St. Mary’s Preparatory School in Henley are the first primary school in the country to be given the prestigious ‘Silver Champion’ award by campaign group Stonewall.
Recognised for their work in providing a culture of inclusivity, tolerance and respect, this builds on the school’s previous Bronze Award from Stonewall and their All Together Gold award for anti-bullying.
Kate Bodle, Deputy Headteacher, Pastoral and Wellbeing Lead: “I am very proud that we are the first Silver Champions in the primary sector, in recognition of the work that the St. Mary’s team have done to ensure all our pupils feel happy and safe in school. I am delighted that our children feel confident to express themselves as individuals, and that they understand that feeling ‘different’ is OK.”
Stonewall praised their comprehensive and child-facing anti-bullying policy, and noted that the school’s teaching on gender stereotypes is ‘really thoughtful’ with pupils feeling confident to identify and challenge stereotypes.
Rob Harmer, Headmaster: “We know how important it is to for all of our children to learn in an open, honest and supportive environment. Children are the most effective learners when they feel confident and supported, and our outstanding academic results demonstrate that.”
Recent parent feedback has described St. Mary’s as “A positive and happy school where children are encouraged to be themselves”, and praised the “fantastically nurturing school.”
The school has a number of Anti-Bullying ambassadors amongst the pupils, who have followed a comprehensive training process by campaign charity Anti-Bullying Pro. The group met recently to plan further ways in which they can support their peers.
