Thank you for taking interest in our school and I hope you will find the information on our website helpful and of use.

St Mary’s is a voluntary aided, mixed Catholic 11-18 Comprehensive School and Language College serving North East Derbyshire.

We are a thriving, highly successful and over-subscribed school with a long and well established reputation. Indeed, our record of academic achievements is outstanding, with examination results consistently well above the national average.

The aim of the school is to help everyone in the school community to grow in faith and to make the most of their innate ability. The culture and ethos of the school is one where we all have high expectations of one another, we recognise that everyone learns differently and that making mistakes and taking risks are both part of learning.

We are a school where each and every child is loved and valued in having a divine origin and an eternal destiny. Our students are wonderful, they are our ambassadors: hardworking, friendly, fun to be with and genuinely pleasant and polite young people. They are supported by an outstanding team of staff who are united in encouraging and challenging all our students to be the best they can be.

Catholic schools do not exist to take full responsibility for the growth of our young people, parents are the first educators and the school has the duty to support parents in their task. Your children are precious to you and they are precious to us. We recognise that you, as parents will expect the very best for your child. At St Mary’s, you will find excellent opportunities for your son or daughter to achieve far beyond their potential. Our children leave us well equipped for their adult lives ahead having experienced a challenging and enriching learning environment.

There are many aspects of life which are important for our children, not just exam results, but also human wholeness, laughter, fun, caring for others and spirituality. These qualities will remain with them for the whole of their lives if nurtured in the right way in our school. At St Mary’s our extra-curricular activities are an essential part of a young person’s development and all students are encouraged to profit from the wide range of activities on offer. Whatever their talents and abilities they will have opportunities to succeed. Different children have different abilities and aptitudes. Many may not know what their own are when they join us simply because they may not have been given the opportunity to find out. I see our role as helping to provide those opportunities, developing talent and celebrating achievement (academic and non academic).

You will find our school friendly and inviting. If you pay us a visit you will be met with courtesy and politeness from students and staff alike. We try to put our mission as a Catholic School into practice every day in the way we treat others.
I am extremely proud to be Headteacher of St Mary’s RC High School. I believe we are an excellent school. As you read through our information I hope you will realise this yourselves.

If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.

Sean McClafferty
Headteacher