Every student belongs to one of six houses with an individual form tutor to support their learning and welfare. Attached to each Year group is a Head of Year who closely monitors the progress and welfare of the whole cohort. Any worries, concerns or problems students have should be shared straight away with the form tutor as these matters can normally be quickly resolved or referred on to the Head of Year to help. Students meet with their tutors at least twice a day during registration periods and tutors often make themselves available at other times in order to offer support.
We expect our students to work hard and to be as fully involved with school life as possible. There are many opportunities within and beyond the curriculum to pursue and maximise sporting, musical, artistic, dramatic and linguistic talents and interests (and many more see extra curricular links opposite). At St Mary’s we like to reward students’ achievements by our system of good slips, merits and certificates to acknowledge excellent effort both inside and outside the classroom.
We expect high standards of behaviour from all our pupils because we believe everyone has the right to learn in a supportive environment. Alongside these rights come responsibilities and rules. Our school rules are there to support all our students fulfil their God given potential and maximise their success whilst at St Mary’s. They also show our commitment to the Every Childs Matters Agenda to ensure the safety, health and well being of every student in our community.
At St Mary’s “we are committed to enabling all our young people to become:
• Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
• Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
• Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.
…In order to uphold a society where all children and young people achieve their full potential and where the momentum of success, enjoyment and learning continues into their adult lives.”
(Overall aims of the new Curriculum QCA)
Above all at St Mary’s we strive to encourage our students to embrace their mission statement so that our young people do learn to live love and learn in the light of Christ; and that this desire remains throughout their life at the heart of their very being.
In this way we hope to work together with all our families, feeder schools and wider community to bring alive Cardinal Hume’s vision to produce:
“Young people who are more alive human beings because they have been taught and experienced something of the love of God.” (Cardinal Basil Hume).