We are delighted that our school has won a number of awards recently:
The Sustainability Award at the annual Insider Media East Midlands Property Dinner which showcases excellence from the worlds of real estate, construction and design: Insider East Midlands Property Dinner 2024
Education Project of the Year at the Structural Timber Awards 2025: 2024 Winners – Radar Booking
Derby Civic Society Award at the Brighter City of Derby Awards: Derby: UK’s greenest primary school rebuilt after fire wins award | ICN
St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy has been graded Outstanding by Catholic schools’ inspectors.
The school underwent its Catholic Schools Inspectorate inspection, which is the national framework for the inspection of Catholic schools, over two days in January 2025.
The overall quality of Catholic education provided by the school, Catholic life and mission, religious education and collective worship were all graded Outstanding.
Inspectors said: “Pupils enjoy coming to St Mary’s school and appreciate all that it has to offer. They are happy, confident and secure, relishing their environment close to nature, fully embracing the Catholic identity and mission of the school.”
The report said that Executive Headteacher Amanda Greaves had driven her vision for St Mary’s to outstanding outcomes, with an unremitting focus, through a difficult period in the school’s history.
“She (Mrs Greaves) has been fully supported by the commitment of the leadership team, staff and governors,” inspectors said.
St Mary’s original building, on Broadway, burnt down in October 2020 and pupils and staff were based at St James’ House, on Mansfield Road, Derby, from April 2021. They moved back to a new biophilic school – the UK’s first – on Broadway in December 2023.
Pupils’ behaviour was described as excellent and relationships between them “very good.”
Leaders ensure it (the curriculum) meets the needs of different groups of pupils, conscious of the diversity that exists. [Pupils] work with independence and sustained concentration, collaborating easily and productively with one another. They produce high quality work, that is well presented. They show an innate curiosity in their studies, and are actively engaged in their work.’
“They actively participate in the Catholic life of the school: they display understanding of their sense of worth, valued as made in the image and likeness of God. Pupils have an easy acceptance of each other,” the report said.
Understanding of the school’s mission statement was praised and the impact it has on the school community was highlighted.
Inspectors said: “The school mission statement, the mission prayer and the SPIRIT expectations have a significant impact within the school community: they are deeply rooted in the Word of God, and give clear expression to how the school must live out its daily activities. Staff commitment to the mission is absolute, and their enthusiasm and commitment to the Catholic mission is plain to see.”
The school’s welcoming culture was noted by inspectors who said: “A culture of welcome has been firmly established, embracing whoever comes to the school. The excellent behaviour of pupils is a result of the impact of the consistent modelling of staff members, significantly influencing relationships across the school. The pastoral care of pupils shows a concerted commitment to serve the most vulnerable, and this is outstanding.”
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher, said: “I am delighted to share our pride in achieving an Outstanding grade from the Catholic Schools’ Inspectorate. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment of our staff, leadership team, and governors, all of whom have worked tirelessly to ensure our school provides the very best education and nurturing environment for our pupils.
“The report highlights our pupils’ happiness, confidence, and strong sense of belonging within the school community. It is especially rewarding to see our shared Catholic values and mission being embraced so fully by everyone at St Mary’s. As we continue to build on the incredible progress made in recent years, I am incredibly proud of what our school has achieved through strong partnerships with parents, the parish, trust diocese and the wider community.
“Our focus on providing a curriculum that is inclusive and meets the needs of all pupils, alongside the strong pastoral care we offer, underpins everything we do at St Mary’s. We remain committed to ensuring our school is a place where everyone is welcome and every pupil can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this success, and I look forward to seeing our school continue to flourish.”
On Friday 14th July, Mrs Monica Farrell, the longest serving teacher at St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby, was celebrated by the school with a liturgical prayer, as she prepares to retire after 25 years.
Her husband and family were there to witness her being awarded the St Hugh Diocesan Medal for Service to the Catholic community. It was presented to her by Peter Giorgio, the head of the Catholic Education service (pictured with Mrs Farrell below), and Kevin Gritton, the CEO of the Trust, was on hand to give his good wishes.
Pupils tour new build with BBC Radio Derby
Some of our pupils and staff were given a tour of our fantastic new school with BBC Radio Derby on July 12th.
Reporter Jack Tymon interviewed the staff and children throughout the breakfast show as they walked around the site with Neil Holland from Tilbury Construction.
The children were thrilled with what they saw and were excited to go back to school and tell their friends all about it!
You can listen to the show here: Andy Twigge – 12/07/2023 – BBC Sounds
We feature at one hour 37 mins, two hours 5 mins and two hours 46 mins.
The pioneering new eco-building for our school is taking shape.
All of the five main single storey structures of the new building on our Broadway site have been erected and the process of cladding them with cedar is well underway.
The installation of windows has begun along with the construction of the large central covered walkway which will connect the buildings. A multi-use games area is also being created.
Painters and decorators will begin work in the coming weeks and the building is scheduled to be completed in late autumn.
The biophilic design focuses on connecting those inside the building – set to be the UK’s first biophilic school – with nature, with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.
As part of the unique scheme, the site will be planted with 96 new semi mature trees in late autumn.
St Mary’s original building, in Broadway, was destroyed by fire in October 2020 and the school has been based at St James House in Mansfield Road, Derby, since April 2021. Work started on the new building in February 2023.
Mrs Greaves, Executive Headteacher, said: “It is so exciting following the progress of our wonderful new school and we are very much looking forward to returning to our permanent home on the Broadway site. We appreciate how much moving into our new building means to our whole school community and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us on this journey.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “It is fantastic to see work progressing well on the new school for St Mary’s. We are all excited to see the finished school, which promises to be a wonderful space for staff and children.”
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fitout company, is the main contractor for the project, which is a pilot for the Department for Education.
Tilbury Douglas’s Project Manager, Neil Holland, said: “Tilbury Douglas have delivered many school projects, and there’s no doubt that this school is a real precedent for quality and sustainability. Employing modern methods of construction has really aided this programme to move at pace, and we look forward to handing this project over to the school in the autumn.”
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There is now further recruitment drive at Saint Benedict due to expansion
We are recruiting to a number of roles at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby due to exciting multi-million pound expansion plans.
Current vacancies include; Assistant Head of Year, Head of Biology, Teachers of Maths, Science, Dance, ICT and a Pastoral Support Assistant
Please visit the vacancies section of our website for more information Vacancies – St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (srscmat.co.uk)
Recruitment drive at Saint Benedict due to expansion
We are recruiting to a number of roles at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby due to exciting multi-million pound expansion plans.
Current vacancies include Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Physical Needs and Learning Support Assistant (Level 1).
Please visit the vacancies section of our website for more information Vacancies – St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (srscmat.co.uk)
St Mary’s has been graded ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ features by Ofsted.
Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision at the school were all graded ‘Outstanding’ and the quality of education was graded ‘Good’.
The report said that the school’s mission is to unlock all pupils’ potential by “sharing God’s love and making a difference”. Inspectors reported that pupils are keen to play a positive role in their community and make a difference to themselves and others.
Pupils were praised throughout the report and inspectors said they lived up to teachers’ high expectations.
Inspectors said: “Pupils show kindness and respect to each other. Pupils’ behaviour and conduct is exemplary. In lessons they learn without distraction. They have confidence that teachers will keep them safe.”
The report said that following the fire, which destroyed the school building in 2020, leaders have expertly managed the school during an unprecedented period of challenge and despite tremendous difficulty, they have kept the school community together.
Inspectors said: “The library was destroyed in the school fire. All books were lost. Staff have been unwavering in their determination to ‘get books back in the hands of pupils’.”
Pupils’ behaviour was described as “exemplary” in the report and they have “excellent attitudes to learning.”
“Leaders have worked hard to make sure that pupils, particularly pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, receive the expert support that they need. Pupils with SEND achieve well in school.
“Pupils benefit from a thoughtfully planned and structured personal social and health education (PSHE) curriculum. The school promotes equality of opportunity and diversity effectively. The teaching of protected characteristics is a strength. There is celebration of the Catholic faith but also the culture and faith of others. This meets leaders’ ambition of ‘building mutual respect and tolerance’.”
It was noted that the curriculum is expertly planned. Pupils’ learning is carefully built upon what they know and understand and they often acquire new knowledge that they confidently understand.
“Teachers have good subject knowledge. They use assessment skilfully to check pupils’ understanding. The teaching of reading is a priority. There is a well-planned and sequenced phonics programme in place. Teachers quickly identify pupils who need extra help,” inspectors said.
Children in the early years have an outstanding start, according to the report.
It said: “They receive an ambitious curriculum taught by knowledgeable specialists. Children are completely engrossed in their learning. They understand routines well. They learn to be independent. Children are very well prepared for Year One.”
Ofsted said that staff at the school, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, have worked together as a strong team.
“They feel appreciated and supported. They are rightly proud of their achievements. They are proud to work at the school,” inspectors said.
St Mary’s ‘SPIRIT’ was also praised in the report along with pupils’ charity work. Inspectors said: “Countless activities take place to raise funds for local and national charities.
“Pupils describe St Mary’s as a family. Pupils from all faiths, families and cultures are welcome and celebrated. Leaders provide rich and meaningful ways to develop pupils’ personal development and character. St Mary’s ‘SPIRIT’ is central to this. Equality ambassadors promote fairness. The ‘circle of friends’ helps their peers to make and then sustain friendships.”
Arrangements for safeguarding at the school are effective and the positive relationships between staff, families and carers were highlighted.
Inspectors said: “Staff know children and their families and carers extremely well. The family liaison officer works tirelessly to ensure that positive relationships are built. Her work is helping to ensure that the most vulnerable pupils are in school, are safe and are learning. Staff are well trained. They know the actions needed to support the most vulnerable pupils. They are vigilant. They tenaciously ensure that pupils are safe within the temporary school.”
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher, said: “We are delighted with the judgements made about key aspects of our school. Despite a challenging few years with the pandemic and the fire, the team has continued to ensure our pupils receive the best Catholic education possible. We have relentlessly strived to ensure the St Mary’s curriculum is tailored for our pupils, which was acknowledged in the report as being expertly planned, and this now needs to be embedded ‘securely and consistently’.
“We will take on board this area for improvement ensuring the curriculum is fully accessible for every learner in our thriving school. I am so incredibly proud of the school team and this achievement in the most challenging of circumstances, their dedication to our children and wider community shone through the report. Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our parents for supporting us on this journey and hope they too feel a sense of pride in their school and this wonderful achievement.”
Emma Farmer, Chair of Governors, said: “As a governing board, we are thrilled with the judgement that has been awarded and we would like to warmly congratulate and thank all those involved. It is richly deserved and is evidence of the enormous, ongoing commitment of all staff and pupils in our school community. Their drive in the most unique and challenging of circumstances has been phenomenal.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to Mrs Greaves, Mrs Novak-Lemmings and their brilliant team for their continuing hard work and professionalism. It is testament to their ongoing dedication that our pupils are able to enjoy the very best school experience where ‘pupils from all faiths, families and cultures are welcome’ and where all our children can truly thrive. It is wonderful to be a part of a school community of which we can feel so proud.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive Officer of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “It is testament to the drive and determination of Mrs Greaves and her team, to continue to provide the best education for all of the children, that has led to such a glowing Ofsted report.
“I was proud to hear inspectors talk about the ambition for all of the pupils and all of the disruption never being used as an excuse to offer anything other than the best education possible for our children. We can now look to an exciting future in a biophilic building and children continuing to receive a first rate education.”
St Mary’s is currently based at St James House, in Mansfield Road, Derby, and is expected to move to a new, innovative environmentally friendly school building in Broadway at the end of 2023.
A ground-breaking ceremony and blessing has taken place at the site of the new building for St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby.
Pupils and staff from the school, the Bishop of Nottingham, local clergy, and representatives from the Diocese of Nottingham and the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust attended the event.
The new building is set to be the UK’s first biophilic school and is a pilot project for the Department for Education.
The biophilic design focuses on connecting those inside the building with nature, with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.
St Mary’s original building, in Broadway, was destroyed by fire in October 2020 and the school has been based at St James House in Mansfield Road, Derby, since April 2021.
It is hoped that children and staff will move into the new building by the end of 2023.
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher at St Mary’s, said: “We are delighted to have reached this momentous milestone. The next phase is hugely exciting for us as a school community. We can not wait to see our new environmentally friendly school rise from the ashes and open to our children, staff and families.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in supporting us through the past 2 years; our parents, parishes, colleagues within the Trust, Diocese, Derby and beyond.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “We are proud to be part of this project, which is in keeping with our mission as a group of Catholic schools, to live sustainably and care for the environment, and it’s wonderful that we can support this project.
“We know how much this means to the school community and we would like to thank the staff, pupils, families and everyone connected to the school who has supported them on this journey.”
Peter Giorgio, Director of Education for the Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Education Service, said: “This is a joyful day for the community of St Mary’s and for our diocesan family of schools. After all of the challenges and difficulties, we can now all look forward in hope to the completion of our new St Mary’s.”
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fitout company, has been appointed as the main contractor for the project.
Simon Butler, Managing Director Building Central at Tilbury Douglas, said: “As the main contractor working on this innovative school, it was great to be able to mark such an important milestone as we officially start construction.”
Photos by Matthew Ling Photography.
