St Gregory's Catholic School Prospectus

WELCOME TO ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Our mission at St Gregory’s is to provide a world-class Catholic education through our outstanding and inclusive Christian approach. We welcome students of all faiths and none.

Founded in 1966 and part of the Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership, we have a strong family ethos based on Catholic values which helps the young people in our care to succeed, not just academically, but as well-balanced individuals.

At St Gregory’s, we offer a combination of first-class teaching and incredible pastoral care. Dedicated staff work hard to ensure that every student is supported and is encouraged to grow spiritually and intellectually, so that they can each make unique and positive contributions to society and the world. We aim to empower our students to be their very best, ensuring they gain the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their potential.

Our school is among the top schools nationally for progressing students beyond the academic expectations set at the end of primary school.

Right across the ability range, students are nurtured and challenged with many outperforming their grammar school peers. Most students move on to our vibrant Sixth Form which offers a broad range of subjects and all the support needed to springboard into higher education and employment.

This prospectus is just a brief introduction to our school. We look forward to welcoming you during one of our Open Events, so you may experience for yourself the wide opportunities we have to offer your son or daughter. For further information, please visit our website at www.sgschool.org.uk

“ I believe this is the school where my child will achieve academic excellence, as well as develop the skills and confidence to allow them to excel in the world.”

GETTING OFF TO A GREAT START

As the move from primary to secondary school can be an anxious and emotional time for children and parents alike, our series of events and activities from Year 5 onwards are designed to help prepare students and enable us to get to know them.

Making sure your child settles in well is extremely important and we work hard to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible. Each year, our programme of Experience Days allows children in Year 5 to attend St Gregory’s for a day of activities and lessons, providing a real flavour of life in our school. The Year 6 Induction Day, held every Summer term, offers school tours and a sample timetable to all the students who will be

joining us in Year 7. Plus, during their first term at St Gregory’s, our new students enjoy a team building day which helps them to integrate and develop new friendships with their peers.

Prior to starting, our Welcome Information Evening offers our new parents the opportunity to meet staff and ask questions. Once in school, our network of staff is always on hand to provide excellent pastoral care to your child. This network of support is easily accessible to parents, meaning there is always someone to go to for help and guidance.

At St Gregory’s, we firmly believe that a happy and confident student learns best and will get the most out of the opportunities available to them during this exciting stage of their education and development.

Christ’s love is at the centre of all that we do and we are particularly proud of the social, emotional and wellbeing support we provide at St Gregory’s. Our school is a kind and caring community where students from all backgrounds, faiths and ethnic groups work well together, preparing them for higher education and employment.

LOVE

EVERY CHILD IS KNOWN AND LOVED

As a faith-based community, we strive for excellence for each student, whilst appreciating the gifts and talents that make them unique. We want all our students to know they are loved and celebrated irrespective of their differences. As such, the care we provide is a real strength and is the key to our students progressing beyond expectations, becoming resilient, confident and successful young people.

At St Gregory’s our mission is that our students encounter the love of Christ, live life to the full, and learn all they can about the world, so they can lead lives which change it for the better.

Our experienced pastoral team, teaching staff and tutors continually support students, monitoring progress and wellbeing. Parents are encouraged to contact the school if they wish to discuss their child, either academically or pastorally, and all our staff work together to ensure the best outcomes.

At St Gregory’s, our Catholic ethos and mission underpin all we do. We believe that through opportunities for prayer, reflection and celebration of the sacraments, we can help our students find their God-given vocation. Through RE lessons students have the opportunity to grow in understanding of their own faith and that of others.

Every year our students are encouraged to fundraise and help those throughout our local and global communities, developing their understanding of their place in the wider world and their potential to change it for the better.

“ The pastoral care and support provided to all students by teachers and support staff is excellent. As a result, students thrive in this highly inclusive and welcoming school where gospel values permeate all aspects of school life.

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DENOMINATIONAL INSPECTION

ST

GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

ENHANCED LEARNING WITH WORLD-CLASS OPPORTUNITIES

Our curriculum is broad, and appropriately ambitious for all by offering a range of options. It promotes a learning environment which teaches students how to develop scholarly habits so they can become confident, independent learners who are challenged to apply their knowledge and make informed decisions.

Our highly skilled, enthusiastic teachers make learning exciting and inclusive. They are genuinely interested in the welfare and progress of every individual student and they understand that everyone learns in different ways - that they can be strong in one subject, yet challenged by another. At St Gregory’s, the staff nurture each and every child, encouraging them to flourish to the very best of their ability.

“ My children are all very lucky to be attending St Gregory’s and, as a parent, I feel that they are having the best educational start in life.”

“ The school has wonderful and exciting lessons. The teachers are amazing and handcrafted lessons increase how much we learn.”

PARENT

LOVE | LEARN | LIVE | LEAD

Alongside the curriculum subjects, we teach competencies such as communication, leadership and problem-solving as well as providing our students with the cultural and linguistic skills to thrive in a global context. In addition to enabling them to achieve academic qualifications, these are key skills that universities and employers search for and they ensure our students are compelling candidates in their field for higher education or employment.

LEARN

“ Our child has been truly blessed by the love and understanding afforded by this wonderful school and we are thankful every day that she has a safe and supportive school environment to grow and develop as a young adult.”

Our students are encouraged to live life to the full, embracing a range of opportunities to enrich their lives and strengthen their personal development. We deliver this through a Catholic-centred school culture, along with a varied curriculum and cocurricular opportunities. This allows our students to develop and grow, building selfconfidence and the resilience to overcome adversity and achieve success.

LIVE

ENRICHMENT STRENGTHENS PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

For students joining in Year 7, our internationally recognised Football Academy is incredibly successful and popular. Girls and boys who are selected for the Football Academy share a flair and passion for football and receive specialised coaching as part of their timetable.

Across the wider school, a broad range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities are available to cater for every student, together with opportunities for leadership, community work and mentoring. A variety of Music, Drama, Art and Sports clubs feature, as well as Chess, Lego, Gardening and Chaplaincy clubs.

Our very successful Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is available for Year 9 and above, and our Eco club has been instrumental in St Gregory’s achieving the Eco Schools award. All our students are encouraged to embrace these diverse opportunities which aim to develop new and existing talents.

Music performances, school drama productions and our annual art exhibition are real highlights of the academic year. In addition, a variety of cultural, sporting and outdoor activities are on offer throughout the UK, across Europe and to destinations around the world which broaden cultural awareness, cultivating lasting experiences and friendships for our students.

Sport is enjoyed by girls and boys of all ages at St Gregory’s and as a school we are competitive in a wide range of sporting disciplines. Our extensive facilities include a new Sports Centre, full sized 3G pitch, a multi-use games area (MUGA), extensive playing fields and a fitness suite. After school and lunchtime clubs are on offer to all abilities and our students have the opportunity to compete in district, county, regional and national fixtures across the year.

This diverse range of enrichment opportunities creates a school culture in which students embrace new experiences and are not limited by perceived barriers. At St Gregory’s we enable students to become well-rounded individuals and the very best version of themselves.

“ The students are very friendly and they are well supported to reach their full potential.”

ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

STUDENTS RECOGNISE AND REALISE THEIR POTENTIAL

At St Gregory’s we develop young people who are curious, enjoy learning, have high expectations of themselves and are ambitious for their futures. We empower our students to realise their potential and to recognise the difference they can make in our ever changing world.

As a whole, our curriculum enables students to develop positive attitudes and behaviours, demonstrating that they value and respect themselves and others. They can show compassion and empathy which allows them to make considered decisions and partake fully in wider society. St Gregory’s students are informed because they understand how to learn and the value of learning.

Our Sixth Form is a popular choice with a strong academic reputation and a curriculum suited to the individual needs of all students. Students who stay on in Sixth Form achieve consistently good examination results enabling them to move on to their chosen path, including Oxbridge, top universities, medical and veterinary schools.

“ Thanks to my time at St Gregory’s, I now have much more confidence and I have been thriving at university. The wonderful staff have all been very supportive of me, pushing me to reach greater academic and personal heights.”

FORMER STUDENT