St Mary’s – Everyone is Welcome
We are a small friendly school full of talented and happy children. Our teaching and support staff work hard to create an exciting environment for learning and progress. We hope you enjoy your visit!
We’re very lucky to be on the edge of Swanage on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site. St Mary’s is part of Plymouth CAST, a multi-academy trust covering Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
School doors open at 0840 each morning and school officially starts at 0845. This finishes at 3:15. This provides 32.5 hours of schooling each week.
St Mary’s welcomes children of any faith and rather than having an Open Day, any parent who would like to look around the school just needs to phone the office and make an appointment for a convenient time. Children are also welcome to attend. You can watch a virtual tour of the school here. This film shows what daily life is like at St Mary’s. If you would also like to look around the pre-school, this can be done at the same time. Please phone 01929 424909.
Headteacher: Alan Frame, aframe@stmarysswanage.dorset.sch.uk
Chair of Governors: Mr S Porter
Deputy headteacher: Rebecca Meteau, rmeteau@stmarysswanage.dorset.sch.uk
SEN co-ordinator: Rebecca Meteau/Alan Frame
Safeguarding
DSL: Alan Frame
Deputy DSL: Rebecca Meteau & Michelle Nash
Safeguarding governor: Gill Calvin-Thomas
safeguarding page
Our Mission Statement
To provide an environment that nurtures all towards the fullness of life that comes from God and a curriculum that expands our children’s horizons; a place where all can realize their potential – intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical and emotional; and where our children are prepared to take their places as effective, caring and respectful global citizens
Our Ethos
To value and appreciate everyone
To try our best at everything
CAST Gospel Values
Humility – seeing life as a gift
Compassion – empathy
Kindness – gentleness
Justice – working for a fairer world
Forgiveness – reconciliation
Integrity – do what you say
Peace – committed to peace-making non-violence
Courage – standing up for truth
Ofsted Parent View
Your views are important in helping inspectors make a decision about our school, and to help us know what is going well and what could be improved. Go to the Ofsted Parent View website, or look here for more information.
Term Time Holidays
There are 190 school days each year, leaving 175 days when pupils do not attend school. It is expected that holidays will be taken during these times. Taking a student on holiday for two weeks will reduce their attendance to 94% before there has been any other time off for illnesses etc. The law says that parents do not have the right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time. Applications for term time holidays are likely to be refused. However, in exceptional circumstances the headteacher can authorise leave from school. If you want to apply for leave due to exceptional circumstances please put your request in writing to Mr Frame using the ‘Notification of Absence request form’ and hand in to the school office. Any holidays taken without the authorisation of the headteacher will be marked in the register as unauthorised absence, and could lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued.
Legal Intervention
St Mary’s School works closely with the School Attendance Team of Dorset County Council. High levels of unauthorised absence, for any reason, could result in a referral to consider legal action. The School Attendance Team has the power to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice or to consider further legal action where appropriate.
Who to contact in school
To report a student absence please contact 01929 424909 and speak to a member of staff or leave a message and we can phone you back.
To discuss any concerns, the first point of contact in school is your child’s teacher or the Headteacher, Mr Frame.
If you would like a paper copy of any information on this website please contact the school office. There is no charge for this service.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School 