Removing Barriers. Raising Aspirations. Preparing Every Child for the Future.

Welcome to St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School.

My name is Mrs Claire Sime, and I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher of a school where children are known as individuals, cared for deeply and encouraged to believe in what they can achieve.

At St Matthew’s, we are clear about what we want for our children. We want them to feel safe and happy, to attend school regularly and to develop strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics. We want them to be curious, resilient and confident, with the knowledge, skills and character they need to succeed in secondary school and in a rapidly changing world.

Our mission, “Love, Learn and Shine together with Jesus,” guides our work each day. We teach children that they are loved by God, that their lives have purpose and that they each have gifts worth discovering. Our faith is reflected in the way we treat one another—with kindness, compassion, forgiveness, honesty and respect.

We know that children do not all begin from the same starting point and that some face barriers that can make learning or attending school more difficult. Those barriers may be linked to poverty, SEND, language, health, attendance, confidence or experiences outside school. Our responsibility is to recognise these barriers early and do everything reasonably possible to remove them.

This means providing the right support at the right time while maintaining high expectations. We do not place limits on what children can achieve because of their background, circumstances or additional needs. We work closely with families and specialist services so that every child can participate, make progress and feel that they truly belong.

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum because it opens the door to every other area of learning. We want every child to become a fluent, confident reader who can understand the world, question what they encounter and continue learning throughout life. Alongside strong academic foundations, we teach children to communicate clearly, think independently, solve problems and work successfully with others.

Preparing children for the future also means helping them navigate technology and information safely. Children need to understand both the opportunities and risks presented by the digital world, including social media and artificial intelligence. We teach them to be thoughtful, responsible and discerning users of technology while recognising that human relationships, creativity and sound judgement remain essential.

Children also need opportunities to discover what interests and inspires them. Through sport, music, art, performance, visits, leadership and enrichment, we help them develop their talents and experience success beyond the classroom. We work hard to ensure that cost does not prevent children from taking part.

Safeguarding is our highest priority. Children learn best when they feel secure, listened to and valued. Every adult in school has a responsibility to notice when a child may need help and to act. Our approach brings together child protection, attendance, pastoral care, mental health, online safety and close work with families and other professionals.

We place great importance on attendance because children cannot benefit from the opportunities we provide if they are not in school. Every day matters. We support families where genuine difficulties arise, but we remain ambitious for every child and clear about the importance of regular and punctual attendance.

Families are central to our work. We want parents and carers to feel welcomed, informed and able to speak to us. Positive relationships between home and school give children security and help us respond quickly when support is needed. We may not always agree, but we will always aim to communicate honestly, listen carefully and keep the child’s best interests at the centre of our decisions.

St Matthew’s is a school with strong foundations and an ambitious future. We are proud of our Catholic identity, our inclusive community and the commitment of our staff and governors. Most of all, we are proud of our children.

Our promise is to see each child, believe in their potential and give them the knowledge, support and opportunities they need to take their next steps with confidence.

Welcome to St Matthew’s – a school where we work together to remove barriers, raise aspirations and enable every child to Love, Learn and Shine together with Jesus.

Mrs Claire Sime
Headteacher