Proud of being a Church of England School
Our Mission
Rooted in our Christian foundation, we are an aspirational school serving our community and God. We seek to understand and recognise every child and their uniqueness – using this knowledge to develop their gifts in accordance with the biblical principles of courage, creativity, and compassion. We prepare children to become global citizens of an ever-changing world.
Established in Southampton in 1841
Unofficially, we believe we are the oldest public educational establishment in the City of Southampton. Established as a Church School, St. Mary's underwent various names and iterations before becoming the primary school we know today.
St. Mary's Church of England - Terms of Union
The 'Terms of Union' created by the National Society references St. Mary's founding year as 1841. The document sets out a statement of aims for the Headteacher and Governing Body in leading and governance of the school. This is to protect the uniqueness of St. Mary's Christian ethos and our enduring desire to maintain a tradition within the school that celebrates its rich history.
SIAMS - Section 47 inspections
St. Mary's Church of England School had it's last SIAMS inspection in November 2023. A summary of our strengths were:
The school’s mission statement is deeply rooted in biblical text. It is contextually appropriate and widely lived by the whole school community, making a positive difference.
The school enables people from richly diverse communities to live well together. Staff, parents and pupils understand and respect one another’s beliefs and customs. As a result, people feel safe and flourish.
As a Church school, strategic planning for improvement is strong and effective. The school successfully secures the best outcomes for pupils in order that they can thrive.
Spirituality is embedded in the ambitious and creative curriculum. As a result, pupils’ ability to express their spirituality is a strong feature of the school.
Pastoral care is strong for staff, pupils and their families. The culture of ‘high expectations’, ‘no excuses’ and ‘whatever it takes’ underpin a highly structured and caring approach to learning. Compassion is truly lived.
St. Mary's Vision & Values
St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School mission statement:
Rooted in our Christian foundation, we are an aspirational school serving our community and God. We seek to understand and recognise every child and their uniqueness – using this knowledge to develop children’s gifts in accordance with the biblical principles: courage, creativity, and compassion. We prepare children to become global citizens of an ever-changing world.
Our values:
| Courage Courage is often about continuing to do what you would normally do when faced with extraordinary situations. Many Christians believe that God asks us to offer our skills, talents and abilities in the face of adversity, and that he will use that courageousness to achieve great things. The word ‘courage’ comes from the Latin word ‘cor’ = heart. |
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Creativity The Bible opens with an account of how God created the Universe and all things in it. At St. Mary’s we encourage children to be creators – to use their given gifts to enlighten the lives of others. With this gift comes a mutual responsibility to ensure that creation is not spoiled, but rather sustained and enjoyed by all.
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| Compassion We teach children that their attitudes and actions must reflect kindness and compassion. Compassion is much stronger than sympathy; if you have compassion you step into someone’s shoes, share their experiences and sufferings and want to support them or act on their behalf. It is not just feeling sorry for someone but actually doing something about making their life or situation better. |
Every child deserves a champion. An adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and who insists that they become the best they can possibly be.