross
🔗 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019%3A25-27&version=GNT;NRSVUE
Year 6 – Pentecost (Mary with the Apostles)
🔗 www.bible.com/bible/296/ACT.1.14-26.GNBUK
📅 Please return all entries to Mrs. Wrigley by the first Monday back after half term.
🏆 A winner will be chosen from each year group and announced in our Celebration Assembly!
We can’t wait to see your wonderful creations that honour Mary, our loving and faithful Patron Saint!
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