Headteacher's Welcome

At St Mary’s, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, happy and secure. Our school is a place where children are known as individuals, where their strengths, interests and unique personalities are celebrated. We take pride in nurturing confident, polite and kind young people who care for others, strive to be their best selves, and grow into motivated, aspirational learners.

We offer strong academic foundations in core subjects, alongside a broad and balanced curriculum that covers all areas of the National Curriculum. Our dedicated team of teachers lead subjects they are passionate about, and we’re fortunate to have specialist staff in music and PE. Children enjoy opportunities to perform and take part in events, from class assemblies and school productions to Young Voices. Pupils have the chance to represent the school in a variety of inter-school sporting events throughout the year, with opportunities offered across different year groups and activities.

Reading is at the heart of our school, supported by a beautiful library and a love of books that runs through everything we do. Our playground is thoughtfully designed with different areas for different types of play, and our pupils thrive in an environment that encourages creativity, curiosity and collaboration.

We enrich our curriculum with a wide range of experiences including school trips, visiting speakers, workshops, theatre companies and themed weeks such as Book Week, Science Week and Chiddingfold Heritage Week. These opportunities help bring learning to life and deepen children’s understanding of the world around them.

We are proud of our strong partnership with parents and our active PTA, and we value our place at the heart of the Chiddingfold community. Our links with St Mary’s Church, the Crown, Chiddingfold Archives, the Horticultural Society, the bonfire committee and local developers enrich our curriculum and help children understand the importance of community.

Pastoral care is central to our ethos. All staff are deeply committed to supporting children’s wellbeing and learning, ensuring that every child feels valued and encouraged to flourish.

Our school values, wisdom, hope, community and respect, underpin everything we do. Inspired by the virtues of Jesus’s mother Mary, our vision is for every member of our school community to blossom and grow, fulfilling their potential in all aspects of learning. Through exploring our core values, our pupils learn how to live out this vision and become kind, respectful and resilient social advocates, playing their part in building a better world.

We celebrate what makes each child unique and encourage them to take on leadership roles through our School Council, Eco Team and Collective Worship Team. We do things The St Mary’s Way by following our three school rules: Be Ready, Be Safe, Be Respectful.

Through courage, humility and devotion, we blossom and grow.

I would love to have the opportunity to tell you more about St Mary’s and to show you what we have to offer for your child. We welcome visitors during school hours. Please call the school office to arrange a visit.

I look forward to welcoming you to our friendly, vibrant school community.

Alison Evans

Headteacher