Proposal to Amalgamate. The governing bodies of Our Lady of Dolours and St Mary of the Angels are consulting on an amalgamation. This is St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School. It stands as a beacon of learning and faith in Bayswater London. St Mary of the Angels is more than just a school. It is a community.
St Mary of the Angels serves mainly Catholic families. These families reside in the parishes of St Mary of the Angels Our Lady Queen of Heaven and Our Lady of Sorrows. The school’s mission is clear. It works to develop a loving relationship with God and each other. Pupils follow Jesus in all they think do and say.
Let’s step back to June 2024. The Catholic Schools Inspectorate judged the school’s quality of Catholic education. It was outstanding. Inspectors noted St Mary of the Angels is an exceptionally welcoming and joyful community. Pupils embrace the Catholic identity. They show deep respect for themselves and others. Behaviour is exceptional. Attitudes to learning are outstanding. The leadership team is inspiring. They have a deep understanding of their mission. Pupils have excellent subject knowledge in religious education. They make consistently good progress. Pupils reflect spiritually and think ethically.
Imagine the sounds of prayer and liturgy. Pupils actively participate in a rich variety of opportunities. The school aims to provide a broad balanced and creative curriculum. This curriculum enables every child to develop their gifts from God. The goal is for each child to be the best they can be.
The school achieves this in several ways. It creates a welcoming happy secure and caring environment. All can work and achieve their full potential. The curriculum meets the spiritual emotional moral intellectual and physical needs of all pupils. It prepares them for the responsibilities of adult life. St Mary of the Angels develops a spirit of care generosity forgiveness and equal opportunity. This happens within a multicultural community through prayer and living their faith. The school community worships together celebrating meaningful liturgy. The prayer life of all is nourished guided and developed.
Consider the history curriculum at St Mary of the Angels. It guides pupils to become skilled historians. The curriculum is ambitious inspiring and purposeful. It helps children understand the link between past and present. It shows how our lives have been shaped by past events. Children develop inquisitive minds. They learn lessons from the past to create a brighter future. The curriculum develops their cultural capital. It increases their knowledge of the world. It fosters a sense of identity.
Critical thinking skills are encouraged. Children use and query sources of information. They consider different points of view. They gain a deeper understanding of how our past affects our future.
Currently Mrs Mary Wilson leads St Mary of the Angels as Headteacher. The school caters to children aged 3 to 11. It includes a nursery provision. The school has a capacity of 322 pupils.
St Mary of the Angels is more than bricks and mortar. It is a place where faith learning and community intertwine. It shapes young minds and hearts. It prepares them to be pilgrims of hope in the world.