St Marys Catholic Primary School

Great Eccleston

St Marys Road,
Great Eccleston,
Preston,
PR3 0ZJ
Tel: (01995) 670364

Our Mission
-Aims, Objectives and Strategies

Revised April 2006

St Marys Catholic Primary School, Great Eccleston

Our Mission
Our Aims, Objectives and Strategies
Foreword
This Mission Statement, together with the schools Aims and Objectives, is an attempt
to indicate all presently involved with the school, and to potential candidates for
involvement with the school, what the school sees as its priorities at the present time.
These priorities should be viewed as areas in which it is hoped that results can be
achieved.
This document also includes intermediate objectives as well as Strategies to facilitate
their achievement, and which might be looked upon as performance indicators.
Regular evaluation, review and development will clearly be necessary if the school is
to sustain its distinctive development.

St Marys Catholic Primary School

Great Eccleston
Our Mission Statement
We, at St Marys, see Christ as the foundation of the whole educational process. Thus:
Our approach to the education of the children and the policies employed by
the school are inspired by and come naturally from our faith tradition.
We see God as the focus of the whole learning process, and the coming to
know Him and His creation as the goal of the whole curriculum.
We strive to ensure that the school is Catholic in the broadest sense of the
meaning of the word.
We see all that happens in our school for example our priorities, aims,
objectives, our relationships, curriculum, discipline, and pastoral care for each
unique person involved with the life of the school as having the potential to
reflect Gods loving care for each individual.
We strive to provide the children with opportunities, in a school founded on
Gospel values, in which they can learn and experience success without fear of
failure or recrimination.
Such acknowledgements also imply we have responsibilities which we accept and
take seriously. Therefore we at St Marys:
See God as the focus of the whole learning process.
Value the uniqueness of each individual.
Strive to be not only a learning community but also a caring and a
worshipping community.
Strive to be a welcoming, understanding and forgiving to all
Seek to encourage each to attain his or her optimum potential.

This will not happen merely by talking about it.

It has to be promoted and encouraged.

It has to be lived!
St Marys Catholic Primary School, Great Eccleston

Our Aims
At St Marys we have one over-arching aim which results from our schools Mission
Statement, namely:
To provide a happy, stable, stimulating and challenging environment in an
atmosphere where Christ and His examples of kindness, tolerance and
compassion permeate through all aspects of school life; where everyone is valued
and encouraged to strive for the highest of standards in order to fulfil their
ability and potential.
In order to achieve this we:
strive to create a caring, Catholic atmosphere which will permeate the lives of the
children and stimulate their spiritual growth in conjunction with their parents and
the church;

create a family atmosphere where all members of the school are nurtured and
valued for their unique qualities so as to develop in individuals a positive attitude
towards themselves with a strong sense of self-respect;

give children a vision of all the positive opportunities and experiences life has to
offer and to try to equip them with strategies for coping with lifes realities;

develop tolerance and empathy for others and a sense of respect for other
peoples property, ideas and beliefs;

encourage the growth of application, perseverance, independence, self- discipline

and initiative so that the children are prepared for the responsibilities of adult life;

offer a broad based curriculum in order to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge,

promote curiosity and enjoyment in learning, and to provide knowledge/skills to
equip children for work and leisure as active, confident and responsible members
of a rapidly developing society;

develop through art, craft and music an aesthetic awareness and the ability to
appreciate beauty in all its forms;

give opportunities for the development of physical skills and an enjoyment of

participation in group and team activities;

develop positive attitudes towards, and concern for, the environment and society;

foster close relationships with the local community.

encourage a sense of moral responsibility and self discipline appropriate to

the stage of development of each individual child

Our ObjectivesA Summary of Key Areas

Whilst adhering to the National Curriculum, Diocesan and Local Educational
processes we as a school we aim to:
1) Encourage involvement in the life of the school, not only from the teachers
and staff, but also from the LA, the Governors, the schools Parents and
Friends, Parishioners and the from the Local Community etc for the benefit of
the children.
2) Deepen each childs knowledge, understanding and effective appreciation of
the Catholic Faith tradition.
3) Promote and develop an appreciation of and an active participation in worship
and to ensure that Prayer, Worship and Liturgical Celebration, which are
central to our Catholic tradition, form an integral part of the school day at St
Marys.
4) Foster in and expect from the school community caring relationships and
Christian values, encouraging positive attitudes towards work and behaviour
through a system of positive rewards and the acceptance of a code of
behaviour and conduct by all.
5) Aid the development of the whole person by providing a broadly based,
balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum which allows for progression
and continuity, and which reflects the fact that Christ is the goal of the whole
educational enterprise in this school, whilst also fulfilling the requirements of
the National Curriculum.
6) Provide for the physical and emotional well being of each child
Through pastoral care
By making provision for each child to work at his/her own pace whilst
simultaneously achieving maximum attainment
By catering foe any special needs of individuals
By providing a safe and healthy environment as far as is reasonably
practicable.
NOTE:
More detailed aims and objectives appear in the schools Policy Statement
documents and Guidelines/Schemes of Work for each area of the curriculum and other
areas of school life.

Key Area 1 Home/ School/ Community

We aim to encourage involvement in the life of the school, not only from the
teachers and staff, but also from the LEA, the Governors, the schools Parents
and Friends, Parishioners and the from the Local Community etc for the benefit
of the children.
Objectives:
1) To create a partnership of mutual cooperation amongst Governors, teaching
staff, Parents, Friends, Parishioners and the Local Community etc.
2) To create interaction between the childrens Homes the Parish, the Local
Community etc, and the School.
3) To encourage Parental involvement in the life of the School.
Strategies:
To achieve these objectives we, at the school will:
Try to ensure that ALL visitors to the school feel welcome
Provide a program of welcome and induction for parents of new entrants to the
Reception Year Group. (See Early Years and Parental Involvement Policies)
Encourage parents to help with sports, visits etc and to help with transport.
Invite Governors, Parents, Friends of the school, Parishioners, Local
Community to attend school events and activities eg educational evenings,
concerts, sports etc.
Invite Governors, Parents, Friends of the school, Parishioners, Local
Community to share in school
masses/assemblies/services/liturgies/celebrations and to take part in some
Parish masses eg major Feast Days.
Produce regular newsletters designed to keep Governors, Parents and Friends
of the School, and Parishioners informed about what is happening in school,
and inviting them to school activities and events.
Keep parents informed about their childs progress through Parents Evenings
(Autumn and Spring terms) and Reports which are sent to parents in the
Summer term.
Encourage parents with anxieties/concerns about their childs work/ progress/
welfare /behaviour to contact or visit the school at any time to discuss their
concerns with the Head Teacher or their childs Class Teacher.

 Inform Parents directly by letter/telephone/verbally should the teacher be

concerned about a childs work/progress/welfare/behaviour and invite them
into school to discuss their childs problems.
Encourage Parents to assist the school in their homes by hearing their children
read and helping with homework, spelling, handwriting etc, taking part in
paired reading programs as necessary.
Invite parents of children preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation for
the first time to play an active role in sharing their own faith with their
children, and in the preparation of the children for the Sacraments in
conjunction with the Parish.
Encourage Parents and Friends of the School to take an active part in the
PTFA which exists to promote closer liaison between the home and the
school:
by attending the AGM in September,
by offering to serve on the PTFA Committee,
by supporting functions organized by the PTFA.
(See also Parental Involvement Policy)
Visit the elderly at Christmas eg Thistleton Lodge
Liaise and cooperate with schools locally cluster meetings, interschool sports
Liaise with local playgroups, pre-schools and nursery schools
Cooperate with local High Schools eg transfer, work experience
Cooperate with local Colleges eg student placements/teaching practices
Welcome visits from the Police, Fire Service, Health Service etc
Involve the library service, local shops etc
Support the Governors, teaching staff, non-teaching staff with INSET training
etc.

Key Area 2 Religious Education

We aim to deepen each childs knowledge, understanding and affective
appreciation of the Catholic Faith tradition.
Objectives:
1) To support parents and the Parish in the religious development of each child.
(The school acknowledges that parents have the prime responsibility for the
Religious formation of their children by sharing their own faith with them
and that the Parish and the Parish Priest have a role to play in assisting parents
to perform their duties as religious educators such as in sacramental
preparation, but also accepts its responsibility to support the patents and
parish by helping the children to understand their faith and to understand their
lives in the light of their faith).
2) To support and encourage each child with the formation and growth of its faith
3) To provide a systematic program of religious teaching that will enhance the
Catholic identity of the school.
Strategies
To achieve these objectives we, at the school will:
Regard religious education in school as a constantly developing way of
learning how to look at the world and ourselves and the relationship of the
whole of creation to the creator God.
Provide a systematic program of religious teaching based upon the Here I
Am religious education program.
Ensure that the teaching of religion is not confined to the RE lesson but
pervades all the work of the curriculum which is used to simulate Religious
growth and development, as well as academic growth and social development.
(See Religious Education Policy)
Expect teachers to share their own Christian faith with the children.
Welcome the parish priest, parishioners and parents into school to take part in
masses, assemblies, liturgies, etc.

Key Area 3 Worship

We aim to promote and develop an appreciation of and an active participation
in worship and to ensure that Prayer, Worship and Liturgical Celebration, which
are central to our Catholic tradition, form an integral part of the school day at St
Marys.
Objectives:
1) To make Prayer, Worship and Liturgy real educational experiences
2) To contribute to the development of Faith in each individual in the school
community
Strategies
To achieve these objectives we, at the school will:
Provide varied opportunities for worship through prayer, the mass, and
sacramental and non-sacramental liturgical celebration, based on sound
educational and pastoral grounds, to cater for the different needs of the school
community.
Take into account the ages and stages of personal development, both religious
and social, of the school community.
Ensure that, where appropriate, the children participate in the preparation and
in the action of thee celebrations and encourage the children to contribute
appropriate skills and gifts to celebration in a spirit of offering and sharing.
Encourage prayer in a variety of forms private individual prayer, group
prayer, whole school/class prayer (including assemblies), and informal as well
as formal prayer.
Provide regular and daily opportunities for prayer.
Provide for varied assemblies catering for the wide range of ages and stages of
development.
Provide non-sacramental liturgical experiences (to which parents and
parishioners will be welcome) to prepare the children to receive the
sacraments of initiation.
Provide opportunities for Mass and Eucharist whole school Masses and Class
Masses- to which parents, parishioners and Friends are welcome.
Sow the seeds in the children for a love for the Mass and the Sacraments and
of a desire to attend Mass and to receive the Sacraments frequently.
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 Recognize with some form of worship and celebration the major feasts
throughout the churches year.
(See also Worship Policy)
Develop some understanding of worship/festivals/beliefs of other world
Religions.
Key Area 4 -Relationships
We aim to foster in and expect from the school community caring relationships
and Christian values, encouraging positive attitudes towards work and
behaviour through a system of positive rewards and the acceptance of a code of
behaviour and conduct by all.
(Note: This area is naturally linked to Key Area 6)
Objectives
1) To ensure that pupils experiences of relationships within St Marys have a
formative and significant positive, influence on their understanding of
relationships.
(see also Key Area 6)
2) To encourage the children to use their talents to the full, to respect Christ in
each individual, and cooperate with Christ in His loving care for every person.
3) To promote and foster in the school community the Christian values of charity,
love, compassion, justice, cooperation, industry, perseverance, openness,
respect for difference of opinion, tolerance (respect for other races, creeds, and
cultures), sensitivity of the needs of others, constructive criticism and its
acceptance, reconciliation and healing.
4) To promote the principles of the Gospel, the love of Christ and mutual respect
for each other as the basis for a happy, healthy, yet firm discipline.
5) To encourage positive attitudes towards work and behaviour through a system
of positive rewards and the acceptance of a code of behaviour by all.
Strategies
To achieve these objectives we, at the school will:
Provide a program of Religious Education promoting the principle of the
Gospels and the love of Christ.
(See also Key Area 2 & Religious Education Policy)
Promote the school community at St Marys as one family
Try to ensure that everyone in the school community is made to feel valued
Provide opportunities for the older children to take responsibilities for the
younger ones

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 Place all children into houses to foster a sense of collective responsibility and
the need to contribute something of oneself to the larger group and ultimately
the school.
Ensure that all visitors are made and feel welcome.
Provide opportunities for the children to demonstrate their love for those less
fortunate by praying for them and raising money for various charities
(See Key Area 3)
Give high priority to the childrens progress with work and to improving
standards.
Expect parents to support the school by encouraging their children to acquire
good working habits.
Reinforce school policies periodically with letters home to parents.
Place considerable emphasis on good behaviour.
Expect the children to abide by the schools codes of behaviour and conduct
which exist to ensure the safety and security of the school community.
Rely upon a system of positive rewards eg credits/smiley faces,
responsibilities, star cushion etc- to encourage children to develop an
understanding of what is right, to choose to act according to the teachings of
Christ and to value that way of living.
Acknowledge that children develop at different rates and discourage negative
behaviour with sanctions eg withdrawal of privileges etc- whilst always
allowing opportunities for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Request that the parents of a child responsible for persistent or extreme
misbehaviour, and always in the case of bullying or aggressive behaviour, to
visit the school to discuss the problem.
Expect all involved in the school to accept the schools Codes of Behaviour
and Conduct. (See also Pastoral and Discipline Policy and School Brochure)

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Key Area 5 -Curriculum

We aim to aid the development of the whole person by providing a broadly
based, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum which allows for
progression and continuity, and which reflects the fact that Christ is the goal of
the whole educational enterprise in this school, whilst also fulfilling the
requirements of the National Curriculum.
Objectives
1) To deepen each childs knowledge, understanding, and affective appreciation
of the Catholic Faith tradition and of other world faiths. (See section on
Religious Education)
2) To develop fully each childs Language and communication skills sit hay
he/she can listen attentively and with understanding, and express his/her own
thoughts, desires, feelings, opinions and ideas appropriately and with fluency,
clarity, precision, variety, creativity, and sensitivity both Orally and in
Writing.
3) To develop each childs Reading technique and ability to read for different
purposes and to provide a facility for enjoyment and a sense of satisfaction
that comes through Literacy and Literature.
4) To develop in ach child an understanding of the purpose, order and pattern of
numbers, shape, space, measures and handling data, the ability to see
underlying Mathematical principles which exist in a wide variety of
situations, to develop and apply them, and to encourage an aesthetic awareness
of mathematical shapes and patterns in nature as well as in man made
products.
5) To present opportunities for each child to develop Scientific and
Technological skills: to observe, question, devise investigations or design and
make experiments to provide answers, to appreciate patterns and relationships,
interpret findings critically and communicate them to others.
6) To introduce each child to the use of modern technology and its capability for
storing, retrieving and communicating information through the use of
Information and Communications Technology.
7) To give each child as a Citizen an awareness of his/her place in the Local
Community encourage him/her to understand its fears, frustrations,
aspirations etc and feel part of it, and a knowledge of the various occupations
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careers- that contribute to its wholeness as well as developing each childs

ability to make informed decisions in a changing, economically competitive
world Economic and Industrial Understanding.
8) To give each child an awareness of other times and other places, a sense of
heritage and proportion through topic work in History, Geography,
European Awareness and Social aspects of man in his Environment
locally, nationally and universally.
9) To encourage positive attitudes towards health and the acquiring of healthy
habits, and to help each child to cope with his/her on physical and emotional
development.
10) To increase the physical skills of each child, by developing physical and
mental coordination, versatility and adaptability through physical activity
Dance, Gymnastics Swimming, Athletics Outdoor and Adventurous
Activity and Games.
11) To provide for enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from aesthetic awareness
and appreciation of the cultural heritage of man, and to develop confidence
and sufficient coordination and manipulative skills in the use of equipment,
instruments, and tools for each child to be able to express himself/herself
through Music, Drama, Art and Crafts.
Note: more specific and detailed Aims and Objectives for the Curriculum appear in
the Policy Guidelines/Schemes of Work for each area of the curriculum.
Strategies
To achieve these objectives we, at the school will:
Appoint coordinators to maintain an overview and provide information for
governors and staff in order to keep them informed about each area of the
curriculum.
Employ strategies determined for each area of the curriculum.
(See Policy Documents for each individual area of the curriculum)
Provide for children with learning difficulties and stretch those more able
through differentiated work.
(See also Key Area 6 & Policies on Differentiation, Monitoring, Assessment and
Reporting, Gifted Talented and Able, SEN)
Assess and record childrens learning and achievement periodically.
(See Assessment, Record Keeping and Reporting Policy)
Report to parents (x2 parents evenings and x1 written report in Summer) and
to other bodies as required, on childrens achievement.
(See Assessment, Record Keeping and Reporting Policy)
Review, evaluate and develop existing Curriculum Policy documents at
regular intervals.
(See Monitoring & Evaluating Standards Policy)

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 Support staff development as a whole or individually with inset training,

curriculum meetings etc as required.
(See Staff Development
Policy)
Provide resources for books and equipment for each area of the curriculum as
priorities allow.
(See School Development/Improvement Plan)

Key Area 6 Pastoral Care and Safety

We aim to provide for the physical and emotional well being of each child:
Through pastoral care
By making provision for each child to work at his/her own pace
whilst simultaneously achieving maximum attainment
By catering for any special needs of individuals
By providing a safe and healthy environment as far as is
reasonably practicable.
(Note: This Key Area is naturally linked with Key Area 4 and will develop in line
with Every Child Matters Agenda which is currently being developed)
Objectives:
1) To promote respect for Christ, living in each individual and cooperation with
Him in His loving care for each member of the school community (ie teaching
and non-teaching staff, parents, friends as well as children).
2) To reflect Christ, the Shepherd caring, strengthening, and healing- by being
mindful of the individual needs of each unique person in the school
community.
3) To cater for each individuals needs in planning and organization where
practicable.
4) To encourage positive attitudes towards the Health and Safety of all
individuals.
Strategies
To achieve these objectives we, at the school will:
Support teachers with designated responsibility for pastoral care in specific
areas -eg Special Educational Needs, Early Years, and Later Years etc.
(See Staff Development Policy)
Provide a program of welcome and induction for new entrants (and their
parents) to reception year group.
(See Early Years Policy)

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 Apportion the children to classes mainly according to age- with a teacher

responsible for each class
Emphasise links between classes, by working closely together on particular
common projects/assemblies to demonstrate the sense of a single living
community a family.
Prepare and support, together with High schools, children about to transfer to
High Schools.
Use assessment in order to emphasise the strengths of individuals and the
areas of achievement, as well as to identify where more development would be
necessary.
Use mandatory assessment procedures to help each child to evaluate his/her
own performance against set criteria, and not to judge his/her personal worth
thus upholding the dignity and value of each child.
(See Assessment, Recording, Reporting Policy)
Provide praise, encouragement and rewards, not merely for excellence, but
also for effort etc.
(See also Key Area 4/ Pastoral & Discipline Policy)
Cater for children with specific learning difficulties or special educational
needs mainly within the normal classroom environment/situation.
Provide work largely for individuals or small groups in all areas of the
curriculum, particularly in mathematics and language, and thus allow for each
child to progress at his/her own rate but still be stretched.
Provide IEPs for individuals as required by the SEN Code of Practice.
Constantly monitor the special needs provision and keep the SEN register
updated.
Provide, not only for children with severe or complex learning difficulties, but
also for the larger proportion of children with difficulties and individual needs
who do not become the subjects on Educational Psychologists Reports, etc.
Support teachers and establish procedures and strategies for coping with
behavioural or emotional difficulties.
Alert outside Caring Services or invite professional expertise form outside
agencies (eg Educational Psychologist, School Medical Service, Schools
Support Unit, School Welfare Service, Social Services, Tutorial Centre, and
Speech Therapist etc) when considered necessary or desirable. The school
acknowledges that sometimes a problem is not only the schools problem the
symptoms may be a school problem but the cause may stem from external
sources.
Rely on parental support with particular behavioural problems.
(See Key Area 4)

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 Press for the provision of appropriate support and resources for children with
statements.
(See also Special Needs Policy)
Promote understanding, tolerance and respect for all.
(See also Key Area 4 & Equal Opportunities Policy)
Try to ensure that individual childrens needs for Sex Education will be met
and provide for early maturity of girls girls growing up lessons (with parental
consent).
(See SRE
policy)
Inform parents of the schools Policy on Sex Education, offer support and
guidance and more direct assistance should parents feel the need.
(See SRE policy)
Establish procedures for staff to cope with bullying problems.
(See Anti Bullying Policies)
Establish procedures for staff to cope with concerns about children at risk.
(See Child Protection Policy)
Ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable all furniture, fittings and
equipment is safe and well maintained.
Attempt to provide sufficient information, instruction and supervision to assist
all involved in the school to avoid hazards and to contribute positively to their
own and others safety.
Encourage safe mobility around the school and the safe use of all equipment.
(See also Health and Safety Policy)

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This document entitled: Our Mission-Aims, Objectives and Strategieswill be

reviewed annually and amended as required.
Date of next review: Spring 2010

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