Welcome to St Richard's Catholic Primary School

A welcome from our Headteacher - Sydney Bridges:

My name is Mrs Sydney Bridges, and I am immensely proud to be the Headteacher of St Richard’s Catholic Primary School, a vibrant, inclusive and aspirational learning community. We are a one-and-a-half-form-entry primary school in Chichester, West Sussex, serving approximately 315 pupils, and we are proud to be part of the Bosco Catholic Education Trust.

At St Richard’s, every child is known, valued and respected as a unique member of God’s family. We are a diverse and multicultural community where pupils flourish in an environment rooted in faith, kindness and mutual respect. We have high expectations for all pupils and are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every child achieves well academically, socially and spiritually. Our school was judged Good with elements of Outstanding by Ofsted in February 2022 and Good in our most recent Catholic School Inspection.

Our mission statement lies at the heart of everything we do:

“We take Jesus Christ at the centre of all that we do: To Know, To Love, To Serve.”

This mission shapes our curriculum, relationships and wider school life. We strive for our pupils to know God and the world He created, to grow in love for Jesus and for one another, and to develop a strong sense of social responsibility by recognising and responding to the needs of others through service within both the local and global community.

We believe that children thrive when they feel safe, happy and challenged. Safeguarding and pupil wellbeing are at the centre of our work, and pupils benefit from a nurturing environment where they feel secure, cared for and ready to learn. Positive relationships, high expectations and a culture of respect enable pupils to develop exemplary attitudes to learning, take pride in their achievements and demonstrate resilience when faced with challenges. We are committed to ensuring that every child is well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond the classroom.

Our curriculum is broad, balanced and ambitious for all learners. It has been carefully designed to build knowledge and skills progressively, enabling pupils to know more, remember more and do more as they move through the school. Teaching is underpinned by strong subject knowledge and evidence-informed practice, ensuring that learning is engaging, purposeful and inclusive. Staff know pupils well and recognise their individual strengths, talents and needs, providing the support and challenge necessary for every child to flourish. Classrooms are purposeful and stimulating environments where pupils are active participants in their learning and develop a genuine love of learning.

We further enrich our curriculum through specialist teaching in Spanish, educational visits, themed learning days, visiting speakers and hands-on experiences that bring learning to life. These opportunities make a significant contribution to pupils’ personal development, helping them to grow in confidence, broaden their cultural understanding and develop aspirations for their future.

We are incredibly proud of our pupils. They are welcoming, respectful and enthusiastic learners who speak confidently about their experiences and take great pride in their school. If you would like to find out more about St Richard’s Catholic Primary School, you are warmly invited to visit us and experience our community first-hand. If you are unable to attend an open event, please contact the school office on 01243 784549 to arrange a guided tour.

Mrs Sydney Bridges
Headteacher

To request paper copies of any of the documents found on this website, please contact the school office by calling 01243 784549 or emailing the office: office@strichardsprimary.co.uk