Why Choose Swineshead St. Mary’s?

Choosing our school means joining a community that values forgiveness, love, inclusion, respect, and compassion. We believe in creating a nurturing environment where every student is respected and supported, regardless of their background. Our focus on love and kindness helps build strong, positive relationships, while forgiveness and compassion guide us in overcoming challenges together. We embrace diversity and ensure that all students feel included, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. By choosing our school, you're choosing a place where these values are at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values

Our school is built on these 5 core values:

Love

Respect

Inclusion

Forgiveness

Compassion

We believe that these principles guide everything we do, shaping a community where
every individual feels valued and supported. By fostering love and respect, we create an environment where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is championed, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through forgiveness and compassion, we encourage growth, understanding, and the ability to learn from challenges. Together, these values help us build a foundation for lifelong learning and positive relationships.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to provide a rich, engaging, and well-rounded education that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum while inspiring a love of learning in every child. Through a creative, topic-based approach, we aim to make learning meaningful and accessible, encouraging curiosity and enthusiasm. Wherever possible, we link lessons to real-life contexts, helping children see the relevance of their learning and how it applies to the world around them. By fostering skills, knowledge, and understanding across all subjects, we equip our pupils to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, preparing them for future challenges and opportunities.

A Strong Foundation- EYFS

In Reception, we provide a strong EYFS foundation that nurtures each child's curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Our engaging, play-based approach promotes the development of essential skills in communication, language, literacy, and numeracy, alongside fostering personal, social, and emotional growth. Through a supportive and stimulating environment, we lay the groundwork for lifelong learning, ensuring every child is ready to thrive as they transition into Key Stage 1 and beyond.

Forest School

We are incredibly proud of our Forest School provision, which offers children a unique and enriching outdoor learning experience. Through regular sessions in a natural environment, children explore, play, and engage in hands-on activities that foster creativity, independence, and teamwork. This child-centered approach supports emotional well-being, resilience, and problem-solving skills while encouraging a deeper connection to the natural world. Our Forest School is a cornerstone of our curriculum, empowering children to develop confidence, curiosity, and a love for learning beyond the classroom.

Beyond the Classroom

We believe in the importance of experiences beyond the curriculum. Our enrichment opportunities include school trips, pantomime outings, and various sporting events. Leadership roles are available for our pupils, such as Playground Leaders, E-Safety Champions, Librarians and members of the School Council. We offer a diverse range of clubs, which are open to all pupils. At lunchtimes, our nurture group - Growing Acorns - provides a supportive and welcoming space where children can build friendships, develop social skills, and feel valued in a calm, caring environment.