St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School

SS Peter and Paul is a Catholic Primary school. This means that we embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church and operate within the expectations of the Catholic community. All of our interactions, whether with children, parents, staff, governors and others visiting or associated with the school, are formed from Gospel values and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our behaviour policy and practices are also based upon these teachings, which ensure that our children learn and grow into the faith.

SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School serves the parish of SS Peter and Paul and other surrounding parishes and chaplaincies. The school works with local families that are a broad mix of nationalities, languages, cultures and faiths. As a Catholic school, we serve Catholic families, those from other Christian denominations and those of other faiths. This enables the school to foster an ethos of understanding, mutual respect, forgiveness, tolerance and welcome for all. We are part of the London Borough of Merton and the Diocese of Southwark. SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School works in partnership with the Merton Catholic deanery schools and the Mitcham Town Co-operative Trust.

The School normally admits children to Reception classes at the start of the school year. Parents have the right to request that their child attends part-time until the child reaches compulsory school age. Parents also have the right to defer entry within the same school year until the start of the term following the child’s fifth birthday. Parents whose applications for places are unsuccessful may appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel set up in accordance with section 85(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Appeals must be made in writing and must set out the reasons on which the appeal is made. Appeals should be made to the Admissions Appeals Clerk at the school address. Parents/Carers have the right to make oral representations to the Appeal Panel.

Any late applications will be considered by the Governors' Admissions Committee in the event of there being any available places using the above categories. If all places have been filled, parents will be offered the opportunity of placing their child's name on the waiting list. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place.

Applications for places outside the normal admissions round should be made to the London Borough of Merton on an In-Year Application Form. You should also complete a Supplementary Form which will be available from the school.This admissions procedure, although primarily relevant to children for whom a place is sought at the normal age of entry to primary education (Year R), applies also to succeeding years, subject to availability of places.

The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. Pupil premium funding is available to both mainstream and non-mainstream schools, like special schools and pupil referral units.

At SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, we believe we offer the children a rich and varied creative curriculum which encompasses the requirements of the National Curriculum as well as other rich opportunities in order to allow for our children to become worldly citizens.

As a school we are committed to being at the forefront of educational innovation whilst keeping children’s well-being at our heart, thus providing a curriculum that prepares our pupils to be lifelong independent learners in the 21st Century.

At SS Peter and Paul Religious Education is at the heart of the core curriculum. Our creative curriculum includes the National Curriculum core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, Computing and the foundation subjects of Technology, Art, Geography, History, Music and Physical Education (PE).

Children’s progress is regularly assessed through various assessment strategies. These assessments provide accurate, accessible information regarding children’s knowledge, understanding and skills and are part of the tools that teachers use in building their professional knowledge of each child, in order to identify what is needed to further each child’s knowledge and skills base. The aim is that all children reach at least the expected standard for each year, if not beyond.

In addition to the prescribed subjects we offer our children essential Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE), Relationships and Sex Education, Dance and Drama, and French. Our philosophy of preparing our children to be global citizens who uphold British and world values has led to a highlighting of national and international issues too.

Through careful planning in the medium and short term we make sure there is progression, appropriateness of level, breadth, balance and consistency across the statutory curriculum at SS Peter and Paul. We believe that children should learn to take risks in a secure, caring, positive and stimulating environment. Our teachers provide well-ordered surroundings and ensure that expectations of behaviour and work are high and clearly understood by the children. Here at SS Peter and Paul children are encouraged to be reflective and resourceful, take responsibility for their own learning and show reciprocity.