Welcome from the Headteacher

It is my great privilege to welcome you to St Mary’s—a small, growing and family-centred school situated in the beautiful Ribble Valley village of Chipping. We are proud to serve families from Chipping, Longridge and the surrounding communities.

At St Mary’s, every child is known, valued and cherished. With three mixed-age classes and our pre-school, we provide a close-knit and nurturing environment where children feel safe, happy and ready to learn. There is a genuine warmth within our school; our children enjoy being here, our staff are proud to work here, and visitors often comment upon the welcoming atmosphere they experience as soon as they arrive.

Our Catholic faith is at the heart of school life. We are Rooted in Love, recognising the dignity and unique gifts of every child. We put our Faith in Action through kindness, compassion and service to others. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, we help children understand their responsibility to care for one another, contribute to their community and work towards a fairer and more just world. We also actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, respect and tolerance, individual liberty and the rule of law.

We are a forward-thinking school with high ambitions for every child. Through high-quality, evidence-informed teaching and meaningful learning experiences, we develop knowledgeable and curious learners who can think independently, persevere through challenges and approach the future with confidence. We want children to enjoy learning, achieve their full potential and truly Learn to Thrive.

Inclusion is central to who we are. We warmly welcome children and families of all faiths and backgrounds. Although we are a Catholic school, many of our pupils are not Catholic, and we value the richness that different experiences, cultures and perspectives bring to our school family.

Choosing a school for your child is an important decision, and the best way to understand St Mary’s is to experience it for yourself. I warmly invite you to visit us, meet our children and staff, and discover what makes our school so special. Please contact the school office on 01995 61367 to arrange a visit or discuss any questions with me or our School Business Manager, Mrs Lisa Cookson.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about St Mary’s. I look forward to welcoming you to our school family.

Mrs Katie Jones
Headteacher