Aims of the School

The first aim of our school is to provide a happy, caring, secure and stimulating environment which will surround our children when they first enter school. The general atmosphere in the school is one of informality though this does not lessen the level of discipline and good manners maintained in the school. Respect for every human being within the school including oneself is a must. When children enter school the rudiments of social training must begin immediately. From now onwards they must learn to live, work, eat and play with others for a major part of their day. Good habits of tidiness, cleanliness and polite manners must begin as soon as children are able to appreciate their value.

Spiritual aims of the school

"A Catholic school is a community of faith with common vision, based on Christian values and a knowledge of the world, illuminated by faith". (The Lay Catholic in School)

Community of faith: - comprises all staff, teaching and non-teaching and all of the pupils. It also encompasses a wider section of people who are involved with the school. These include the school governors, parish clergy, the parish itself and the community in which the school is situated. Also actively involved are the parents of the children, for the parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of the faith, for it is under the guidance of family love that children best discover how to be themselves and to grow in 'wisdom and grace'. Home provides the security that enables a child to learn by mistakes, to discover limits, to stretch out to the unknown and so imperceptibly, and in a variety of ways, to grow. In all homes, save perhaps a very few, there is some genuine experience of love, and this is the source of the presence and of the knowledge of God, for "where love is, there is God."

Common Vision: growth towards Christ's kingdom of justice, peace and love.

Based on Christian Values: the life of Christ put into practice by serving each other, both in and out of the community.

Illuminated by faith: working towards the upbuilding of man and growth towards the glory of God.

Each child is a unique individual and has the opportunity during their years within the school to affect and influence for good or ill, those around them, in a multiplicity of ways, through actions as well as words.

Within our school we aim to develop in each individual:

1. an awareness of self.
2. an awareness of individual potential.
3. the opportunity to develop the individual personality as fully as possible.
4. an appreciation of the place of the individual within the larger confines of class or school.
5. the opportunity to develop good relationships outside the classroom.
6. the opportunity to develop good relationships outside the school environment.

The above aims define what a child is intended to gain from his/her education.

General Aims

To help in achieving the overall aim of the Catholic school it is necessary to have more general aims - those contained in "A framework for the School Curriculum" form a good basis.

These are:

1. To instill respect for religious and moral values and tolerance of other races and ways of life.

2. To help pupils to develop lively, enquiring minds, the ability to question and argue rationally and to apply themselves to tasks and physical skills.

3. To help pupils to acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life in a fast changing world.

4. To help pupils to use language and number effectively.

5. To help pupils to understand the world in which they live and the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations.

6. To help pupils appreciate human achievements and aspirations whilst able to tolerate the failings of others.

These general aims are more easily understood within the context of subject areas. The subject areas have now been defined by government and are encompassed within the National Curriculum guidelines. Here at Our Lady of Lourdes we accept these guidelines and adhere to them.

The aims of the school can only by achieved by all staff within the school showing professional and Christian commitment to the realisation of these aims. The Christian aspect comes from a personal belief and showing God's love to all: staff to staff, staff to pupil and through these examples leading to pupil to pupil to follow.

National Curriculum

The 'Here I Am' scheme of religious instruction, which is promoted by the Diocese is followed throughout the school.

The school is working hard to make a positive implementation of the National Curriculum especially in the core areas of Mathematics, English and Science. The school offers all the National Curriculum foundation subjects for a reasonable time. The foundation subjects are Technology, Information Communication Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Music, Art and P.E.