St Peter's Roman Catholic High School

Since the school opened in 1999, we have been dedicated to helping pupils achieve their full potential and we are very proud of our success and pupils’ achievements. From the moment they join the school in Year 7 pupils become part of the ‘St Peter’s Family’, where ambitions, knowledge, skills, and personal realisation is nurtured and developed. Every pupil is encouraged to aim high and achieve their very best. We foster the belief that everyone has the potential to achieve great things.

t Peter’s is firmly established as one of Manchester’s most successful high schools, founded on Gospel Values where pupils are encouraged to live their faith and to lead responsible lives. We are an innovative, inclusive community where diversity is welcomed and respected, and we all shine together.

St Peter's is an inclusive school. We work closely with our partner primary schools to support pupils in the transfer to high school; at St Peter's we give pupils every assistance and encouragement to succeed and to proceed to one of our partner sixth form colleges, Loreto or Xaverian, before they move to university or the world of work.

St Peter's RC High School is a community founded on mutual love and care for the individual in which the Faith of the Church underpins all our activities.Christ is our model in striving for excellence in all that we do and in valuing the unique contribution and gift of every member of our school community.St Peter's is committed to working with home and parish to enable all pupils to succeed in life.

All schools are required to promote British values as part of the ‘Prevent Strategy’ (2011), which was designed to prevent the extremism and religious radicalisation of young people. The government defines British values as ‘democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.’At St Peter’s we teach the importance of British values within a broader framework of Catholic values. Drawing on the example of Jesus and his welcome and inclusion of all, we are guided by our mission statement ‘Stay with us Lord on our journey’ and by the Christian values of honourable purpose (vocation and service), respect, compassion, co-operation and stewardship.

The curriculum is outstanding and fully meets pupils' needs. Imaginative and bold strategies within the Pathfinder initiative enable pupils to follow programmes that are tailored to meet the wide range of different needs – OFSTED

Staff are sensitive to the needs of new pupils and ensure they are well supported as they transfer to St Peter's. When pupils begin in year 7 they are placed in sets based on KS2 SATs levels and reports from their primary schools. In year 8 there is extended setting based on ability in individual subjects. Our broad and balanced curriculum covers the full national curriculum, and pupils have the opportunity to learn Spanish and French as a modern language.

In year 9 pupils at St Peter's follow a 'Pathfinder' curriculum. This has some important differences from what is usually offered at Key Stage 3. The 'Pathfinder' gives pupils at St Peter's the opportunity to choose new subjects and to begin their GCSE and Vocational courses a year early in year 9. All pupils still follow a 'core' of essential subjects. Beginning the additional courses they wish to follow in year 9 rather than year 10 gives pupils the opportunity to concentrate on what they want to do and to develop greater expertise in their chosen subjects. For a full account of the 'Pathfinder' curriculum, please download and read the key stage 4 curriculum options booklet which is given to pupils in year 8 to prepare them to make choices for year 9. In years 10 and 11 all pupils continue with the core of compulsory subjects and the optional subjects they have begun in year 9.

The Pupil Premium was introduced by the Government in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to support pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as 'Ever 6 FSM'). Schools are encouraged by the Department for Education to use the money to 'narrow the gap' in attainment between pupils in receipt of Free School Meals or those who are 'Looked After' as nationally there is a disparity between their attainment at GCSE and their peers.

The Student Council meet monthly to discuss positive changes that can be made to the school to maintain its high levels of attendance, punctuality and behaviour for all its pupils. There are two representatives from each year group who feedback the information to each form so that every pupil at St Peter’s has a voice.

Sport plays an important part in the life of the school. All the pupils take part in a wide range of sporting activities both of a competitive and non competitive nature. Pupils achieve extraordinary levels of success winning Manchester schools and Greater Manchester schools Championships at a number of sports every year. We have both boys and girls teams in all sports. We are regularly regional and North West champions at Athletics in several age groups.We have been playing rugby league for a few years now. The boys have won the North West schools competition for the last two years. The girls, however, have become one of the strongest schools nationally winning 3 North West titles this year and 3 national titles in the last two years. In cheerleading and dance we have won 2 national championships.

Here at St Peter’s, we are committed to keeping your child safe both in the time they spend with us and in their future lives. We strive to ensure that young people are alert to potential dangers in the world around them and are able to make informed and sensible choices. As well as weekly assemblies, dedicated Form Period sessions and a strong Access curriculum, we engage with experts on a variety of issues to make sure all our staff can support young people in having a healthy lifestyle and fulfilling their potential.