St Matthew's Roman Catholic High School

St Matthew’s is founded and sustained by the truth of the Gospel and the teaching of the Church. It is our faith which gives shape and meaning to all we do.We believe that we are partners with families in each child’s journey of faith and foster this by creating a unique spiritual development programme to nurture their spirituality. We are proud to be a Catholic school, and greatly value the fruitful partnerships with our primary schools, sixth form colleges and parishes.

Our school mission statement can be summarised as ‘pray, care and achieve’ and we encourage and enable all our pupils to make real that mission statement in their own life and that of the school community.We are a community made up of dedicated staff and motivated learners. Pupils are relentlessly challenged to achieve the best that they can. At St Matthew’s we value each pupil as unique and special, made in God’s image and likeness. We do all we can to make sure they are happy, feel safe, work enthusiastically, make excellent academic progress and contribute to improving the school and the wider community.

St Matthew’s has excellent facilities, providing pupils from all starting points with the opportunity to flourish and succeed. The school has long established and effective links with both its primary partners and the Catholic sixth form colleges of Xaverian and Loreto. In this way we play our part in providing a seamless provision of Catholic education from 4-19.

St Matthew’s use the Co-ordinated Admissions system. Parents should complete the Common Application Form provided by their home Local Education Authority (the Authority to whom you pay Council tax). All the application forms will then be collated and the information on them sent to us. The Governing Body will meet to discuss the applications in early December. Parents of baptised Roman Catholic children will be asked to provide a copy of the child’s baptism certificate before this meeting.

The details of the application will then be forwarded to school for consideration by the Chair of Governors, if there are places available in the requested year group places will be allocated using the admission criteria. If there are no places available the pupil’s name will be added to a waiting list. Any parent wishing for information about the school is welcome to telephone and arrange a visit or simply ask for an information package.

At St Matthew’s RC High School we are committed to developing the full potential of every individual, regardless of culture, race, religion, disability, or special need. We encourage all pupils to embrace the many varied learning opportunities that are provided both in the classroom and outside it whilst developing an enthusiasm for learning that remains with them for life.

All pupils have access to a broad and balanced range of courses relevant to their needs. The curriculum aims to fulfil the legal requirements of the National Curriculum and RE with pathways which are developed at Key Stages 4 to offer a more personalised curriculum that is pupil focused and flexible. The curriculum promotes the differentiation of learning and teaching through setting/banding of pupils according to ability, supporting the least able whilst stretching and challenging the most able.

In addition to timetabled lessons, there are a range of extra-curricular activities (clubs, study visits, enrichment programmes and charity projects) and other planned experiences to enhance the curriculum offer.During form time pupils take part in a range of activities to support, numeracy, aspects of personal, social and health education (PSHE), citizenship and careers guidance. The tutor programme supports the development of high standards of ethics and behaviour by pupils, within and outside school, by showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others; as well as a deepening understanding of fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

In Key Stage 3 pupils follow a common curriculum consisting of RE (including aspects of citizenship and personal social and health education), English, Mathematics, Science, Design Technology, Humanities, Art, Music, French/German, Computer Science, and PE. In Design Technology all pupils work with a wide variety of materials such as wood, metal, plastic, food and fabric.In Key Stage 4 pupils follow a common curriculum consisting of RE, English, Mathematics, Science and PE. The common curriculum occupies 33 periods out of a 50 period week. Pupils are allowed to choose 3 option subjects for the remaining 17 hours. Pupils are provided with guidance so that they make choices that allow for progression beyond St Matthew’s.

At St. Matthew’s we believe that children succeed when they feel secure and content.It is important that they feel cared for and they know precisely to whom they can turn if they have a problem. The fear that a child may get lost or be bullied in a large school is overcome by a carefully structured pastoral system.This system ensures that each pupil has someone to whom he or she can immediately relate.

Each pupil at St. Matthew’s has a Form Tutor, who will meet them each day for Tutor Time.The Form Tutor is the key person for your child throughout their time at St. Matthew’s. It is the Form Tutor who will help children through difficulties, help monitor progress and encourage them to get the best out of school and themselves.