www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
Mission Statement
Jesus is at the heart of our school community.
Through our prayer and worship we draw inspiration
and hope from Him.
Following his example we give respect and dignity to
everyone in our school, our parishes and the wider
community
School Prospectus 2012-2013
1|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
St Thomas More is a Catholic Voluntary Aided primary School for girls and
boys aged 4 to 11 years. We are part of the Archdiocese of Southwark
and are maintained by Bexley Education Authority.
Our School Location:
Address:
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Sheldon Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA7 4PH
Telephone:
Fax:
020 8303 8322
020 8301 2727
Email:
[email protected]
Visit us at:
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
School Prospectus 2012-2013
2|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
Our School Crest:
Our school crest was designed by a past pupil several years ago. It
represents the story of St Thomas More, who was an English Lawyer,
philosopher and author, beheaded by King Henry VIII due to his opposing
views towards the formation of the Anglican Church. St Thomas More was
canonised by the Catholic Church in 1935 by Pope Pius XI.
Religious Education and Worship:
We strive to promote the values of our Catholic Faith throughout our daily
life. We provide a religious syllabus, which develops our children’s
knowledge and understanding of our faith. However, more important to
this school are those values, which we try to relate to all aspects of our
life within the faith communities of St Thomas More and St John Vianney
Parishes. The priests from both Parishes visit our school often. As well as
arranging Masses and prayer services they often make informal visits and
are very much part of the school community.
We try to ensure that Religious Education is not just
limited to R.E. lessons, but that it permeates all the work
we do in the school. The children take part in religious
worship every day. The day begins and ends with
collective prayers either in Assembly or in the classroom.
Prayers are said before meals and as part of the normal
school day. Each junior class has the opportunity each
term to celebrate a class Mass with one of our school
priests coming in to celebrate. Prayer services are also
organised for all children on special days in the church
calendar.
School Prospectus 2012-2013
3|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
School Prayer:
Dear God,
Jesus is at the heart of our school community. Help us through our prayer and
worship to draw inspiration and hope from him. Help us to follow his example
and show respect and dignity to everyone in our school, our parishes and the
wider community.
Amen
Organisation:
The school is going through a period of transition at the moment. We are
currently in the process of moving from a 1.5 entry school to a full 2 form
by September 2013. This means that our Early Years Foundation Stage
and Key Stage One are now fully 2 form, and will progress up the school
in these classes. However, whilst we wait on our buildings to be ready, we
still have 2 mixed-year classes in Key Stage Two. Due to all lessons being
prepared at a level to suit each individual child, being in a mixed class will
not be to the detriment to any pupil.
The school is currently organised as follows:
Stage
Foundation
Stage:
Key Stage One:
Key Stage Two:
Year Group
Class Name
Class Name
Reception
Oak Class
Pine Class
Year 1
Ash Class
Beech Class
Year 2
Cherry Class
Elm Class
Year 3
Willow Class
Year 3 / 4
Maple Class
Year 4
Fir Class
Year 5
Cedar Class
Year 5/6
Palm Class
Year 6
Redwood Class
School Prospectus 2012-2013
4|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
School Times:
Foundation Stage:
Key Stage One:
Key Stage Two:
8.55am to 12 noon
8.55am to 12.10pm
8.55am to 12.15pm
1.15 pm to 3.20pm
1.15pm to 3.20pm
1.15pm to 3.30pm
Curriculum:
The Curriculum we offer at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
includes all National Curriculum subjects with 10% of our class timetables
being devoted to Religious Education.
We recognise that the acquisition of literacy skills, including speaking and
listening, reading and writing, is the key to most other areas of the
curriculum. Therefore we encourage the children to write as
independently and as often as possible.
Mathematics is taught each day in every class by a direct teaching
approach and by interactive oral work. We put a strong emphasis on
mental calculation and problem solving particularly focusing on methods
and strategies.
Although Literacy and Mathematics are taught as separate subjects, we
make links with all other foundation subjects, where appropriate.
The remainder of the timetable is taught through the National Curriculum
which we have adapted to suit the wealth of experiences our pupils will
already have gained outside school. This tailored school curriculum sets
out the key skills and attitudes that children are expected to develop as
they travel on their learning journey from Reception to Year 6. The key
skills and attitudes are set out as a continuum in all areas of the
curriculum.
We use a number of themes in each year group which enable children to
develop key skills whilst still covering important curriculum content in an
interesting and cross-curricular way.
Modern Foreign languages are taught additionally from Year 3 upwards.
School Prospectus 2012-2013
5|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
Main Characteristics of Learners:
Below is the summary of some key data:
Number on Roll
350
Special Educational Needs
7.5%
SEN + Class Action
14%
School Action
School Action Plus
Class Action
Statement
3%
3%
6%
0.5%
Catholicity of Children
74%
Absence Rate
2011-2012
Sept-Nov 2012
96.7%
97.4%
Assessment:
A Foundation Stage Profile Assessment is made at the end of Reception
Year.
All children will be assessed every half term throughout both Key Stages
One and Two and we keep thorough records of the children’s progress.
Assessments are made of children’s progress using teacher assessment
and commercial tests. At the end of each Key Stage (age 7 and age 11)
children are assessed using the National Curriculum Standard Assessment
Tasks (SATs).
Teachers will also be using the Assessing Pupil Progress materials from
the DCSF in order to make assessments throughout each year.
School Prospectus 2012-2013
6|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
Sex Education:
Sex Education forms part of our curriculum and is linked closely with the
Religious Education and PSHE syllabuses. Our aim is to enhance personal
growth and the promotion of sound personal relationships within an
atmosphere of Christian care and love. This forms part of our personal,
social and health education throughout the school. In Year 6 this is taught
as sex education and the school nurse provides an input. Parents are
informed by letter and pupils may be withdrawn if necessary.
Equal Opportunities:
We regard the cultural diversity of our school community as a valuable
resource in our curriculum planning and in the creation of our school
environment. We aim for children to have a positive self-image and
respect for each other’s cultural background.
We are committed to ensuring that every individual at every stage of
learning, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or class has access to
and participates in the full curriculum in a way which takes proper
account of their needs and abilities.
School Prospectus 2012-2013
7|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
Child Protection:
As a Catholic School we take seriously our responsibility to protect and
safeguard the welfare of children and young people in our care. Our
purpose is to make the school a place where caring, respect and
individual growth are paramount and where each child can develop
socially, spiritually, aesthetically, physically and academically to the best
of her/his ability.
The law (Children’s Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on
information which raises concern that a child may be at risk from nonaccidental injury, neglect, emotional or sexual abuse.
Saints and Scholars
Before/After School Care programme
The school provides before and after school care for the children and was
recently given the name “Saints and Scholars”. The morning session runs
from 7.30 until 8.45 a.m. and the afternoon session from 3.30 until 6.00
p.m. The children are cared for in the hall where carers provide a variety
of activities. Food is provided. The charges are £4 per child for each
Breakfast Club session and £7 per child for each After School Club
session. Concessions will be made if more than one child attends from the
same family.
Extra –Curricular Activities:
Members of staff organise many after school clubs, which vary throughout
the year and according to the season. These include football (lower and
upper junior), netball, cricket, rugby, athletics, hockey, guitar, recorder,
choir, Eco-Club, Art Club and orchestra. For some of the sporting activities
inter-school matches are organised. All of our clubs are overly subscribed
and our pupils enjoy them immensely.
School Prospectus 2012-2013
8|Page
www.st-thomasmore.bexley.sch.uk/
We thank you very much for taking
the time to read about our wonderful
school. Please contact the school
office or visit our website for further
information
Mrs Doran-Hannon
Head Teacher
School Prospectus 2012-2013
9|Page