This month, our School of the Month takes us to St Cuthbert’s High School, a thriving and welcoming community located in the heart of Parr, St Helens.

With around 900 students on roll, St Cuthbert’s is firmly rooted in its local community. The school prides itself on being inclusive and supportive, with pastoral care at the forefront of everything it does.

On arrival, the corridors are calm and focused as GCSE exams are underway. We meet headteacher Stuart Holland, who has been part of the school for six years and stepped into the role of headteacher two years ago, to find out what makes St Cuthbert’s such a special place.

Mr Holland explains: “We are a school that places the nurturing of our students’ faith at the centre of all we do. We challenge everyone to live out the Gospel values of Commitment, Compassion, Courage and Community – the four Cs of St Cuthbert’s – every day.

“We have a proud tradition of being at the heart of our community, of never giving up on our children, and of maintaining high academic standards. Providing the best opportunities for our students is a joy for me and the entire staff team.”

The school’s curriculum has been thoughtfully designed to reflect local employment opportunities, ensuring students are well prepared for life beyond school. In recent years, the offer has been broadened in response to student feedback, with new Key Stage 4 options including Construction, Sociology and Health and Fitness. The outdoor construction area, designed to resemble a mini building site, has been supported with resources from a neighbouring housing development. Mr Holland added proudly: “Facilities like these support in preparing our students in readiness for their next stage.”

St Cuthbert’s continues to evolve to meet the needs of its students. Recent developments include upgraded toilet facilities and plans to expand outdoor spaces for social time. Listening to student voice is a key priority, with every pupil able to share their views through the Student Cabinet.

This has led to a number of student-led initiatives, including trialling the option for students to wear their PE kit all day on PE days- maximising activity time while reducing anxiety around changing. Students have also introduced a new “accolade book”, allowing them to complete challenges across a range of topics, signed off by staff or family members. Many of these challenges link to Catholic Social Teaching.  Those who meet their targets are rewarded with certificates, celebrations or trips.

The school celebrates a wide range of achievements, both academic and beyond. Former students have progressed to Oxbridge, while the school has also received the regional Alex Timpson ARC Attachment Award, recognising its outstanding work in trauma-informed practice and support for vulnerable pupils. Sporting success is also strong, with the Year 10/11 girls’ football team recently winning the Town Cup.

During our visit, we were lucky enough to speak to a group of students and their pride in the school is clear. They highlight the strong support network, their friendships, and the wide range of experiences on offer. Opportunities range from sporting success, with some students progressing with St Helens and Wigan rugby clubs, to community outreach. Members of the chaplaincy team, for example, have volunteered at a local dementia café and supported the town’s refugee charity by preparing hampers for those in need.

Catholic life is central to St Cuthbert’s. Mr Holland added: “Mass is regularly celebrated in school, with around 40 students attending voluntarily and our chapel is always really busy.”

Recently, students also took part in a joint pilgrimage with De La Salle and St Augustine’s High Schools to St Oswald’s and St Edmund Arrowsmith Church to see the Holy Hand relic. The school is also well represented in the Archdiocesan youth pilgrimage to Lourdes, with participation growing year on year.

Looking ahead, St Cuthbert’s will take its next step by joining the St Joseph’s Catholic Multi Academy Trust this September- a move the school chose to make proactively because the school’s vision and values align closely with the those of the Trust, as well as providing an opportunity to further enhance provision for its students and staff.

Concluding our visit, Mr Holland reflects: “We are a school where wonderful things are happening every day. We encourage everyone to ‘live life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10).”