Introduction

St Mary's Catholic Primary School is a one-form entry Catholic Primary School situated in Brierley Hill, close to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

We welcome all children from all different backgrounds and celebrate our individual uniqueness. 

Our children are at the heart of all that we do. Our aim is to provide the very best education for our children in a Christ-centred setting where all members of our school community are enabled to fulfil their potential and are valued in a secure and safe environment.

The school has the capacity for 210 pupils aged from 4 to 11 years old. There are seven classes and all classes have access to additional support from Teaching Assistants.

Our Pre-School is a Governor-led pre-school with provision for both part and full-time pupils. More information can be found by clicking the link below. 

We are a part of the Emmaus Catholic Multi Academy Company. As a church school we are guided by the Birmingham Diocesan Schools Commission. We are closely connected with both Brierley Hill and Kingswinford parishes and have regular masses in school.

Our ethos seeks to promote Catholic values and morals whilst being sensitive to the range of cultures present within our school and community.

We are an inclusive school and we welcome pupils from many faiths and cultures. Our Catholic percentage is currently 52%.

At St. Mary's, we are called together to Love, Learn and care like Jesus- for ourselves and each other- always trusting in Him.

The children understand this to mean that we "Learn from Jesus, Love like Jesus and trust in Jesus."

On the 1st October 2014, St Mary's Catholic Primary School became part of the Saint Nicholas Owen Catholic Multi Academy Company.

On 1st February 2021, the Academy became Emmaus Catholic Mac.

We look forward to ensuring that the Catholic faith journey of our school community is secured, whilst continuing to provide quality Catholic education for all of our pupils.

The schools in the academy are:

At St Mary's Catholic School we uphold and teach pupils about the British Values alongside our Catholic Values and Virtues.

As educators we recognise we have a duty to prepare our children for life in modern Britain and to keep them safe.

As a Catholic School we actively promote values, virtues and ethics that shape our pupils' character and moral perspective, through the teachings of the Church. We follow the example of the Good Samaritan where we are called to love and care for our neighbour. We ensure that through our school vision, ethos, agreed rules, curriculum and teaching we promote respect and tolerance for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles.

Democratic values are an explicit part of the Catholic ethos of our school. Adults listen to the views of pupils and value their opinions. Pupils' voices can be heard through our School Council, pupil interviews and questionnaires and through the teaching of PSHE. The children learn about democracy through formal lessons and assemblies, but also through their involvement in the election of members of the School Council, FaithLeaders and Minnie Vinnie's.

The importance of laws and rules are reinforced in the classroom as well as through school assemblies. Pupils are taught to understand the need for laws - which are there for individual protection, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Pupils follow a positive behaviour policy and clearly understand the rewards and sanctions that are used. Assemblies and discussions in class are rooted in our Catholic faith and beliefs, and focus on recognising right from wrong.

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and we discuss how to exercise these safely, for example through our Computing (ICT) – E Safety, R.E. and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Our school’s ethos and behaviour policy are based on Gospel Values, with the important commandment being, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. Assemblies promote respect for others and the importance of good manners. All pupils are taught the importance of self-respect, honest and open communication with others, and fairness and justice. Pupils work collaboratively and value the opinions of others.

As a Catholic worshipping community children are taught that we are all created in the image and likeness of God and are reminded of their place in a culturally diverse society. This is achieved through our Religious Education curriculum and the spiritual life of the school. Assemblies and classwork promote the diversity of society and the right for each person to be respected and valued equally regardless of ability, gender, faith, heritage or race. At St Mary's we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including 'extremist' views.