ABOUT US

Highfield St. Matthew's C.E. Primary School is a 2 form entry Voluntary Aided School, which currently provides education for approximately 470 children between 3 and 11 years of age. At Highfield St. Matthew’s C. E. Primary School, we aim to provide a welcoming, caring, happy, Christian environment in which purposeful teaching and learning can take place and in which every child is valued equally and can achieve his/her full potential as an individual.

The school currently houses fifteen classrooms, resource areas, libraries, an ICT Suite and two halls, one of which is used as a gymnasium and a dining room. We are also fortunate in having extensive school grounds, which are largely grassed and marked for football, rugby, rounders and athletics, with hard surfaces that are marked for skittleball and netball.

• To be a happy, caring and safe school where all can expect to develop their talents.
• To be a school where every child knows and feels that he or she is valued, cared for and is making a positive contribution to their own development and the life of the school.
• To establish and develop a curriculum which motivates, challenges and meets the needs of all the children in our care
• To ensure that each child achieves his or her potential.
• To recognise, promote and develop excellence through achievement, progress and effort.
• To provide a learning environment, which values the individual and promotes disciplined, enquiring minds and equips children with the necessary skills for their future role in society.
• To make a positive contribution to the life of the local community and the environment in which we live.

The Foundation Stage curriculum is designed specifically for pupils aged 3-5 years. It consists of 6 areas of learning. These are Personal and Social Development, Communication, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Development, Physical Development, Creative Development and Knowledge and Understanding of the World. (The skills and knowledge in these areas are developed through practical, hands on, play based learning and social interaction).

We build on previous knowledge, from home, playgroups, Nurseries, etc. and take each child’s learning and development forward by providing opportunities where every child feels valued and can succeed in an atmosphere of care and trust.

Over recent years school has actively sought to extend opportunities for learning and leisure during and beyond the school day. These activities have included Family Learning (ICT, Maths and Literacy) classes for adults, Well Being and counselling courses for parents, Rosemary Conley Classes for adults, Cheerleading for adults and for all children in school. We have many sports activities taking place, as listed under P.E., and also provide extra curricular opportunities in gardening, choir, orchestra, craft club and ICT. We try to ensure that this provision enables adults and pupils alike to have interests beyond the taught curriculum and provides opportunities for social interaction, too.