Be who God created you to be and you will set the world on fire!
St Catherine of Siena
Prospective Parents
Although generally oversubscribed, due to having two bulge classes (double cohort of 60 spaces), we still have a few spaces remaining in Year 2. Additionally our pupil numbers increase in KS2, so we have some spaces in Year 3.
For information on how to apply, please see the Admissions Section of our website and Herts Admsisions at:
Why should you choose St Catherine’s?
Please take a look at our school brochure.
In this area, we are blessed with a wealth of strong schools, including other Catholic schools, so why should you pick St Cath’s for your child? Every school is different. This website should give you a feel for what makes St Cath’s special, but some key things to note are:
- We are a small school, with a true family feel. As a one-form entry school, we get to know each and every pupil as an individual. Every child is known by name and greeted as such by every member of staff. Many of our staff went to the school or their children attended the school and we have families who have sent multiple generations through the St Catherine’s doors.
- Our pastoral care and safeguarding are second to none. Every morning, the leadership team greet the children on our roundabout and welcome them into school. Academic achievement is important, but the single most important thing is that your child is happy and safe at school.
- We believe in promoting the development of the whole person. We want our children to ‘Be who God created them to be’. That means discovering their own unique skills and talents and flourishing holistically – socially and emotionally as well as academically.
- Our children are agents for change. We want them to ‘Set the world on fire’ while at St Cath’s and beyond! Our pupils are engaged in the world around them and believe that they have the ability to change the world. Whether about climate change, sustainability, poverty, racism, social justice or any other societal issue, we encourage our children to learn, critically question and act.
- Our staff our truly exceptional. In St Cath’s, we have the perfect mix of youth, experience, energy, enthusiasm and wisdom. As well as young, innovative, creative staff, who want to be the cutting edge of current educational thinking, we have long-serving members of staff who bring years of experience to their roles.
- We have a school Farm. Our pupils learn from and in nature. As well as ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs on the Farm, we have an abundance of wildlife around us including muntjac deer and woodpeckers.
- We have an incredible school site. You approach our school via a long, meandering driveway, with woodland to your right and fields to your left. Our school is surrounded by a vast area of land, which we utilise to support the learning of our children. Sharing a field with St Michael’s Catholic High School, we have access to numerous football pitches, astro-turf, large fields, woodland and several playgrounds with play equipment, a penned EYFS outdoor area as well as a multi-sports wall.
- The standards of behaviour in our school are exceptional. Every visitor to St Cath’s comments on how polite and well-mannered are pupils are. We believe in restorative justice and support our children to learn from mistakes and make better choices in the future.
- We are an extremely diverse school and celebrate that diversity. Our school community is enriched by the breadth of religious and cultural background within our families.
- We are a truly inclusive school. We have an extremely good reputation for our support of pupils with SEND, continually receiving praise from external agencies and parents. We firmly believe in the principle of ‘Fair not Equal’ and strive to enable every child to succeed and thrive.
- Our children are given huge amounts of responsibility, autonomy and independence and live up to it. There are countless examples of positions of responsibility at St Cath’s – Year 6 Buddies, Roundabout Monitors, Farm Rangers, Junior Leadership Team, Christs’ Crew, Eco Monitors, Sustainability Society… the list goes on!
Parent Testimonials
“My experience of St Catherine’s
All I wanted for my children when they started “big school” was to feel happy, safe and seen as an individual. St Catherine’s have absolutely exceeded all of my expectations in all of the above! The boys love school and every day is different for them. The teaching and support staff work so hard to enable the boys to reach their own potential and I am so grateful that their experience of primary school is such a positive one. Additions to the school such as the farm and forest school have enabled the children to have wider and richer experiences during their school day.
My youngest child Pearl is hopefully joining the school in September and I just know she will love every minute. It really is a wonderful school and I feel very much part of the school community. “
Katie Tyas – Parent of children- Parent of children in Y6 and Year 1
“ A creative and individual approach is the clearest reflection of the school. Close contact both with children of different age groups and farm animals is an irreplaceable everyday experience. The involvement of teachers and management makes each day an adventure, different from the previous one. This, together with the unique way of teaching is a confirmation that the school tries to meet the needs of every child by thinking outside the box and proving that learning does not have to be boring. There is no issue or a question that cannot be referred directly to the Headteacher, her personal touch and engagement in school life is a testimony to the value of the school that no child would go unnoticed.”
Magdalena Bieda – Parent of current Y6 pupil and former Y6 pupil
“St Catherine’s continues to provide my children with a warm, nurturing environment that has a real sense of community. There are so many opportunities to develop their academic skills, as well as skills that enable them to become well-rounded, confident, kind people. The children are celebrated and recognised for their efforts in so many different areas. They bubble with excitement to receive a head teachers award for good efforts or be put on the recognition board for something kind they may have done! The Christmas Craft Fayre is a real hit, my children love the opportunity to put so many of their skills into practise there! As a parent, I love the communication that the ‘Feedback Friday’ booklet provides so we are aware of what the children will be focusing on in each subject the following week. A very happy St Catherine’s family!!”
Natalie Pepper – Parent of Year 6 pupil and year 2 pupil
There is a strong sense of community at St Catherine’s and everyone makes you feel welcome. The school provides a positive attitude to learning and development which builds confidence. We appreciate the opportunity to share our views as parents and carers through parent questionnaires and surveys. The school listens and provides excellent communication, including prompt responses to emails, Twitter updates and general updates via email. The Headteacher and staff are helpful, kind and approachable. St Catherine’s provides a caring environment and nurtures pupils while challenging them to explore and develop strengths.
Chris & Hayley Rees – Parents of former pupils (St Michael’s) and Year 4 pupil