Business Details
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School in Coulsdon
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School is a one-form entry institution dedicated to delivering exceptional education rooted in Catholic values. Our mission focuses on nurturing children's academic, spiritual, and personal growth through a curriculum enriched by core principles of Kindness, Resilience, Respect, Self-Belief, Diversity, and Honesty. With a strong emphasis on community engagement, we maintain close partnerships with families and local churches to create a supportive environment where every child thrives.Recognised as a 'good' school by Ofsted in 2018 and celebrated for outstanding Catholic Life and Religious Education by Diocesan inspectors in 2022, our commitment to excellence is evidenced by decades of dedicated service. Our experienced team ensures pupils leave Key Stage 2 equipped with the confidence and skills to contribute meaningfully to society, guided by their faith and a lifelong love of learning.
Services
EYFS Curriculum
Phonics Instruction
Religious Education
SEND Support
Wraparound Care
Online Safety Education
Highlights and features
- We integrate Catholic values into all aspects of education
- Our curriculum fosters lifelong love of learning
- Close family-school partnerships enhance pupil development
- Recognised for outstanding Religious Education provision
- Experienced staff deliver personalised learning approaches
Associations and certifications
- Ofsted
- Diocesan Inspectors
What people say
Outstanding religious education
Strong community ethos
Caring staff
Values-driven curriculum
Services
EYFS Curriculum
Our Early Years Foundation Stage programme nurtures children aged 3-5 through play-based learning that develops core skills in literacy, numeracy, and social interaction. Qualified practitioners create individualised learning journeys that prepare pupils for Key Stage 1 while respecting each child's unique development pace. The curriculum balances structured activities with free-flow play in purpose-designed environments.
Religious Education
Catholic Religious Education forms the school's spiritual foundation, with daily collective worship and liturgical celebrations. Children explore scripture, tradition, and moral values through age-appropriate resources and experiential learning. The Diocese-validated curriculum develops theological understanding while respecting diverse faith backgrounds within our inclusive community setting.
SEND Support
Our dedicated SENCo coordinates tailored support for pupils with special educational needs, following an inclusive approach aligned with the Equality Act 2010. Individual Education Plans, specialist resources, and multi-agency collaboration ensure all children access the curriculum. Regular parent consultations monitor progress towards personalised targets across academic and social development domains.
Online Safety
Comprehensive online safety education equips children to navigate digital environments responsibly. The curriculum covers cyberbullying prevention, personal data protection, and critical evaluation of online content. Regular parent workshops reinforce home-school partnerships in promoting safe technology use, with age-appropriate guidance from Reception through Year 6.
Wraparound Care
Extended care provision offers supervised activities from 7:30am-6:00pm, including breakfast club, homework support, and themed enrichment sessions. Qualified staff facilitate structured play and educational games while maintaining continuity with school values. The service accommodates working families' needs while ensuring children's wellbeing through consistent routines and pastoral care.
People
Caterina Hughes
Head of School
Mrs Hughes leads with over 15 years' experience in Catholic education, holding a Masters in Educational Leadership. She champions values-based learning and has driven curriculum innovation since 2018, maintaining the school's strong Ofsted and Diocesan inspection outcomes.
Questions
What are your school's admission criteria?
As a Catholic school, we prioritise baptised Catholic children, followed by other Christian denominations. Applications are processed through Croydon Local Authority. Visit our Admissions page for full details.
How do you support pupil wellbeing?
Our 'Wellbeing at St Aidan's' programme includes mindfulness sessions, peer support networks, and access to external specialists. Staff receive regular mental health first aid training to provide timely interventions.
What after-school clubs are available?
We offer 15+ weekly clubs including STEM, sports, drama, and language sessions. The wraparound care provision operates from 7:30am-6:00pm with flexible booking options for working families.
How are parents involved in school life?
Regular family workshops, curriculum information sessions, and volunteer opportunities foster partnership. Parents receive termly progress reports and can attend bi-weekly consultation meetings with teachers.
What safeguarding measures are in place?
We maintain rigorous safeguarding protocols with daily staff briefings, secure site access, and mandatory DBS checks. Designated officers provide child protection expertise, with annual parent information sessions on online safety.
How do you prepare children for secondary school?
Transition programmes include partnership work with local secondary schools, leadership training for Year 6, and tailored support for emotional and academic readiness. Our pupils consistently achieve above-average KS2 outcomes.
