Our Vision

At St Margaret Mary Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child is unique and made in the image and likeness of God.  Our vision is to nurture the talents and potential of each individual as they achieve and progress spiritually, socially and academically. Inspired by the words of St Teresa Avila ‘Christ has no body now on earth, but yours...’  we strive to be the hands, feet and heart of Christ in our world.  In everything we do, we aim to reflect His compassion, serve others with joy, and walk humbly in his footsteps.

We have also adopted ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (John 13:24) as it reminds us that we are all called to live like Jesus in every part of our lives.  Jesus is not here in body now - but we are His hands, His feet, His smile.

Our Mission

With Christ at our heart, we are a loving, caring family where each individual is nurtured in mind and spirit to fully become the person God created.  In learning together and guided by prayer, we encourage each child to grow in knowledge and are committed to helping them reach their full potential in a safe, respectful, and stimulating environment where all are valued and respected.  Our mission is to create a supportive Catholic community that nurtures hearts to serve with compassion, and hands that act with kindness, inspiring each individual to live as the hands, feet and heart of Christ in our world.

Our mission, with Christ at the centre of all we do, is to:

• Love our children
• Promote service and prayer
• Endeavour to live out Gospel Values
• Deliver the best possible education for all of our children
• Be a warm, welcoming, compassionate family where all are equally loved and valued for who they are
• Provide an inclusive environment where everyone reaches their full potential

Our Principles and Values

Our principles and values are inspired by the words: ‘Christ has no body now on earth, but yours…’ and are at the core of everything we do.  At St Margaret Mary’s, we nurture each child to live as Christ’s mind, hands, feet, eyes and heart in an ever-changing world.  We help them to grow in faith, love and learning through the principles of:

• Knowledge: learning new things
• Aspiration: trying our best and encouraging each child to live out their God given potential
• Service: helping others and fostering hearts that care for others
• Prayer: talking to God every day and deepening our relationship with God

Catholic Life and Mission

Our children are actively involved in the Catholic life of our school, parish, community and universal Church.  Our vision of 'Christ has no body now on earth, but yours' is a living message and central to our daily lives.  With Christ at the centre, we seek to offer all that we are - our hearts, our minds, talents and time to God - living lives of love, service and learning together as we grow together.  We are reminded that we are called to live as Christ's hands, feet, eyes and heart in this ever changing world.  We live out this calling each day through our school principles of knowledge (learning new things), service (helping others), aspiration (trying our best) and prayer (talking to God).  

Our children understand that they are each unique and wonderfully made in the image of God.  They know and understand that in their interactions with others, they are called to show kindness, respect and treat others as they would like to be treated.  They understand that when speaking to each other, they are also speaking to a gift from God. 

All of our children are involved in the Catholic life of the school through participation in liturgical services (whole school masses, weekly class masses, Holy Day of Obligation Services), celebration of the Word (Harvest Festival, Marian Procession) and daily worship/prayer (morning prayer, Angelus etc..).  Children are involved through regular meetings with the Liturgical Leaders, Mini Vinnie’s and Class Council regarding the liturgical calendar and fundraising ideas - furthermore, these children give up their own time to run schemes such as saying the Rosary in May, quiet reflection in Lent and prayer clubs throughout the year.     

We have a whole school approach to Catholic Social Teaching allowing our children to respond to those in need locally (SVP food deliveries), nationally (McMillan Coffee Mornings) and globally (donations to the Ukraine) - this also includes each class being allocated with a Corporal Work of Mercy where children respond by ‘Giving up’ their time to help others in need (cleaning gravestones, visiting the elderly, writing to the imprisoned).  The children recognise their call to help those in need and can refer to the teachings of Jesus, making links to their own lives and their personal responsibility to serve others. 

Each year group are assigned particular Saints to study and participate in customs linked to them – examples of this include Yr 1 celebrating St Lucy and visit other classrooms delivering sweets in costume, whilst EYFS study St Nicholas and are encouraged to bring in a shoe to mark his feast day.