From the Head of School 

Welcome to St Thomas’ Church of England Primary Academy, a  friendly and fully inclusive  primary school . We aspire for everyone to achieve their God-given academic, personal and spiritual potential, so they flourish and make a positive impact in the world. Jesus came to offer life in all its fullness, and we aim to support this through providing a Christian education for the children of Kidsgrove and the surrounding areas through learning for life with Jesus. We want children to ‘learn for life with Jesus’ and flourish in every aspect of their lives. We also want all members of staff and our school community to be flourishing.

At St Thomas’, our caring and happy environment is one where children can thrive and achieve their full  potential, discovering and developing their individual  gifts and talents. As a church school, we are proud of the values we promote, placing them at the heart of everything we do, This makes  St Thomas’ C of E a truly special place to be.  What makes us special and unique is our sense of community - we pride ourselves on being a inclusive,  friendly and flourishing community. where children and their families are at the heart of everything we do.  

One of the lasting impressions visitors to our school comment on is the behaviour, manners and productivity of the learners in an orderly, quiet and calm environment. Children are really inspired to learn here because their teachers provide them with learning opportunities that are motivational, they encourage children’s curiosity, intellectual thinking yet are achievable and interesting.

A real strength of St Thomas' is the staff. From the hard-working office staff who are a major link between home and school to the cleaning, site and catering staff and the teaching team. Teachers work incredibly hard crafting lessons with the needs of the children central to their planning. They are responsible for driving the learning forward and enabling children to achieve their potential. This was celebrated in our most recent SIAMS inspection. 

A vibrant and positive energy enables pupils to thrive. Dedicated staff are unwavering in their nurture & support. This enables pupils to grow and flourish as unique individuals. Skilled staff ensure targeted support is deployed to support pupils effectively. Regardless of background or need, pupils are at the heart of their work. 

We have strong link with our local parish - St Thomas' in Kidsgrove . Reverend Iain and other members of the clergy and parishioners  work with the children in school and take the lead in our weekly Worship every Friday. Over the course of the year, the  children  spend time working within the parish to support and enhance their spiritual life. This can include celebrating key festivals, taking part in our INSPIRE workshops and supporting the local community and foodbank.

We really value our parents and families.  We really appreciate the support and feedback of our paretsna dn families, we aim to work together as one unit to ensure we are providing our children with a wide range of opportunities and experiences. We warmly encourage all parents and families to engage with school through our termly SHINE sessions,  workshops, class led coffee mornings, school events, concerts and parent voice opportunities. With Christian values at our heart, we support children’s acquisition of basic skills to enable them to develop high aspirations and a life-long love of learning. We want all of our children to leave us with a secure foundation and the personal, social and academic skills to continue to thrive and take their part as a flourishing global citizen in the world around them. 

It is a privilege to be Head of School at a school, where rooted in Christian values, everyone combines to produce an active, inclusive and exciting place to be, somewhere that children and their families feel nurtured and supported  enabling them to flourish so they can be the best they can be.

Mrs Pierpoint.