At St. John’s Cathedral Catholic Primary School our mission is to educate the whole child through the Gospel values of Christ.

In order to carry out our Mission, we believe that we should aim to:

• Provide a happy secure caring and stimulating learning environment within a welcoming Christian Community.
• Create a Catholic community, encouraging an understanding of our faith through teaching and active prayer in the home, school and parish.
• Encourage the highest standards of academic excellence and behaviour.
• Encourage children to take responsibility for themselves and become independent learners.
• Educate and celebrate the whole child as an individual, preparing them spiritually, morally, physically, socially, intellectually and emotionally for their future lives.
• Provide a firm and consistent framework of discipline and encourage children to take responsibility for themselves.
• Actively involve parents in the education of the children.
• Encourage an awareness of and a respect for other faiths.
• Provide effective liaison with the local secondary school and ensure continuity of the children’s education.
• Encourage children to do their personal best, enjoy their school experiences and build upon their successes.

(In the school’s last OFSTED inspection it was said that “the ethos of the school is very caring, inclusive and highly focused on the individual”)

Sound teaching methods are employed which reflect the best of modern ideas together with a sense of care and respect for all involved in the learning situation. All children follow National Curriculum programmes in the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Information Technology as well as Design Technology, History Geography, Art, Music and P.E. A School Policy on Assessment is in place which includes a system of reporting to parents. For parents of children at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2 pupils) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6 pupils) this will include a report on the assessment of their child's performance in the core subject areas of the National Curriculum as required by law. A national reading assessment at Year 4 is also undertaken by the pupils. Parents of all other children will also receive an annual report of their child's achievement in the National Curriculum subject areas.

Each school day will have a collective worship session unless circumstances are impracticable. Reflection and scripture are important parts of the collective worship held. Collective worship includes a Merit Certificate Assembly to highlight pupils attitude to work, good behaviour and manners. Assemblies are held as a school and separately for the Junior (Key Stage 2) and Infant (Key Stage 1) children. Parents are entitled to withdraw their children from such acts if they request this in writing. It would be hoped that having chosen a Catholic education for your child you would want him/her to be a part of these valued opportunities to gather as a Community with Christ at its heart.

The teaching of religion is based on the Diocesan Programmes of Study support by the published scheme 'Here I Am' which is approved by the Bishops of England and Wales, but, being of the conviction that a full Christian life cannot be attained solely via religious lessons, all who are involved in the school, staff, priests, parents and children are encouraged through their example and through mutual trust, to demonstrate visibly that Christ is alive and with us constantly.

A School's record of achievement includes the progress made in the National Curriculum and assessment of work throughout the year. Examples of work for particular examples of achievement and standards reached are kept in an individual pupil record of achievement file. Teachers continuously assess pupils' progress and the national test assessments in Year 2 and Year 6 give a child's individual attainment and their overall results against all pupils of the year being tested. Children in Year 4 undertake a national reading test. All pupils in Years 3-5 undertake optional national assessment tests.