St Michael's C of E Primary Highgate

[EduCativ]

We are a hidden gem – an oasis of green in inner London. We are a community that has a special place within Highgate Village. We cherish our happy, creative environment where children want to learn, feel safe, and exceed national expectations in all that they do. We have a unique set of skills and expertise and are incredibly engaged. We deliver a rich and broad school experience. We have a responsibility to ensure every moment for every pupil counts. We have a strong desire to continuously improve all that we do.
We place great importance on all of our school community understanding and living by our vision, mission, and values. We believe our children’s future is created every day. Every moment counts.”
Our mission: ‘To nurture and inspire our children to develop a love of learning in a supportive Christian community and become the best they can be.’
We provide a creative, challenging curriculum that encourages independent thought, problem-solving, and a love of learning.
Like all schools in England, we must follow the national curriculum, but it is the way we do so that sets us apart. We believe a child’s future is created every day and we aim to make every moment count. That is our vision for St Michael’s and it shapes and guides our daily work with the children.
In 1852, St. Michael’s opened as a Victorian Farm School with the ambition ‘to create an effective school for the poor’. This was both inspirational and ambitious – children did not have to go to school and many could not afford to do so.
The school’s mission was, ‘to render the Boys and Girls generally handy and industrious and they should be employed as much as possible in general work and jobbing in about the schools.’
The school has gone through many changes since then. In April 1972, the new junior building was finished. It was officially opened in June by Margaret Thatcher, then-Secretary of State for Education. The opening was celebrated with a special opera performance. The Junior Hall continues to host many exciting plays, concerts, pantomimes, assemblies, fairs, and workshops.
The infant children are still taught in the original buildings, which in 1979 were connected by another new hall. The Infant Hall is dedicated to Richard Grout, a headteacher from 1968-1981, who instigated many of the modern additions to the buildings.
More recently, a room devoted to science and technology was created as well as a computing room, Greenroom, and Art room. The Art room is dedicated to Barbara Smith, a headteacher from 1997 until 2009. Plans are underway to convert a former teacher’s living quarters on the school grounds into a dedicated space for music.
Thanks to our beginnings as a farm school, we are situated on four acres of land – a unique feature for a London school. This legacy of space left by the pioneers of 1852 gives the children an enviable environment. They are surrounded by fields, trees, gardens, and allotments, which are used daily for outdoor learning, sports, events – and of course, play.
At St. Michael’s School, we work within a Christian philosophy and positively promote our Christian ethos. We aim to provide the best possible education to prepare and equip children for life in our multi-faith and multi-cultural world.
We wish children to acquire a spirit of inquiry, positive attitudes, and a concern for others, within a caring community. Each child will be actively encouraged to develop his or her capabilities to the full. We will recognize the worth and value of each child and the importance of his or her self-esteem.
Protective Behaviours are taught across the school and every child is aware that they have the right to feel safe. They are also taught about freedom of speech and how to propose and oppose a motion in a polite but direct way.
Children are valued for their differences and there is a wide variety of extra-curricular clubs to enable children to try new things, develop new skills, and practice existing ones. Care is taken to provide equal opportunities for all genders such as a boys and girls football team. The children write and edit their own School Newspaper which reflects the issues that are important to them.
An Anti-Bullying week is held annually and highlighted throughout the year. During these sessions, children are taught to value differences in others and themselves and to respect others.
A consistent behavior policy is in place and children take responsibility, with support when needed, to resolve conflict and repair relationships. Friendship benches in the playground allow children to make new friends. Be the Best you can be is part of the PHSE and facilitates children in their journey to achieve their goals through the Olympic and Para-Olympic values, so encouraging children to value themselves and others.

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