At St Mary's, we believe that effective leadership is fundamental to creating a happy, ambitious, inclusive and successful school where everyone is encouraged to flourish. Our approach to leadership is rooted in our school vision:

'We nurture our pupils to be the best they can be in every way – in an inclusive and supportive environment, rooted in Christian teachings.'

Our motto, 'Let your light shine… as you grow' (inspired by Matthew 5:15–16), underpins our belief that every individual has unique gifts, talents and potential that should be recognised, nurtured and celebrated.

We believe that leadership is about more than holding a particular position or title. It is about taking responsibility, showing initiative, making a positive difference and leading by example. Through our six Christian values of perseverance, truthfulness, friendship, respect, trust and compassion, we encourage everyone in our school community to recognise their strengths, develop their confidence and use their gifts and talents to benefit others.

Staff Leadership

Leadership at St Mary's is shared across our staff team. Our Headteacher, supported by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), provides strategic direction and ensures that our vision, values and high expectations are reflected in all aspects of school life.

Our Senior Leadership Team brings together a range of experience and expertise, with responsibilities spanning school improvement, teaching and learning, inclusion and SEND, safeguarding, pastoral care and the leadership of individual key stages. Working closely together, they support colleagues, monitor the quality of provision and drive forward improvements to ensure the best possible outcomes for all our pupils.

Beyond the Senior Leadership Team, our subject and curriculum leaders play a vital role in developing and maintaining high-quality teaching and learning. Each leader takes responsibility for their area of the curriculum, ensuring that it is carefully planned, progressively developed and regularly reviewed. They work alongside colleagues to share expertise, develop practice and ensure that our curriculum provides rich, engaging and meaningful learning experiences for every child.

We also recognise the importance of developing leadership capacity throughout our staff team. We encourage colleagues to take on additional responsibilities, contribute their ideas, share their expertise and develop professionally. We want our staff to feel valued, supported and empowered to make a positive contribution to the continued development of St Mary's.

Pupil Leadership

We believe that every child has the potential to be a leader, regardless of their age, ability, background or individual circumstances. We are particularly proud of the breadth of pupil leadership opportunities available at St Mary's and our commitment to ensuring that leadership is genuinely inclusive and representative of our school community.

We offer a wide range of roles and responsibilities, including:

• School Council Representatives – representing classmates, sharing ideas and helping to shape decisions about school life.
• Worship Council – contributing to the planning and development of collective worship and our Christian distinctiveness.
• House Captains – encouraging teamwork, participation and house spirit across the school.
• Sports Ambassadors – promoting physical activity, sporting opportunities and positive participation.
• Eco Warriors and Ambassadors – helping us to care for our environment and develop sustainable practices.
• Play Leaders – supporting younger pupils and encouraging positive, inclusive play.
• Librarians – promoting reading and helping to maintain and organise our school library.
• Computer Monitors – supporting the responsible use and organisation of our computing equipment.
• Hall Helpers and Cloakroom Monitors – taking responsibility for shared spaces and helping our school run smoothly.

We use a combination of democratic processes and staff selection to allocate pupil leadership roles. Where appropriate, children have the opportunity to put themselves forward and be chosen through voting, giving them valuable experience of democracy, representation and having their voices heard. Alongside this, class teachers actively identify and encourage children to take on particular responsibilities, ensuring that opportunities are not limited to those who are naturally confident, outspoken or quick to volunteer.

An important part of our approach is ensuring that our pupil leadership reflects the diversity of our school community. We are mindful of providing opportunities for children from a range of backgrounds and circumstances, including pupils with SEND, those eligible for Pupil Premium, children who are young carers, pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and children who are or have been looked after. Through thoughtful staff selection and encouragement, we seek to ensure that these children are also represented and have meaningful opportunities to develop their leadership skills.

This approach recognises that leadership potential is not always immediately visible and that some children benefit from being actively encouraged and supported to take on responsibilities. We want every child to feel that they belong, that their contribution matters and that they have something valuable to offer.

Through these roles, children develop confidence, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making skills. They learn to listen to others, represent different viewpoints, take responsibility and make a positive difference to the lives of those around them.

Importantly, we want our children to understand that leadership is not simply about being in charge. It is about service, kindness, responsibility and the positive influence we can have on others through our everyday actions. We encourage all pupils to recognise that they can be leaders in their own way, by demonstrating our school values, supporting one another and setting a positive example.

Governance and Strategic Leadership

Our Governing Body provides an important layer of strategic leadership, challenge and support. Working in partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, governors help to shape the school's strategic direction, uphold its Christian vision and values, and hold leaders to account for the quality of education and provision.

As a Voluntary Aided Church of England school, our governors bring a wide range of skills, professional experience and perspectives, with strong links to St Mary's Church and the wider community. Through their involvement in strategic planning, financial oversight, safeguarding, curriculum development and school improvement, they play an important part in ensuring that St Mary's continues to move forward successfully.

Leadership Through Our Vision and Motto

Ultimately, leadership at St Mary's is about making a difference. Whether through the strategic direction provided by our leaders, the dedication and expertise of our staff, the contribution of our governors or the everyday actions of our pupils, we want everyone to feel that they have something valuable to offer.

Our vision reminds us of our responsibility to nurture every pupil in an inclusive and supportive environment, rooted in Christian teachings. Our motto, 'Let your light shine… as you grow', inspires us to recognise and celebrate the gifts and potential within every individual. We want everyone in our school community to have the confidence, opportunity and encouragement to flourish, contribute and make a positive difference to the lives of others.