St Mary’s Prep

Congratulations on your ‘Outstanding’ Archdiocese RE Inspection

Christian Education Department inspectors from the Archdiocese of Liverpool visited St. Mary’s College Preparatory School recently and gave it an ‘outstanding’ grading for the Catholic education it provides. The school is one of the first to be inspected under the new, ‘more rigorous’ framework. Although St Mary’s Prep is not in direct trusteeship of the Christian Brothers, we are proud that it continues to be very much an ‘Edmund Rice school’, committed to the Eight Essentials and very engaged with the Edmund Rice network. The commitment to our Edmund Rice Catholic Religious Order Charism can be clearly witnessed in the comments from the inspectors; pupils strive for excellence, the school is passionate in providing an education for justice, cares for those most in need, demonstrates concern for the whole person, builds a strong Christian community and clearly promotes the spiritual as a priority in its daily routines. According to their report, the outstanding features include staff who offer ‘a culture of welcome to all’ and provide ‘a loving, caring environment where every pupil has the chance to thrive and develop their own unique talents’. The inspectors also say that ‘the behaviour of pupils is outstanding – they are articulate, religiously literate and supportive of each other’. Other factors singled out for praise include leadership at the school, with the Headmaster, Jonathan Webster, and Subject Leader for Religious Education, Paula Walton, described as ‘aspirational in their vision’, and ‘leading by example supported by the governing body and wider school community’. The inspectors were also impressed with pupils’ links with charities and the local community, and the fact that parents ‘are overwhelmingly positive in their comments about the ethos of the school’. Elsewhere they say that the overall quality of teaching, learning and assessment is ‘outstanding’ while in lessons ‘pupils are highly engaged, reflective and speak with confidence about their understanding’. St. Mary’s Prep Headmaster, Jonathan Webster, said: “Everyone at the school is delighted to have received such a positive report from the Archdiocese inspectors. “It reinforces the success of our approach which is to recognise that each child has their own excellence, and it is our responsibility to find this and nurture it throughout their time with us. “Developing the moral and spiritual life of pupils is a fundamental element in this approach and we are very pleased that the inspectors recognised that this is at the heart of everything we do as a school.” We warmly congratulate RE Coordinator Ms Paula Walton a well as Mr Webster on such an amazing, well-deserved report.