Catholic Life Overview

Mission Statement

St. James’- where we belong, believe and achieve.

Belong- At St. James’, we are one big, happy family together with Jesus. We are a place of love and acceptance. We are proud of being an integral part of our local community and wider world. Through a range of enriching experiences and with strong values instilled, we are able to grow personally, developing a deep-rooted sense of belonging. 

Believe- Everyday, we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and have faith in God who loves us. We show this by treating everyone with warmth, love, tolerance and respect. We offer forgiveness freely and learn from our mistakes. We also believe in ourselves, allowing us to develop our God given talents.

Achieve- Through our high quality bespoke curriculum, we show perseverance, creativity, skill and resilience. We are given every opportunity to achieve our goals and meet our full potential with love, guidance and support.

Belong-

• We welcome everyone into our joyous, school family, from the local and wider community and treat each other with love, care and respect.
• We join with our local parish throughout the year, looking for ways to serve each other and understand our role in the wider world.
• We serve our community by supporting local and worldwide charities, helping to care for others in need.
• We want everyone to feel valued. Staff prioritise our health, well-being and self-care and we develop a good sense of self-esteem and self-worth.
• Our school is a safe and nurturing place, where you develop the confidence to be your own person; we embrace individuality and diversity.  
• Relationships are key. We make strong connections and friendships with each other which grow beyond the primary years; we will always belong to the loving family of St. James’
• Staff facilitate new and engaging experiences, which broaden horizons and raise aspirations.

Believe-

• We believe in Jesus who loves us and recognise we are all made in God’s image.
• Our personal relationships with God are given space to grow and develop in their own special way.
• Our relationships with others in our school family and community grow, by living out the gospel values
• Through this trust in God, and encouragement from teachers, our self-belief develops; our curiosity is nurtured which in turn helps our confidence grow.
• Enabling our children to acquire an excellent religious education through thoughtful times of prayer and liturgy, with a curriculum underpinned by our Catholic teaching.
• We give space for all to celebrate their gifts and talents, believing that together we are part of one body.
• We look to our role model Jesus and then follow his example in how we treat each other daily.

Achieve-

• We encourage and equip our children with skills to become life-long independent learners in a safe, secure and happy environment.
• As teachers and staff, we are inspirational and creative so that every child’s achievements are recognised and celebrated.
• Communication with parents is our key to success. We have an open door policy and all stakeholders are valued.
• We create space for children to ask questions and know these are valued. A space to have a go at everything and recognise there is always a chance to ‘have another go’.
• We enjoy finding the awe and wonder in new learning, broadening horizons and developing a wider understanding of the world.
• At St. James, we have fun and laughter in our learning.

At St. James' Catholic Primary school,  we place the child at the centre of all we do; 'the child first, always'.  Our ultimate aim is to develop the full potential of all our children, leading to their life-long activities being guided by the Spirit and presence of Christ, in the service of God and of others. 

Our Catholic school is a welcoming and safe community, concerned with the education of the whole child.  We strive to help them achieve their full potential and  aim to equip them with self-confidence, drive, compassion and resilience in both their journey with us, and as they move onto their next stage of learning.

We are really curious when it comes to exploring and discovering different beliefs and ways of living.  RE provides opportunities for children and young people to reflect and analyse, to discuss and debate, to explore and discover, and to learn more about the world in which they live.  It also gives them an understanding of how religion can give purpose to different groups of people in society and help children understand that we live in a diverse world in which there are many beliefs.