Your child’s education is our priority. We are very confident that all our pupils receive a broad and balanced education to equip them with the skills they will need for their future.

Whether your child has special educational needs or is exceptionally gifted and talented, our highly trained and motivated staff are dedicated to cater for all your child’s needs.

At St. Mark’s, we believe that children should begin to take a responsible role in the development of our school. We have a school council where elected children play a positive role in developing and furthering the ethos of the school. Our Christian ethos helps to educate every child to be members of a caring community, with an understanding of their own spiritual development.

The professionalism of our staff ensures that all of our pupils are well-cared for and listened to.

We have close links with St. George’s Church in Kemp Town, Brighton.

Attitudes and Values

The attitudes and values we want our children to acquire are:

• A positive attitude towards school and learning
  
• Development of cheerful perseverance, taking pride in achievements
  
• A positive attitude towards themselves
  
• A sense of independence
  
• A caring attitude towards each other, each other’s property, and the environment
  
• Open-mindedness and tolerance
  
• Respect for, recognition and understanding of each other’s views, values, beliefs, cultures and customs

Personal and Social Skills

The personal and social skills which we want our children to acquire are:

• Making and keeping friends
  
• Co-operating and acting as part of a team
  
• Independence and self-organisation
  
• Helpfulness
  
• Good manners
  
• Good humour

Learning Skills

The learning skills we want our children to acquire are:

• To be an active/enthusiastic participant in any learning situation.
  
• To reason and deduce
  
• To plan, record, report, describe and communicate
  
• To listen, hear and understand
  
• To hypothesise and predict
  
• To estimate
  
• To observe and explore
  
• To select and choose
  
• To question
  
• To create
  
• To acquire skills and knowledge specific to curriculum areas as described in our curriculum documents
  

We cover all subjects of the revised National Curriculum from Year 1 to Year 6.  Nursery and Reception classes follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum, as required by law.

We also teach RE and Personal, Social and Health Education throughout the school. We hope this will make our pupils into good citizens who are confident to contribute to society and their community.

All children have individual learning abilities and learn at different rates.  They do not all achieve the same standards at the same age.  If parents have any concerns about the standards reached by their child, they should consult the teacher and ask advice. 

There are five subjects which are called the ‘Core Curriculum’.

English
Mathematics
Science
Information & Communication Technology
Religious Education

Since the introduction of the revised National Curriculum in September 2000, we have rewritten our teaching plans for the rest of the subjects we cover at St. Mark’s. These plans are available to any parent or carer who wishes to see them. However, a brief outline of each subject is offered below:

History
Geography
Art
DT
Drama
Music
PE/Games
Personal, Social and Health Education

St. Mark’s families have a great tradition of ensuring our pupils wear the correct uniform and we are very proud of this.

Pupils wear a white or yellow polo shirt, a school sweatshirt and grey or black trousers or skirt. PE kit should include a pair of shorts, a T-shirt and plimsolls for indoor work. Pupils may bring trainers for games but we discourage expensive, designer trainers. Children who are swimming require a swimming hat that is available from the office for £1. Girls should wear one piece suits as bikinis are not appropriate.

All items of uniform carrying our logo, including PE bags and school bags, can be bought from the school office.

Children learn when they are motivated and confident. Developing artistic ability, in any form, gives children a sense of pride and self-esteem. We value the creative arts highly at St. Mark’s and are working to develop these both in and out of school hours; we offer many clubs to make this achievable for all our pupils. Being able to express yourself brings reward and self-belief, something everyone needs in such a fast moving and demanding world. Learning to live a healthy lifestyle is very important during the primary years and we hope to foster an enjoyment in personal physical challenge, at any individual’s level, and in the playing of sports as part of a team.

Current Clubs include:

Every Day
Breakfast Club
Community Room 8.00 – 8.45 am

Homework Club
Breakfast Club and lunchtime indoor play
Community Room

Monday
Infant ICT Club
ICT Suite 3.10 - 4.00 pm (coming soon!)

Tuesday
Ocarina Club
Year 2 3.15 - 4.15 pm

Climbing Club
Stanley Deason Leisure Centre 3.05 - 5.15 pm (collected/returned)

Wednesday
Life Skills Club
Community Room/Smile Suite 3.15 - 4.45 pm

Thursday
Junior ICT Club
ICT Suite 3.15 - 4.00 pm

Art Club
Year 2 3.10 - 4.30 pm

We also operate a 'Walking Bus' to Whitehawk Primary each day, where there is an after school club open until 5.30pm. Please ask for more details.