STM Whole School Prospectus 2021-22

OUR ETHOS
Thereisnodoubtthatoneofthemainfactorsbehindthecontinuedexcelentachievementofthisschoolistheveryhighstandardof
thebehaviourofthepupils.OFSTED alsocommentedthat“Behaviourisalmostalwaysimpeccable.Pupilsconductthemselvesinavery
maturemannerinclasandwhenmovingaroundtheschoolatbreaksandlunchtimes.Theyarepoliteandhelpfulandrealyrespect
theirteachers.”
Asaschoolwehavealwaysbeendeterminedtogivepupilsthebestposibleeducationalexperience.Thisisreflectedinthepositive
atitudestowardslesonsthatpupilsshow.ThiswasconfirmedbyOFSTEDwhojudgedthequalityofTeachingandLearningtobe
outstanding.
Weprideourselvesonthelevelofpastoralcaregiventoalpupils.Thereareexcelentrelationshipsandmutualrespectbetweenpupils
andbetweenstafandpupils.Indeed,ourpupilssaythattheyenjoycomingtoschool!Weinvestheavilyinindividualsupportand
guidanceforpupils,weasespupils’progresregularlyandreportthisprogrestoparentsat10weekintervals.
OfcoursethereissomuchmoretoStThomasMoreCatholicSchoolthanexcelentexaminationresults,centralthoughtheseareto
oursucces.Overthepastfewyearstheschoolhasbeenrecognisedinanumberofdiferentways.Wewerethefirstschooltobe
awardedSpecialistSchoolstatusintheNorthEast.Wehavecolectedarangeofspecialismsovertheyears;startingwithTechnology,
LeadingEdge(viaBeaconSchool),TrainingandVocational.InJune2011wewerenamedasoneofthefirsttrancheofTeachingSchools
inthecountry.Asaschoolwearealwayslookingtodevelopstilfurther.InJanuary2014webecamethefoundingmemberoftheSt
ThomasMorePartnershipofSchoolsMulti-AcademyTrustandinMarch2014wewelcomedourfirstprimaryschool,SacredHeart
ByermoortotheTrust.InApril2015wewelcomedStMathewsPrimarySchool,Prudhoe.InApril2020webecamepartoftheBishop
WilkinsonCatholicEducationTrust.
Theschoolenvironmenthasbeendevelopedconsiderablyoverthe;lasttenyearsandwehaverenewedaround90%ofthebuilding.
InSummer2019werenovatedtheoriginal1967building,andinSummer2020weaddedasuiteof3newclasroomsdesigned
specificalyforournewTechnicalLevelcoursesandthisyearwearedevelopingasuiteaimedattheEducationandChildcareTechnical
Levelswhichwilalso,asabyproduct,resultintherefurbishmentofanumberofDesignTechnologyrooms.Itisworthaddingthatwe
areoneofonlyfourschoolsoutofthefiftyfirstproviders,oferingtheseinthecountry.
Theworkoftheclasroom continuestoextendintohighqualityextra-curicularactivities.Alargenumberofpupilsareableto
participateinschoolteamscoveringawiderangeofdiferentsports.Thereisalsoastrongcommitmenttomusicanddramawith
regularconcertsanddramaevenings.Ourcontributiontothelifeofthecommunitythrough,forexample,theSixthForm Programme,
providesasplendidexampleofChristianityinaction.OurpupilsareenthusiasticandprolificfundraisersforthePercyHedley
Foundation,theSalvationArmy,theYouthMinistryTrust,andNorthEastHomeles.
Withfirm guidance,clearpurpose,thevastarayoftalentsofpupilsandstafandcontinuedsupportfrom parents,Iam confidentthat
StThomasMoreCatholicSchoolwilcontinuetomakeamajorcontributiontothelifeofourcommunity.
Jonathan Parkinson
Head Teacher
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