Catholic Ethos and Values

Our Ethos

The Governors and staff are strongly committed to building and strengthening the Catholic ethos of the school. Underlying our teaching and our relationships are the Gospel Values of Unity, Respect, Joy, Love and Courage. Our aim, within this context, is that all members of our community show respect and care for one another and extend their concern to the needy by prayer and charitable service. We place a great emphasis on home, school and parish links.

The school strives to build on the foundations of faith started from the home and seeks to provide an environment where beliefs and values of the Catholic faith are taught, explained, developed and nurtured.  Our School is a place where each child believes in their own potential, in an environment where they can succeed and achieve. 

Our School Values – written by St Mary’s Pupils

Unity

At St Mary’s we think that unity means working well together to make a strong, happy team. We show unity by gathering together regularly throughout the week in class, the playground and around the school.

Respect

At St Mary’s we respect each other in many different ways such as helping each other and compromising with each other. If we respect others, we receive respect.

Joy

At St Mary’s we always try to have fun and be joyous – we have fun, we smile and we enjoy coming to school to see our friends and learn new things. Joy comes from many things, including courage because when we find something hard and then succeed we can find joy. When you give joy, you receive joy – this helps us to spread it around school.

Love

At St Mary’s we think love means sharing and caring for others. We follow the example Jesus taught us by loving our neighbours. We believe that love is something that we can all be proud of, is very strong and never lets you down. If we love others, we receive love.

Courage

At St Mary’s we try to be courageous in all that we do, following the example of Jesus. We always try to have courage, whether this is in trying something again, carrying on when we are hurt or trying something new. We believe that courage isn’t just climbing cliffs or diving into an ocean, but persevering and trying something, even if you don’t think you can do it.

Our School Rules

• Be kind

• Be respectful

• Be safe

• Be ready