Steeple Morden Church of England
Primary School
About Steeple Morden Primary School
Welcome!
I welcome you to our school website on behalf of the children, staff and governors.
We believe our pupils should have every opportunity to achieve high academic standards and develop awareness of social and moral values. We provide a secure and stimulating environment where children and adults can work productively. Relationships are very important to us and the relationships we develop with our children, their families, our community and the wider world enable us to create a warm, caring and happy school where everyone is included.
We hope that this website gives you a taste of life within our school and helps you to discover more about us, the achievements of our children and the exciting opportunities we provide. Should you have any questions which are not covered in these pages please ask.
We look forward to meeting you.
Tracey How
Headteacher
Our Philosophy
Be brave
Be kind
Be the best you can be
Our Ethos and Values
At Steeple Morden School we want our children to grow up as happy, confident, healthy and respectful individuals.
Whilst keeping safe, we support our children to take risks in their learning, and take pride in doing their very best.
We aspire for our children to be inquisitive and caring about their community and the wider environment
We encourage our children to take every opportunity provided to enrich their education and make the most of their time with us, and each other.
In essence, we want every child to
Be Brave, be Kind and be the Best they can be.
Education in Steeple Morden
In 1867 the Vicar of the Parish, William Martin, started a church day school, having obtained a government grant and financial support from New College and Lord Hardwicke. A classroom was added in 1872 and by 1880 average attendance was between 95 and 120.
In the 1890s, evening classes in subjects including: drawing, history, and commercial arithmetic, were held but attendance fell from 41 in 1894 to 16 in 1898. The day school's attendance fell from 85 in 1914 to 63 in 1922 and then to 30 in 1938. This would have been partly to do with a council school being built in Odsey, north of the railway station, in 1911 for 80 children, but this also declined in attendance from 61 in 1914 to around 30 after 1925.
From 1954, the older children from both schools went to Bassingbourn Village College. The Odsey school was closed in 1972, when the village school, with over 90 pupils, needed additional buildings.
We now have around 180 pupils on roll, split across seven classes; one in each year group, with a maximum of 30 children per class.
British Values Statement
The school aims to serve its community by providing an education and a range of learning experiences of the highest quality, within the context of Christian belief. We encourage an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith. We promote British values and good citizenship. In partnership with the Church of England at Parish and Diocesan Level we teach respect for everyone, including those of other or no faith.
Our pupils will have every opportunity to develop to their full potential and to achieve high academic standards. We believe the children should develop excellent inter-personal skills and strong, caring, social and moral values. The school provides a caring, secure and stimulating environment where children will develop creativity, resilience and a joy of learning.
Our values are linked to the parable below
The Lost Sheep (from Matthew 18, 12-14, Rainbow Good News Bible)
And underpinned by the Ethos from the Diocese of Ely:
Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level. The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience offered to all pupils.
We believe that our pupils should have every opportunity to achieve high academic standards and develop a full awareness of social and moral values. Our school provides a secure and stimulating environment where children and adults can work productively.
