News

St Mary’s Combined Catholic School has been awarded Beacon School status by the Government. The school joins two other schools in Poole - Montacute Special School and Broadstone First School - which have already been awarded Beacon School designation.

As a Beacon School, St Mary’s will be awarded around £40,000 annually to help share good practice in the school with other schools in Poole and beyond. Teachers will visit St Mary’s to observe lessons and talk with staff and special events will be staged at the school for local teachers.

Maurice O’Brien, Headteacher of St Mary’s School, said: "The pupils, staff, parents and governors are delighted with this national acknowledgement of the quality of our school team. The financial support accompanying the award will provide us with a wonderful opportunity to work in a genuine long term partnership with local schools - each school sharing its best practice. It is the focused but mutually supportive nature of these arrangements that we believe will bring the best results for all our children."

Jeff Hart, Chief Adviser in Poole, said: "I am delighted that St Mary’s Combined School has been recognised for its high standards, and awarded Beacon School status. The school has very high test results year on year and has put in place many stimulating and exciting strategies to help the pupils achieve so well. The school works very closely with the local authority and I look forward to monitoring new projects in partnership with the school."