Mission Statement
‘This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you’
John 15.12
We aim to be a welcoming, caring, and worshipping community, firmly rooted in the teachings of Christ; recognising and respecting each individual as a unique gift from God. Together we aim to forge a partnership, working for the good of all, to enable us to grow and develop spiritually, academically, socially and morally.
The Catholic Ethos
St. Walburga’s is a Catholic school. The teaching and practice of the Catholic faith lies at the heart of our curriculum. From it spring those features which produce the school’s ethos, such as the quality of relationships, concern for equality of opportunity and concern and respect for every child as a unique gift from God. We aim to foster a spirit of true Christianity throughout the school in the children’s behaviour towards each other, their care of the environment and in the use of their time and talents.
As a Catholic school we regard the teaching of the Catholic faith of crucial importance. It is taught throughout the school during time set aside for this purpose but it is also taught and, equally importantly, practised regularly and frequently in other aspects of school life.
Our aims in the areas of Religion and spiritual development are:-
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to foster individual spiritual growth and awareness of God
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to encourage a sense of wonder and an understanding of the Christian way of life based on the teaching and the life of Jesus
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to develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and Sacraments and, through them, our relationship with God
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to encourage the development of responsible attitudes, i.e. self-discipline, self-criticism, discrimination, tolerance, loyalty, honesty and justice
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to foster an increasing ability to control socially unacceptable emotions such as greed, anger, impatience and physical aggression
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to develop a care and respect both for the immediate environment and the world which supports it
The Religious Syllabus used throughout the school is the ‘Here I Am’ programme as recommended by the Portsmouth Diocese
The assemblies are a very important part of the school day. They are religious in character and regularly include readings from Scripture and well-known Catholic prayers. These are all part of the children’s faith heritage. The assemblies also try to bring home the Gospel values. The Junior classes take it in turn to produce assemblies for the other children in the Juniors. A range of services, including school Masses, are regularly celebrated in school, again the Junior classes take it in turn to prepare these with the help of their teacher and priest. Parents are very welcome to attend class Masses.
Parents have the legal right for their child to be withdrawn from RE or acts of worship. Responsibility for their supervision will be the parents’ in consultation with the Headteacher.
About the School
 St. Walburga’s School is a two form entry Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School situated in the area of Moordown in Bournemouth. There has been a St. Walburga’s Catholic School in Bournemouth since 1877, initially for children of both primary and secondary age. The school is named after the Saxon princess, St Walburga, who spent her early life in nearby Wimborne. In 1929 the school moved to new premises in Malvern Road. With the opening of a new Catholic secondary school in 1962 St. Walburga’s was reborn as a primary school.
Since its beginning in 1877 the number of children attending the school has grown. We now have over 450 children on roll, however despite its large size one of the school’s strengths is its family atmosphere.
The school buildings currently consist of 14 classrooms, an Assembly Hall/Gym, two ICT Suites, Junior and Infant Libraries, Special Needs Base, and Music Room together with offices and staffroom. The school has two playgrounds, one for the Infants and one for the Juniors. In the grounds there is also a Butterfly Garden, Wildlife Area and Pond.
 The Headteacher and staff have always sought high standards of behaviour and achievement in a caring Catholic ambience. At present there are fourteen classes in the school - 6 infant and 8 junior. Classes are grouped according to age and are of mixed ability. Children are seen as individuals, each with their own needs. Each teacher is conscious of the need to provide work to suit the differing abilities of the children.
The number of pupils on roll at the beginning of the Autumn Term 2005 was 420. Current yearly intakes are approximately 60. On leaving St. Walburga’s the pupils have the option of attending St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School in Bournemouth.
The vast majority of the children come from the Parish of the Annunciation and St. Edmund Campion. The school strives to maintain close links with all our parish communities. Parents and parishioners are always welcome in the school and many give the teachers assistance in the classroom.
Mission Statement
‘This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you’
John 15.12
We aim to be a welcoming, caring, and worshipping community, firmly rooted in the teachings of Christ; recognising and respecting each individual as a unique gift from God. Together we aim to forge a partnership, working for the good of all, to enable us to grow and develop spiritually, academically, socially and morally.
Aims
St. Walburga’s School, as part of the Roman Catholic diocesan family of Portsmouth, exists to further the work of Christ, and this fundamental truth is the essence of all that we are and all that we do.
We aim to foster a personal spiritual life and a love and understanding of the sacraments in all members of the school community, through prayer, worship and example.
For our pupils ….
to develop each pupil’s talents, abilities, skills and understanding to their full potential in all areas of learning by having high expectations of work and behaviour and by encouraging strengths and supporting weaknesses;
- to help all pupils develop lively and enquiring minds;
- to help all pupils set high personal standards of achievement;
- to encourage, in each child, a true sense of social and moral responsibility, a respect for human life and God’s creation, and the practice of self discipline;
- to help each pupil to be a member of a living, loving, reconciling, worshipping community with Christ at its centre, witnessing to society at large;
- to help each pupil feel valued as an individual with a unique contribution to make, fostered by positive encouragement and guidance.
For our staff ….
to support, encourage and affirm our staff;
- to provide our staff with the development opportunities necessary to allow them to carry out their work as effectively as possible and to give them professional fulfilment.
For our families ….
to develop and sustain the relationships between home, school and parish by giving an experience of a caring and welcoming Catholic community
- to recognise the importance of parents as the first educators of their children and to support them in this responsibility;
- to establish positive links with parents through effective communication and support; t o provide parents with the best professional advice possible
For our community ….
to promote mutual respect between all members of our community;
- to work in partnership with the local parish community in developing the faith and religious commitment of the children;
- to provide opportunities for all members of the community to take an active part in meaningful and relevant worship;
- to provide a safe and secure environment for all members of the school community.
 As they move on from the school, we intend that our pupils will take with them dignity, a sense of justice, open-mindedness, Catholic attitudes and a lasting commitment to a living faith, and will see themselves as valuable members of the parish and of the wider community.
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