EVERY CHILD IS KNOWN AND LOVED
WELCOME TO ST GREGORY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Thank you for considering St Gregory’s Catholic School for your child. I am extremely proud of our thriving school community and feel incredibly privileged to lead a school with such a strongly embedded culture of welcome which celebrates everyone.
At St Gregory’s, we welcome students from all faiths and none, no matter their prior attainment, into our inclusive and caring co-educational school. Our family approach enables us to provide a culture in which every child is known and loved.
I am passionate about ensuring that students understand their own unique value and dignity, so they may recognise and realise their God-given potential. We empower them to seize the opportunities of their education with vigour, enabling them to learn more about themselves through participation and challenge. Our students adopt the role of servant leaders, acting with empathy and integrity to make unique and positive contributions to society and the world.
St Gregory’s is among the top schools nationally for advancing students beyond the academic expectations set at the end of primary school. While we are extremely proud of the excellent progress our students make academically, our holistic approach is about so much more. Our students are encouraged and challenged to participate and excel in our four pillars: Academics; Faith and Service; Culture; and Sport & Healthy Lifestyles. Students learn most about themselves when they are encouraged to try new things and this approach allows each child to shine for who they truly are.
Alongside our rich, ambitious curriculum, students benefit from an extensive range of sporting, cultural, physical and extra-curricular activities, including clubs, trips and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Our new Sports Centre and 3G pitch enable our students to compete at the highest levels in a variety of sports and we are very proud of our remarkable record of sporting success.
St Gregory’s is proud to be a member of Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership, a collaborative family of schools dedicated to the wellbeing and academic excellence of our students. This partnership ensures a dynamic learning environment with ample opportunities for growth and achievement.
Visiting our school is the very best way to experience the strong ethos of love, respect and manners which permeate throughout our community. Our strong Catholic ethos, outstanding pastoral care, and unwavering expectations for excellence create an environment where our students flourish.
I hope very much that you will take the time to get to know us at one of our Open Events and to explore the opportunities we offer to all those in our remarkable family.
Mike Wilson Headteacher
GETTING OFF TO A GREAT START
Ensuring your child settles in well is extremely important, so we work hard to make the transition as smooth as possible. A planned series of events and activities from Year 5 onwards is specifically designed to prepare children for their move to St Gregory’s and this means, that when the time comes, our new students feel ready to join us.
To help us get to know them, our extensive programme of events begins when we invite children from Year 5 to visit St Gregory’s for our experience taster days. This continues and builds when they are in Year 6, with an exciting schedule of transition workshops, information sessions and activities.
Every Summer term, the Year 6 Induction Day is also offered to all students who will be joining us in Year 7. Featuring a full timetable of activities and lessons, along with school tours, the day enables students to get a true sense of life in our school. Altogether, these events are specifically designed to help our new students feel part of the St Gregory’s ‘family’ ahead of their start in September.
For parents, a variety of introductory welcome events provide information, as well as 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, and support is easily accessible to parents and children alike, meaning there is always someone to go to for help and guidance.
At St Gregory’s, we firmly believe a student learns best if they are happy and confident, so we do all that we can to support them individually and to ensure they enjoy this exciting stage of their education and development.
The staff went above and beyond to make my son feel welcome. They took time to ask him questions and tailored the conversation to him. It shows how invested they are in the individual children.
NEW YEAR 7 PARENT
EVERY CHILD IS KNOWN AND LOVED
At St Gregory’s, our school vision is to provide a world-class Catholic education which welcomes students into an inclusive and caring community where every child is known and loved. This commitment to truly ‘knowing’ each child, enables us to provide a supportive atmosphere in which students grow and thrive.
Throughout the school, our team of dedicated, highlyskilled staff appreciate the gifts and talents which make each child unique, whilst also encouraging them to grow spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Our experienced pastoral team, teaching staff and tutors are on hand to monitor progress and wellbeing, and we work in partnership with our parents allowing us to support our young people, both academically and pastorally.
Parents stated, ‘the pastoral care is exemplary’, where ‘staff go above and beyond to support and nurture the students.’
CSI REPORT - JUNE 2024
Teachers provide help when needed, are very supportive and they are calm and patient.
YEAR 9 STUDENT
In school, every child has a designated Tutor who they see on daily basis, and who is consistently available to inform, support, advise and reassure. There is also a Pastoral Manager assigned to each year group who can assist with any queries or concerns that may arise and who works in close partnership with our Head of Year. This integrated network of support means we are able to fully ‘know’ and understand each and every child, and it allows us to tailor our teaching and our care accordingly.
At St Gregory’s, our principle aim is to develop students who are well-rounded, resilient, confident and content, so our school values of integrity and empathy permeate all that we do. Students are expected to treat others as they would like to be treated, helping their community and leading their lives well. Every academic year, our young people are encouraged to make positive contributions to one another, to fundraise and to give back to others in society. By the time they leave St Gregory’s, students should understand their place in the wider world, and also their potential to change it for the better.
As parents, we believe the school will help our child develop as a well-rounded individual, giving them the tools to contribute positively to an ever-changing and challenging world.
PARENT
RECOGNISING AND REALISING POTENTIAL
Ranked as one of the top non-selective schools in Kent, we hold ambitious expectations for our students and, across the ability range, we motivate them all to achieve the very best they can, resulting in many outperforming the progress of their peers elsewhere.
At St Gregory’s, we firmly believe that every student can achieve success and contentment, so our curriculum is broad and appropriately ambitious for all by offering a range of options. We aim to foster a love of learning and students are positively encouraged to be unique individuals who have high expectations for themselves.
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.
By promoting a nurturing learning environment, we teach students how to develop into confident, independent thinkers, who are challenged to apply their knowledge and make informed decisions.
Enthusiastic, passionate teachers make learning exciting and inclusive. Experts in their field, our staff 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, this caring and supportive team seek to nurture each and every child, encouraging them to flourish to the very best of their ability.
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. Our aim is to develop the ‘whole’ person, so our students go out into the world as socially responsible and successful individuals who have a strong sense of how to use their skills and talents to make the world a better place.
This ensures that by the time our young people leave St Gregory’s, they are compelling candidates in their field and successfully move on to either higher education, apprenticeships or employment.
Our child has been truly blessed by the love and understanding afforded by this wonderful school. We are thankful every day that they have a safe and supportive school environment to grow and develop as a young adult.
PARENT
DEVELOPING STRENGTHS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
At St Gregory’s, our students are encouraged to embrace a range of opportunities to enrich their lives and strengthen their personal development. We deliver this through a Catholiccentred school culture, along with a varied curriculum and co-curricular opportunities.
Across the wider school, a broad range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities are available to cater for every student, together with many opportunities for leadership, community work, fundraising and mentoring. All students are encouraged to embrace these diverse experiences, allowing them to develop existing skills and providing the opportunity for them to discover new talents. This process helps to build their self-confidence and develops their resilience, so students learn how to overcome adversity and to achieve success.
Music performances, Drama productions and our annual Art exhibition are highlights of the academic year. In addition, a variety of cultural, sporting and outdoor activities are offered across all year groups. Destinations throughout the UK, Europe and around the world broaden
cultural awareness and cultivate lasting experiences. Recently our students have enjoyed visits to New York, Berlin, Iceland, Marseille, Madrid, Seville and Cyprus.
A variety of Music, Drama, Art and Sports clubs also feature; as well as Chess, Knitting, Lego and Chaplaincy clubs. Plus, our popular Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is available for Year 9 and above, with students successfully completing their bronze, silver and gold awards.
Sport is enjoyed by girls and boys of all ages throughout St Gregory’s and a wide range of after school and lunchtime sports clubs are offered to all abilities. Our extensive facilities include a new Sports Centre, full-sized 3G pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), extensive playing fields and a fitness suite.
Competitive in a wide range of sporting disciplines, we are incredibly proud of our remarkable record of success. Our many sports teams and activities offer excellent opportunities for our students to compete in district, county, regional and national fixtures throughout the year.
Altogether, this inclusive programme of enrichment creates a school culture where students embrace new experiences and are not limited by perceived barriers. Our goal is to ensure that every student at St Gregory’s is offered the opportunities they need to become a well-rounded individual and the very best version of themselves.
Thanks to the nurturing and encouraging environment provided by St Gregory’s, our son has really grown in confidence.
He has developed a solid friendship group and, most importantly, is happy, positive and sociable.
PARENT
ST GREGORY’S AND BEYOND
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 world.
Whilst at St Gregory’s, our school values are embedded in all that we do. We teach our students how to understand and respect one another, to value honesty, to listen and to care. Our students can show compassion and empathy which allows them to make considered decisions and partake fully in wider society.
Our Sixth Form, with its exclusive facilities, is a popular choice with students. Offering a strong academic reputation and a curriculum suited to the individual needs of all, there is a wide range of Level 3 courses on offer including A Levels, BTECs and Applied Diplomas.
Whilst in our Sixth Form, our students benefit from its excellent support and progress mentoring. A combination of quality, subject-specialist teaching and incredible pastoral care helps to inspire, build self-esteem and the confidence to achieve.
The result is that our Sixth Form is a vibrant and successful community, where students progress and pursue their academic studies, and are able to develop into happy, well-rounded individuals.
Throughout the school, St Gregory’s students consistently receive high examination results and our Sixth Form benefit from extensive support with university applications and careers guidance. All students are helped with the move onto their chosen path and onward destinations include Oxbridge, top universities, medical and veterinary schools, as well as apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
When students leave St Gregory’s, they do so secure with the knowledge, the skills and the mindset to thrive in our ever-changing, international environment.
My time at St Gregory’s was transformative. The supportive teachers and staff encouraged me to excel academically and personally. The strong sense of community helped me build lasting friendships and valuable skills. St Gregory’s prepared me well for the future, fostering a love for learning and personal growth.
YEAR 13 STUDENT
