St Thomas More

Our school and parish are proudly named after St Thomas More, a man of great faith, integrity and courage. A lawyer, scholar and statesman, St Thomas More served King Henry VIII as Lord Chancellor of England. However, when faced with a choice between following the wishes of the King and remaining faithful to God and his conscience, he chose to put God first. His famous words, "I die the King's good servant, but God's first," continue to inspire Catholics around the world today.  St Thomas More is remembered for his commitment to truth, justice and moral courage, even when this came at great personal cost. These qualities form the foundation of our school community.

We encourage our children to stand up for what is right, to act with honesty and compassion, and to remain faithful to their values in all that they do.

As a school, we strive to follow St Thomas More's example by nurturing pupils who are thoughtful, resilient and guided by faith. Through our Catholic ethos, worship, curriculum and daily interactions, we aim to develop young people who recognise their responsibilities to others and seek to make a positive difference in the world.

The values lived out by St Thomas More continue to shape our school character today: faith in God, service to others, respect for the dignity of every person, a commitment to justice, and the courage to do what is right. As members of the St Thomas More family, our children are inspired to live out these values each day as they grow in faith, knowledge and love.

Our Parish

Sunday Masses at Saint Thomas More Church are

• Saturday Vigil at 5pm
• Sunday Mass at 9.00am

Little church is held as part of 9am Mass on a Sunday during term time. Children are encouraged to leave church following the open welcome and return to the  main congregation at the offertory.

All masses are now also live-streamed. For more information and details of the current restrictions and safety rules for attending our Church, please visit the parish website below: 

As a community of faith, we all join together and celebrate mass each Thursday at 10am as a whole school or Class Mass. Please click here to view the live stream.

• Mass Order of Service
• Early years prayers
• The Holy Rosary

Mission

Our school motto and mission is To Learn and Grow as God’s Holy People. This is something every member of our school community tries to do in every aspect of their life. We know that by working hard to learn, each of us can grow to become the best version of ourselves – the person that God calls us to be. We also know that to grow into the best we can be, we need to grow closer to God. We do this by listening to His Word, through prayer and through action: by loving others and by looking after the world we have been blessed to inherit. We know. that each one of us is one of God’s Holy People and that this is a special privilege that comes with important responsibilities.

Ethos and Values

Gospel values underpin everything we do at St Thomas More Primary School and our motto: “Learn and Grow as God’s Holy People” is central to our mission.

At St Thomas More Primary School our values and ethos are grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church as defined by the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Core values we promote at the school encourage children to be:

Vision, Values & Aims

Each half-term we examine two of these core values in greater depth through our work in our Celebration of the Word, prayer and liturgies, and across the curriculum.

  

In addition to this, our ethos is one of love and support where high expectations promoted by staff members encourage children to do their best at all times. We embrace new technology and aim to ensure our teaching practices are founded on evidence-based pedagogy; we encourage children to adopt a “growth mind set” and try new things that push them outside their comfort zone; we value the contributions of parents and carers as the first and most important educators of our children; and adults and children alike adopt a reflective approach to learning so that we all strive to be better each day.

Prayer and Liturgy

The school has close links with Saint Thomas More Parish and the Archdiocese of Birmingham and conducts prayer and liturgies in line with guidance from the Archdiocese and the Catholic Education Service. Each week children take part in a form of prayer and or liturgy every day.

Prayer is a thread that weaves through our school day, with staff and pupils praying together.

On some Wednesdays, children take part in special hymn and prayer sessions led by Fr Simon in the school hall. These reflective gatherings provide opportunities for the whole school community to pray together through music, Scripture and quiet reflection, helping to nurture and deepen the faith life of our school.

Catholic Social Teaching

At St Thomas More, Catholic Social Teaching is at the heart of everything we do. Rooted in the Gospel and the teachings of the Church, these principles help us to understand our responsibility to God, one another and the world around us.

The principles of Catholic Social Teaching are woven throughout our curriculum and daily school life. Through our learning, prayer, charitable fundraising, environmental work, relationships and service to others, children are encouraged to recognise their role in building a more just, compassionate and peaceful world.

  

Each principle is represented by a vibrant mural in our school hall, painted by a local artist and former pupil of the school. These striking artworks serve as a daily reminder of our mission to live out our faith through action and inspire children to put Gospel values into practice in their own lives.

   

Through Catholic Social Teaching, our pupils learn that faith is not simply something we believe, but something we live, sharing God's love through the choices we make and the way we treat others every day.

Class Saints

Each year group has selected a class saint to inspire and guide them throughout the year. As part of a summer challenge, children were invited to research a saint who was special or meaningful to them and present their findings to their class. Following these presentations, each class voted to choose their class saint.

Once selected, the children learned more about the life, virtues and faith of their chosen saint. They then worked together to create displays that showcase their knowledge, creativity and understanding, celebrating the example their class saint provides on their own journey of faith.

Our Journey Through the Life of Christ

The murals that run throughout our school tell the story of Jesus and reflect the spiritual journey our children experience during their time with us.

      

Beginning on the ground floor, where our youngest children learn and grow, the murals depict the early events of Jesus' life. Starting with The Annunciation, children encounter key moments including The Visitation, The Nativity, The Epiphany and The Presentation in the Temple . These images introduce our pupils to God's plan of love and the beginnings of Christ's journey on earth.

    

As children move through the school, they ascend the stairwell and encounter The Baptism of Christ, marking the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. This serves as a powerful reminder of our own baptismal calling and our identity as members of God's family.

   

Along the first-floor corridor, the story of Jesus unfolds further. Murals illustrate The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches us how to live; the Parables, through which He shared wisdom about God's Kingdom; and the Miracles, revealing His compassion, power and love for all people.

     

The journey continues through the Passion Narrative, inviting reflection on Christ's sacrifice, before culminating in the Resurrection, the foundation of Christian hope and the promise of new life.

    

Finally, as pupils prepare to leave us and continue their educational journey, the mural in the final stairwell depicts Pentecost. Just as the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to go out into the world and share the Good News, our children are sent forth from St Thomas More equipped with faith, knowledge, values and virtues to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.

  

These murals are more than artwork. They are a visual expression of our Catholic faith and mission, accompanying our pupils as they grow in faith, knowledge and understanding throughout their years at school. From the Annunciation to Pentecost, the story of salvation unfolds around them, reminding them that they too are called to live as disciples of Christ in the world today.

Many of the scenes depicted are also reflected in the Mysteries of the Rosary, helping children to make connections between Scripture, prayer and the life of the Church.

Sacramental Preparation

As a Catholic school, we work closely with our parish to support children on their sacramental journey. In partnership with families and the parish community, children are prepared for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in Year 3, and for the Sacrament of Confirmation in Year 6.

Through catechesis, prayer, reflection and participation in the life of the Church, children are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God and grow in their understanding of the significance of the sacraments. These important milestones in faith are celebrated within our school, parish and family communities, strengthening the links between home, school and Church.

Parish Links

Our strong links with the Parish are very important to us as a Catholic school.  Many of our Catholic children are keen to be involved in parish life. 

Children from Year 3 upwards have the opportunity to be involved in the ministry of altar serving for weekday and Sunday Masses.  The senior servers ensure that they are trained to a high standard.  This service to the Parish is celebrated at the Mass for St Stephen, patron of servers, on 26^th December each year.  Children can also act as welcomers at Mass, with an adult or choose to be a reader when they reach Year 6.