Vision 

Our vision is to build a community where great lives begin.

To develop learners who know who they are, respect themselves and others for who they are, to become confident, independent learners for life, knowing that mistakes will be made along the way. We strive to inspire pupils who will learn, grow and develop in faith, talents and skills. We nurture young minds to aspire to succeed and live confidently in an ever-changing society.  

Aims

• Our school will provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment where everyone will be inspired to do their best.
• Our pupils will be guided towards a loving relationship with God, through example, prayer and the teachings of Christ.
• Our pupils will be competent, independent lifelong learners, with high self-esteem.
• Our pupils will be confident and caring in their relationships with others in the school, and with the community at large.
• Our pupils will be creative and critical thinkers who will be able to respond positively and enthusiastically to the challenges of our ever-changing world.
• Our pupils will have a desire to contribute positively to society and to take responsibility for each other and the environment.

Ethos

We warmly welcome children from all faiths, as well as those from non-faith backgrounds. Together, staff, children, parents and governors, endeavour to make our school a safe, friendly place in which everybody feels valued.

Our approach is based on our core values, and we expect all children, staff and stakeholders (parents, carers and governing body members) to respect them.

We believe that every member of our community is a lifelong learner. Together, we can foster the hopes and dreams of our learning community. We believe that all learners have a right to be challenged and motivated to enable them to achieve their potential academically, personally, socially and emotionally.

As an inclusive learning community, we believe that every child does matter, and it is our duty to prepare our children for the challenges of the 21^st Century. Providing high quality learning experiences ensures children are equipped with the knowledge, skills and cultural capital to leave St Mary's Priory fully ready for the next chapter of their lives. 

Values

Our school values help define our community and enable every member of our school to prepare themselves for learning and life. Understanding each other and the remarkable talents we all have is essential to successful learning.

The following key values help prepare our children for life in modern Britain:

• Respect
• Tolerance
• Resilience
• Ambition

These values will help to build and develop our community. They align themselves with our two school rules: be kind; work hard.  The children at St Mary’s Priory will get to explore all these values and understand that we are all unique and wonderful. Understanding our differences enables us to work well together.  Understanding our potential enables us to aim high and achieve.

The staff of St Mary's Priory commit to:

• Nurturing the development of our children's Catholic faith through the teaching of the Gospel values within an environment where each individual is valued and respected.
• Developing the gifts and talents of all our pupils, so they are ready for the next stage of learning, and are able to achieve their maximum potential. 
• Ensuring all our pupils, regardless of their starting point, experience a high quality, balanced education which meets their needs and the requirements of the National Curriculum. 
• Managing the school's resources efficiently to ensure good value for money from the available funds.

Our Commitment to Staff:

• Foster and develop the highest standards of teaching through high quality professional development 
• Nurture and secure leadership talent to lead the future 
• Recognise and reward the commitment of all staff 
• Create and maintain a mutually supportive, collaborative and caring environment for all 
• Establish well-being and health as essential contributions to effectiveness at work. 

Our Equality Statement:

St Mary's Priory will take steps to advance equality of opportunity, foster good relations and eliminate discrimination or harassment across all the protected characteristics (age, race, gender, gender identity or reassignment, disability, marriage and civil partnership, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation) within the school community.