Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Primary School in Poyntzpass
St Joseph's & St James's Primary School is a Catholic educational institution established in 1964, dedicated to nurturing children's spiritual, academic, and personal development. Our mission centres on Christ-guided values, fostering mutual respect, understanding, and dedication within a supportive community. With a team of 5.2 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff, we prioritise individualised learning pathways to remove barriers to education while encouraging pupils to achieve their full potential. Our curriculum integrates academic excellence with spiritual growth, preparing children to become active, compassionate members of local and global communities.The school maintains strong ties with the Poyntzpass parish, reflecting our belief that 'it takes a village to raise a child'. We operate from our original rural site, serving growing local admission numbers through continuous reflection and improvement of our teaching practices. Our ethos of 'Learning Together for Life's Journey' ensures every child's educational experience is safe, fulfilling, and celebratory of their unique achievements.
Services
Primary education
After-school service
School uniform provision
Community engagement programs
Spiritual development curriculum
Details
- Year established: 1964
Highlights and features
- We nurture children's spiritual and academic development in equal measure
- Our experienced staff deliver tailored learning pathways for every pupil
- We maintain strong community ties through parish collaboration
- Our curriculum integrates Catholic values with modern educational practices
- We provide continuous support for children's personal growth and achievement
What people say
Nurturing environment
Strong community ties
Dedicated teachers
Spiritual development focus
Services
Primary education
Our comprehensive primary education program delivers Northern Ireland Curriculum requirements through faith-integrated teaching. Qualified staff create individualised learning plans to address each child's needs. We combine academic instruction with spiritual development, preparing pupils for secondary education and lifelong learning.
After-school service
We provide supervised after-school provision with structured activities and homework support. The service accommodates working parents' schedules while offering safe social development opportunities. Activities align with our educational values while allowing recreational time for pupils.
Community programs
Our community initiatives connect pupils with local parish activities and outreach programs. These experiences teach social responsibility and practical application of Catholic values. We collaborate with local organisations to enhance pupils' understanding of community involvement.
Spiritual development
Spiritual growth forms a core part of our curriculum through regular religious instruction and liturgical participation. We nurture children's relationship with God while teaching Christian values of compassion and service. This development occurs alongside academic learning in a balanced approach.
Extracurricular activities
We offer diverse extracurricular opportunities including music groups, sports teams, and digital leadership roles. These activities develop talents beyond academic subjects while reinforcing teamwork and discipline. The choir and eco-council provide particular highlights in our school calendar.
People
C. Wadsworth
Principal
With extensive educational leadership experience, Mrs Wadsworth oversees all school operations and strategic direction. She champions the school's Catholic ethos while ensuring academic excellence. Her leadership focuses on nurturing staff development and maintaining strong community partnerships.
Questions
What age groups do you teach?
We educate children aged 4-11 years across Primary 1 to Primary 7 classes.
Is your curriculum faith-based?
Yes, our teaching follows Catholic principles while maintaining statutory educational requirements.
Do you offer after-school care?
We provide an after-school service with various extracurricular activities and supervision.
How do you involve parents?
We maintain regular communication through letters, events, and our Friends of the School group.
What special programs do you offer?
We run shared education projects, digital leadership programs, and community engagement initiatives.
How do you support pupil development?
We identify learning barriers early and provide tailored support for academic and personal growth.
