A very warm welcome to St Mary’s.
Thank you for visiting our website. Whether you are a current parent, a prospective family or simply exploring who we are, I hope you find the information helpful and get a real sense of what makes St Mary’s such a joyful, nurturing and aspirational place to learn and grow.
At St Mary’s, our vision, “Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing; together shining a light,” is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that children flourish best when they are both encouraged and supported to aim high and surrounded by warmth, care and belonging. Our Christian values - friendship, compassion, perseverance, trust, forgiveness and courage - are lived out every day, helping to create a deeply inclusive and respectful school culture.
We welcome families of all faiths and none. As a Church of England school, our Christian identity is central to who we are, but we celebrate and value the diversity within our community. We have a strong and active partnership with St Mary’s Church in Rickmansworth, and Gary, the vicar, is an integral part of our school life.
Visitors frequently comment on the warmth of our school, the confidence and kindness of our pupils, and the strength of the relationships across our school family. In our most recent pupil survey, children said they feel safe, are well supported, enjoy learning new things and love being with their friends. They were also keen to mention that “the food is really good!”
We are proud to be a one-form entry primary school, which allows us to know every child and family personally. This sense of connection makes our school feel like an extended family, one where every child is known, valued and encouraged to thrive. We work closely with our parent community through regular communication, half-termly Class Rep meetings and a fantastic PTA who organise events and fundraising to enhance school life.
Our children benefit not only from the support of our strong leadership team and staff but also from a committed and proactive governing board. In addition, as a proud member of the Chess Valley Primary Learning Trust, we benefit from collaborative working, shared expertise and access to wider opportunities that strengthen our provision and support continual improvement.
At St Mary’s, we are passionate about developing the whole child. Our curriculum is both rich and rigorous, designed to inspire curiosity, deepen understanding and secure strong academic outcomes. We are ambitious for every pupil and set high expectations, ensuring that all children are well equipped for the next stage of their education and beyond. We aim to foster a love of learning alongside the skills, knowledge and confidence that will set children up for success both now and in the future.
This is complemented by a wide and inclusive enrichment offer, where pupils take part in:
Whole-class instrumental music lessons from Year 2 and private music tuition (guitar, piano, drumming) through our partnership with SoundBox
Our Spanish curriculum is taught from Year 1
After-school enrichment clubs including football, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, gardening, arts and craft, musical theatre productions, Enterprise Club, Sign Language and more
Curriculum-linked experiences such as Young Voices at Wembley, STEM Week, live performances and residential and day trips
Leadership opportunities through School Council, Eco Council, Ethos Council and Sports Council, as well as all of our Year 6 pupils having a Position of Responsibility
A purpose-built library which promotes a deep love of reading and storytelling from the very start of school life
Wellbeing and emotional literacy are central to our approach. Through whole-school programmes like FEELIT! and the YouHQ wellbeing app, our children are equipped with the tools to understand and manage their emotions, build resilience and develop healthy relationships.
As Ofsted (2019) recognised:
“Leaders are determined to provide the best possible education for all pupils. The exciting, aspirational curriculum develops pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well. They are well prepared for the next stage in their education and for life in modern Britain.”
One question we are often asked is where our children move on to for their secondary phase of education. The majority of our children move on to St Clement Danes and Rickmansworth School, with others gaining places at Watford Grammar, Dr Challoner’s, St Joan of Arc, Royal Masonic, The Reach and Croxley Danes.
Most of all, St Mary’s is a place where children feel valued, challenged and loved - a place where they can be themselves, stretch themselves and become the very best version of themselves.
If you're considering St Mary’s for your child, I would be delighted to meet you and show you around. Please contact Mrs Palmer in the school office on 01923 776529 to arrange a visit.
With warm wishes,
Mrs Natasha Maxwell
Headteacher