A very warm welcome to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, and thank you for taking the time to visit our website.
I am incredibly proud and privileged to be the Headteacher of St Joseph's. I am passionate about education and about the difference a good school can make to a child's life, and I feel that passion every single day. At the centre of every decision we make are our children: who they are, what they need and who they have the potential to become. At St Joseph's, we always try to be the best version of ourselves, and it is my job to make sure every child has the care, challenge and encouragement to do exactly that.
I truly believe that primary school is one of the most important stages of a child's life. The years children spend with us lay the foundations for everything that follows: their confidence, their curiosity, their friendships, their faith and their love of learning. The habits, skills and knowledge they build here stay with them for life. That is why we take this responsibility so seriously, and why each and every day we are working to prepare our children for their next steps and for the bright futures ahead of them.
As a Catholic school, our faith is at the heart of all we do. We want our children to grow in a love of God and a love of learning, and we believe the two go hand in hand. Our school values of aspiration, community, compassion, faith, respect and responsibility were written with our children, and they are not just words on a wall. You will see them lived out in our classrooms, in the playground and in the way we care for one another.
We are very fortunate to sit right next door to St Joseph's Church. Our children attend Mass every week, and our close relationship with Father Kenneth and the parish community is something we treasure. Together, school and parish help our children to understand that they belong to a family of faith that reaches far beyond the school gates.
Everyone is welcome at St Joseph's. Our families come from many different backgrounds, cultures and faiths, including those with no faith, and this rich mix is one of the things that makes our school so special. Welcoming and valuing every person is at the very heart of our Catholic faith, and we want every child and family who comes through our doors to feel that they belong here.
I believe strongly that children thrive when home and school work together. We want every family to feel welcomed, listened to and supported, and our door is always open. Whether it is celebrating your child's successes, talking through a worry or finding the right help when times are harder, we are here to walk alongside you.
Our wonderful staff are the heart of our school. I am committed to supporting and developing every member of our team so that they, too, can be the best they can be, because when our staff grow and flourish, so do our children.
If you would like to find out more about St Joseph's, or to come and see our school for yourself, please do get in touch. I would be delighted to meet you and show you around.
With warm wishes,
Miss Long
Headteacher