Choosing the best primary school for your child is a really important task for parents. To help with this task our website explains the key things that St. Hilda’s Primary School offers and we hope you will find it useful.
We are a small, rural village school and community nursery, situated in the village of Ampleforth on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. It is a beautiful site with a large playing field, trees, wildlife area and playground. Our accommodation was built in 1965 replacing the Victorian school which is now the Village Hall.
As Headteacher and Governors we are proud that our school provides good opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural education. The teaching staff are dedicated and caring members of their profession. Their commitment to the individual needs of pupils and to the welfare of the school as a whole is especially evident and they are very well supported by the team of non-teaching staff. We work closely in partnership with parents so that, together, we can build a firm foundation for your children to grow and develop to their full potential.
The village community recognises St. Hilda’s School as an established, core part of village life; something which we are very proud of.
You are welcome to visit the school and to see for yourself the happy, productive atmosphere, which enables the children to grow in confidence and achieve so well.
Claire Lamb (Headteacher)
Johanna Senior (Chair)
Johanna Senior has been elected Chair of Governors. She can be contacted through the school office or via email: johanna.senior@hshafed.co.uk
Our Vision
‘Where everyone grows’
Our vision, ‘Where everyone grows’ is rooted in ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10). We believe that education must equip people of all ages with the skills to maximise their engagement with the world around them and education must develop academic, spiritual, emotional and personal growth.
Our Core Values
Our four Core Christian Values are Friendship, Perseverance, Respect & Responsibility and were chosen by the school community. Further details on how we will live out these values will follow in due course.
“The school has a warm, inclusive Christian ethos based on the four core values of the school; ‘friendship, perseverance, respect and responsibility’.” SIAMS (March 2016)
“St Hilda’s is a friendly school. Pupils, parents and teachers say that it ‘feels like a family.’ Everyone knows one another well. Pupils of all ages learn and play together. They are happy and safe. Teachers work hard to make sure that every child can do their best. Teachers make learning enjoyable. They encourage pupils to challenge themselves and to learn from one another.” OFSTED (March 2020)
Mission Statement
St Hilda’s is a small rural Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) School with dedicated staff and very good facilities. This puts the school in an excellent position to provide the children in our care with an education which can enable them to achieve their potential.
We aim to provide a rich and balanced curriculum which takes into account the individual needs of the children and which furthers their academic, personal and spiritual development.
Children will have opportunities to gain in confidence and self esteem as they progress through the school. Thoughtfulness and consideration for others are encouraged, these qualities being a reflection of the caring, Christian ethos around them.
Our school is based on a Christian foundation and we enjoy the celebration of values and beliefs which are held to be important by the whole school community.
We value everyone associated with our school and attach high priority to links between home, schools, church and the wider community.
The Governors and staff hope that our school will:
- Provide a stimulating and exciting environment where positive attitudes to learning are promoted and valued.
- Provide a rich and balanced curriculum incorporating The National Curriculum.
- Give all the children the opportunity to achieve their academic potential.
- Encourage children to develop enquiring and analytical minds whilst stimulating artistic flair and creativity.
- Encourage the children to value and respect each other seeing the mutual benefit of co-operation and good behaviour.
- Foster an awareness of cultural and religious traditions in an inclusive ethos.
- Encourage the children to understand the value of belonging to a school community and of the special links we enjoy with St Hilda’s Church.
- Provide equality of opportunity for all children in all areas of school life.
- Provide a variety of experiences which in enhancing the curriculum will help children to make more sense of the world around them and which will give them insights into the wider community.