St Mark's is a one-form entry Church of England Primary School located in the heart of Oval, London. Our school is a welcoming and close-knit community that reflects the local area. Our Christian values are at the core of our ethos, promoting a warm and caring environment where children feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive in all aspects of their development.
Our Vision, Mission, and Values
Our school vision outlines what we strive to achieve for our children: "A school where children develop the passion to learn; the skills and knowledge to succeed and the confidence to take Christian values into our diverse society." Our mission statement outlines how we will endeavour to achieve our vision: "By working in close partnership with parents, we will: Challenge children through high standards of teaching and learning, provide a wide range of opportunities for children to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, encourage children to think for themselves, develop enquiring minds and become independent, reflective individuals, help children to engage and work collaboratively with a wide range of people, work in close partnership with local schools, provide a safe, stimulating learning environment in which outstanding learning takes place, offer an enriched and inspirational curriculum that ensures pupils actively participate in a broad range of meaningful learning experiences and develop many crucial skills and personal qualities."
Our School Values
Our Christian values are evident throughout all that we do at St. Mark's. Our core values of 'CHART' - Compassion, Hard Work, Accountability, Respect, and Trust - as well as our school values of Peace, Joy, Self-Control, Forgiveness, and Kindness summarise our expectations of each other within our whole school community.
Our Curriculum
At St Mark's, we offer a bespoke curriculum that is tailored to meet the needs of our diverse student body. Our curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education, incorporating the National Curriculum subjects of English, Maths, Science, and Humanities, as well as other subjects such as Art, Music, and Physical Education. Our curriculum is designed to be engaging, stimulating, and fun, with a focus on developing the skills, knowledge, and personal qualities of our students.
Support and Extra-Curricular Activities
We recognise that every child learns and develops at their own pace, and we strive to provide support and extra-curricular activities to help our students reach their full potential. Our students participate in a range of clubs and activities, from sports and music to art and drama, which are designed to develop their interests, confidence, and social skills.
Community and Partnership
At St Mark's, we believe in the importance of community and partnership. We work closely with local schools, community groups, and businesses to provide a range of enrichment activities, events, and opportunities for our students. We also have close relationships with parents and carers, who play a vital role in supporting our students' learning and development.
Conclusion
At St Mark's C of E Primary School, we are committed to providing an outstanding education that inspires, challenges, and empowers our students to reach their full potential. We believe in the importance of Christian values and community, and we strive to create a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment that allows our students to thrive.
Overall Impression
The reviews of St Mark's School are overwhelmingly positive, with all reviewers giving the school a 5-star rating.
Positive Aspects
Teaching and Learning
The reviewers praised the school's high standards, with one parent stating that their children have improved year by year. The school's family-oriented feel and strong moral values are also highlighted as positives.
Community and Atmosphere
The reviewers praised the school's small and friendly environment, with one reviewer describing it as having a "family-friendly feel". The school's community is described as close-knit, with staff, parents, and pupils knowing each other well.
Extracurricular Activities
The reviewers also praised the school's extracurricular activities, such as school trips, which were described as "amazing". The school's links with Surrey cricket club were also seen as a bonus.
Staff and Leadership
The reviewers praised the school's teachers, with one reviewer stating that they "loved" the teachers.
Alumni Experience
Former students of the school also had a positive experience, with one reviewer stating that they had a "great time" at the school and another stating that they had "learnt a lot" during their time there.
