Forgiveness

Across the half term, children reflected on their own relationships, thinking about who they might need to forgive or say sorry to. They also explored the importance of truth and love, understanding that honesty and kindness are at the heart of forgiveness.

We finished with a special Easter service in church, where children from Year 1 to Year 6 took part. Scarlett and Sasha opened the service beautifully with a duet, and Year 4 brought the readings to life through drama alongside the choir. It was a meaningful way to reflect on the true message of Easter, together.

By the end of the half term, children understood that forgiveness is a choice – one that helps us to grow, build stronger relationships and continue to shine a light in all we do.

Easter Service

It was an incredibly busy and exciting half term at St Mary’s, filled with a wide range of opportunities that have allowed our children to learn, grow and flourish.

From the joy of Book Week, where a love of reading was celebrated across the school, to a variety of enriching school trips, children have experienced learning beyond the classroom in meaningful and memorable ways. Our talented pupils also shone on stage in our wonderful production of Oliver, showcasing confidence, creativity and teamwork.

We were delighted to welcome M&M Productions with their fantastic performance of The Wizard of Oz, bringing theatre to life for our children. Alongside this, new opportunities such as our fencing club have added to the breadth of experiences available, while sporting events including netball, football and gymnastics have enabled children to develop their skills, resilience and team spirit.

Pupils in Years 5 and 6 impressed us with their problem-solving and creativity during the Knex Challenge, while our House Singing Competition brought the whole school together in a joyful celebration of music and community. Year 5 also took part in their Mini Police community project and shared their learning confidently in a special parent assembly.

The half term has also been filled with moments of togetherness and celebration, including cake sales, Easter bonnet creations and our Easter celebrations. All of this has taken place alongside the daily richness of school life and our curriculum, with children continuing to work hard and show great enthusiasm in their learning.

• There are lots more dates to add to the calendar but we wanted to get these to you as soon as possible to put into your dairies...

Personal Development at St Mary's - Why It Matters

At St Mary’s, Personal Development is at the heart of everything we do – but we know it can sometimes feel like a broad term. Quite simply, it is about helping children grow into confident, kind and responsible individuals who are ready for the next stage of their lives.

Our Vision for Personal Development

At St Mary’s, we believe the primary years are a vital time in shaping each child’s identity, character and aspirations. Our vision calls us to recognise the unique potential in every child and reflects our commitment to a truly holistic education.

At St Mary’s, we believe that personal development and academic success go hand in hand. Children learn best when they feel confident, safe and valued. Skills such as resilience, independence, communication and self-belief are essential not only for life beyond school, but also for success within the classroom.

By nurturing personal development, we enable children to approach challenges positively, work collaboratively, reflect on their learning and persevere when things feel difficult. These qualities underpin strong academic progress and help children to reach their full potential.

Through a wide range of opportunities both within and beyond the curriculum, we nurture confidence, resilience and a strong sense of self, preparing our children for their future roles in society.

By fostering these experiences, we equip our children with the skills, knowledge and values they need to make positive choices, build meaningful relationships and contribute to the world around them. In doing so, we empower every child to shine their light and flourish.

What does this look like in school?

What does OFSTED say?

OFSTED highlights that education should go beyond academic learning. Schools are expected to provide a rich range of experiences that support pupils’ personal growth.

Inspectors look at how well schools:

develop pupils’ confidence, resilience and character

support mental and physical wellbeing

prepare children for life in modern Britain

provide opportunities to explore talents and interests

help pupils become active and responsible citizens

Rather than measuring long-term outcomes, OFSTED focuses on the quality and breadth of opportunities schools provide for all pupils.

Working Together

Last year, we held a parent workshop on Personal Development to share how this important area supports your child’s growth. We know that personal development is strongest when school and home work together, particularly in developing values such as kindness, resilience and responsibility.

To support this further, we share a Headteacher Personal Development Blog each half term in our newsletter and on the school website. These blogs aim to give parents a deeper insight into key aspects of personal development and how they are lived out at St Mary’s.

This year, our blogs have included:

Growing Great Habits – Routines

Growing Great Habits – Homework

Belonging - Uniform

Shining a Light on Enrichment at St Mary’s

Emotional Literacy – FEELIT! programme

Reading: A Foundation for Learning and Life

Through these regular updates, we aim to strengthen the partnership between school and home, helping you to better understand and support your child’s development beyond the classroom.

Later this half term, we will also be holding a parent workshop on our RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) programme, providing an opportunity for you to ask questions and feel confident about what is taught and how this important aspect of our curriculum is delivered.

Why It Matters

Personal development is about preparing children for life – not just the next stage of education. It ensures that children leave St Mary’s as well-rounded individuals, ready to contribute positively to their communities and the wider world.

Summer Uniform

Children are welcome to come back to school in Summer Uniform.  Please see below - 

Parent Representative Meeting Feedback

Thank you to our parent representatives for their valuable feedback and discussion last half term. We are grateful for the time taken to share views from across the school community.

Communication

Newsletter & Updates

There was general agreement across all year groups that a half-termly newsletter is sufficient, with the website and social media keeping families up to date with school life.

Weekly Key Dates

Parents felt it would be helpful to have key dates for the week ahead, as additional events can arise after the newsletter is sent. We agreed we will trial including weekly key dates at the end of each class blog, tailored to each class.

Email Communication

A discussion took place around the volume of emails sent. Views were mixed, with some preferring individual messages and others favouring fewer, more consolidated communications. As a result, we will trial including a weekly summary of emails at the end of the class blog, so parents can easily check in one place and feel confident they haven’t missed any key information during the week.

Notice Periods

It was also noted that, on occasions, communication has been shared at short notice (e.g. Viking Day). We acknowledge this and, following recent staffing changes, are working to ensure dates are shared as early as possible.

Out of School Daytime Events

Transport

Parents highlighted some challenges around access to sports events during the school day where transport is not provided, particularly for working families. We are pleased to share that we expect to secure a minibus licence in the coming months, allowing us to provide some transport using a local organisation (with minimal cost). We will also explore parent car-sharing arrangements where appropriate.

Swimming

Swimming lessons will now take place at Rickmansworth School going forward, as MTS are no longer able to offer this provision. (Current Year 4 pupils will attend in Year 5.)

FOSMS Update

Current Status

FOSMS remains a registered charity. While it is not currently active, we hope this is temporary and have therefore not taken steps to close it.

Use of Funds

Previously raised funds have been used to purchase 32 Chromebooks and a Chromebook trolley. This allows year groups to share sets, increasing flexibility across classes.

Summer Fair

In the meantime, the school will continue to run key fundraising events, with the Summer Fair being the next. We are seeking either a group of parent volunteers to organise this event, or for each class to take responsibility for an aspect. Further information will follow.

Home Learning & School Life

Home Learning

A  few parents shared reflections on the amount of home learning alongside school work. While this is less than in some local schools, we recognise the importance of balance. The Changemaker Project remains a key part of embedding our school values, and we encourage families to engage together. However, we will also ensure there are options that children can complete independently for next academic year.

In-School Events

For daytime events where parents are invited into school, we recognise that not all families are able to attend. Please contact the school if this is the case, and we will ensure an adult supports your child so they do not miss out.

Evening Events

Evening events (such as church services, the Year 4 Dance Festival and Young Voices) were discussed. These are limited in number and provide valuable opportunities for children, while also enabling working parents to attend. Church services at Christmas and Easter remain an important part of our identity as a Church of England school.

Holiday Clubs

There will be no Easter holiday club this year due to building works. Going forward, we are exploring external providers to support holiday provision.

Other Points

A question was raised about Mother’s Day celebrations. Due to timing with other events and a desire to be inclusive, we are considering introducing a “Special People” event in future, allowing children to celebrate someone important to them.

Parents shared concerns about parking around the school site and the potential risks this can create for our community. This is something we regularly highlight, and it is important that we all work together to ensure everyone’s safety at drop-off and pick-up times. We need to consider this going forward.

One parent suggested that some workplaces offer charity days, where groups of volunteers could support school projects. We would warmly welcome this kind of support. Please let us know if you are interested and we can work on a plan.

Attendance at St Mary’s – Every Day Counts

At St Mary’s, our focus is for all children to attend school regularly, with a minimum target of 96% attendance which includes any authorised adbsence due to illness. This ensures children can fully access their learning, build strong relationships and feel confident in their school experience.

Whole School Attendance

We are pleased to share our attendance comparison across the year:

How are we doing nationally?

All schools are now set attendance targets by the Department for Education, where we are compared with a group of twenty similar schools. This helps us to celebrate strengths and identify areas for improvement.

We are proud of several key strengths:

• Pupils eligible for Free School Meals had attendance of 95%, higher than 18 out of 20 similar schools

• Year 3 attendance was particularly strong at 97.2%, with fewer persistently absent pupils than most similar schools

• Thursday afternoon attendance was 96.4%, higher than 14 out of 20 similar schools

Our next steps from the department for Education:

• Supporting pupils with SEND, where attendance is currently 92.4%

• Strengthening Monday attendance, currently 94.7%

Working Together

Attendance is a shared responsibility, and we are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure every child has the best possible start each day. Small improvements make a big difference – and every lesson really does count.

In school, learning builds step by step. For example, in our younger year groups:

4 phonics sounds are taught each week

Missing 1 week = 4 sounds missed

Missing just a few weeks = gaps that quickly grow

These small gaps can make it harder for children to keep up, read with confidence and fully access their learning.

Why Every Day Matters

To put it simply:

1 day off each fortnight = 90% attendance

90% attendance = around 4 weeks of learning missed across the year.

Forgiveness – Half-Termly Values Award

Our Spring Term House Champions

House Singing Competition

What an incredible achievement from our talented children in this year’s production of Oliver Junior!

After two full dress rehearsals, the cast went on to deliver four completely sold-out performances – a true testament to the excitement and pride felt across our school community. From the very first note to the final bow, the children shone with confidence, energy and professionalism.

Their singing was simply outstanding, and the quality of the performances reflected not only their talent but also their dedication, perseverance and teamwork. Every child on stage played their part in bringing the story to life, captivating audiences and doing themselves – and our school – incredibly proud.

Unfortunately, due to copyright and licencing restrictions, we are unable to share recordings of the children’s wonderful singing. However, those lucky enough to be in the audience will know just how special those moments were. Their voices truly lifted the room and created memories that will stay with us for a long time.

A huge well done to everyone!

To find out more, take a look at our online programme - https://online.fliphtml5.com/hrjzj/Oliver-Programme/ 

Spirituality Crest

St Mary’s Highlights: Don’t Miss a Moment!

Stay connected and dive into the excitement at St Mary’s! Our social media pages are buzzing with all the amazing activities our children have been involved in over the past couple of weeks. From vibrant class projects and special assemblies to heartwarming community events, there’s so much to see and celebrate!

Click on our social media links to catch up on all the fun, unforgettable moments, and proud achievements. Don’t miss out—follow us and be part of the joy that makes our school community shine!