Welcome to St. Matthews Church of England (Aided) Primary School

Mission and Aims

• to assist each child to become a whole person; developing body, mind and spirit.
• to help children to understand that there is a spiritual dimension to life and to develop a respect for religious beliefs.
• to enable all children to achieve their full potential
• to develop a love of learn
• to encourage lively, enquiring minds and independent thought.
• to enable children to acquire skills that will help them to play their part in a harmonious, multicultural society.
• to show consideration and both respect for others and for differing points of view.
• to enable each child to develop a positive self-image and control over their own behaviour.

We will seek to achieve our aims by ............

• providing a happy, well-structured, Christian environment.
• integrating with the life of St. Matthew's Church and teaching the value of prayer and worship.
• providing an education to suit differing needs and aptitudes.
• using a variety of teaching methods.
• promoting equal opportunities for all pupils whatever their race, religion, gender or ability.
• Working co-operatively with the parents and fostering their support in the education of their children.
• providing a broad, varied, relevant and rich curriculum that supports a wide range of activities and educational visits.
• providing a stimulating environment with quality, colourful and exciting resources.
• providing a caring, non-judgemental and listening environment.

Ethos Statement

In common with other Church of England Schools throughout England and Wales we have adopted the following Ethos Statement: -

Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level.

The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

SMIG

SMIG stands for St Matthews Inclusion Group.

The group has clear aims:

• To build positive bridges between all parents and teachers, by improving links and lines of communication between home and school
• To promote equal opportunities for all pupils
• To positively seek the involvement of more parents, particularly Black and Asian parents, within the school
• To support the school in dispelling negative stereotypes
• To promote the school's equal opportunities policies, and mission statement

Grounds Group

The school also has a group of parents who focus on the development of the school grounds. They also co-ordinate the work on the school's allotment.

They help us extend the children's education into the school grounds and beyond.

School Helpers

Parents give us great deal of support, encouragement and practical help within the school. We want school to be a warm, friendly place wherer teachers and parents meet and work to the mutual benefit of the children, believingas we do that education is a co-operation between home and school and child.

Parents help school in a variety of ways. For example there are those who offer their talents in the preparation of teaching resources and the mounting of the children's work. there are others who help with craft work and hear children read etc.

Parental involvement is an important part of our school life at St Matthew's. If you feel you can help in any way, please let us know.