Welcome

Each member of our school community at St. Cuthbert’s is unique, talented and loved by God.

We strive for excellence and live our lives to the full with Christ in our head, in our hands and in our hearts.

Our children are at the heart of our school, which is a loving and supportive place to learn. We are a Catholic school, but we are also an integral part of our whole community and fully reflect the cultural make-up of families in our area.

Families with no faith or of other faiths are warmly welcomed and make up a significant number of our school family.

We believe in working in close home-school partnership and know that children achieve their best when they share their learning with interested adults.

Our School Day

Pupils can be dropped off at school from 8.35am and the bell goes for the start of the school day at 8.50am.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club is open every morning from 7.45am and provides a healthy breakfast with familiar staff from our teaching assistants and lunchtime supervisors.

There is a chance to play, be active and socialise with friends through games and activities to get pupils ready for the day.

Lunch Time

Our award-winning cook, Jan, and her team serve hot and healthy meals in creative ways and encourage children to taste new things.

Our gardening club also grows produce in our allotment which is prepared and served to pupils.

After School Clubs

Our after-school clubs vary throughout the year and range from gardening and art to a multitude of sports and games.

Clubs are mostly run by staff in school and are either free or cost a nominal amount to cover resources.

Our Curriculum

Early Years Foundation Stage

Children are supported in their first steps in learning from their very first visit to school. Every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to fulfil their potential.

At St. Cuthbert’s, our dedicated staff and indoor and outdoor learning areas enable us to give children excellent foundations on which to build their talents as they grow.

Our newest pupils are also cared for by Year 6 buddies who spend time helping them learn, play, grow and build strong friendships.

Key Stage 1 & 2

Our curriculum has been carefully planned and sequenced so that from EYFS, pupils learn progressively and leave us ready for their next step in education.

We work closely with our family of schools at Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust to ensure children’s learning builds seamlessly into secondary school.

Curriculum Enrichment

We are committed to upholding the key values of our family of schools in our curriculum.

• Gifts
• Respect
• Aspiration
• Community
• Celebration
• Excellence

Our pupils are unique individuals with their own strengths, aptitudes, interests and dreams. As a Catholic school community, we support each child to make the most of every opportunity we offer.

In addition to the National Curriculum, we follow our diocesan approved programme of Religious Education and we are a UNICEF Rights Respecting School.

• Educational visits for each year group, including residential visits in Key Stage 2
• Teaching pupils about local history and culture as a heritage school
• Gold School Games status for five years and now Platinum School Games status
• Outdoor learning through lessons and Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)

Pastoral Care

Safeguarding

Safeguarding our pupils is our number one priority. We are a listening school and staff are trained in safeguarding procedures.

Our Senior Leadership Team are our Designated Safeguarding Officers and all school staff undertake safeguarding and child protection training.

We work closely with Durham Council and Clennell Education Solutions safeguarding teams.

SEND

Staff are supported by a highly skilled SEND Co-ordinator within school who oversees the whole provision.

We may also seek advice and recommendations from other professionals to ensure pupils receive the best support.

Our Community

Our Friends of St. Cuthbert’s fundraising group actively raises funds for school. If you are able to offer time, ideas or support, please get in touch.

Our school supports a number of worthwhile charities. Children help raise money to support the most vulnerable in society and those less fortunate than ourselves.

At St. Cuthbert’s we believe in being a helpful friend to others, where service is our mission.

Chadwick’s Kitchen

Our award-winning in-house catering team, Chadwick’s Kitchen, provides catering services across the Trust.

• Fresh ingredients are used to prepare healthy and nutritionally balanced meals each day
• The majority of menus are homemade by chefs in our kitchens
• Medical diets are accommodated in partnership with parents
• Parents and carers can pay for school meals using ParentPay
• Meal choices and account balances can be viewed online
• Packed lunches are permitted, but nuts and nut-based products are not allowed

Our Trust

We are proud to be part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.

The Trust covers the east part of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, with schools in East Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Our family of schools work closely together so pupils can flourish, supported by effective transition, close relationships and shared expectations.