Our final School of the Month of this academic year takes us to a school nestled in the heart of the community, St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School in Skelmersdale.

As the end of term rapidly approaches, it is a busy time for the school, with trips, high school transition days and sports days. However, headteacher Ann Naylor still makes time to sit down with us over a cup of tea to explain what makes this school so special.

“We’re an inclusive school – every child is known, valued and loved and Gospel values are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission statement is: ‘We love and grow in Christ. We live and learn in partnership. We build and share together’.’ The motto is more than just words, it shapes our daily life and the relationships within our school community. We are proud of our caring ethos, high expectations and commitment to helping every child achieve their full potential.

“We’re a school built on strong relationships – between children, staff, families, governors and the wider community.”

Last year, the school celebrated its 20th anniversary in a joint celebration with neighbouring St Francis of Assisi Church, which was marking its 50th anniversary.

The school opened in 2005 following the amalgamation of three schools: St Matthew’s, St Mark’s and St Luke’s. The identity of all three schools remains evident in St Francis today.

Ann said: “When we amalgamated, the children designed the school badge with a dove to represent St Francis and three stars to represent each school, using the previous school colours – red, blue and burgundy.”

Ann, who attended St Luke’s and later worked at St Mark’s before the amalgamation, keeps a cross from St Mark’s in her office.

“Sadly, there was a fire at St Mark’s. The only thing that survived was this cross, which is an incredible story.”

Ann joined St Francis as RE lead and took over as headteacher just a couple of weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

“It didn’t feel strange because I didn’t know any different in my role as headteacher. Our school remained quite busy as we have a number of vulnerable children, and I was pleased that we could provide a safe space for them during a time of uncertainty.”

Pastoral care is one of the school’s greatest strengths. “We focus on ensuring that children feel safe, supported and ready to learn. Our Catholic faith underpins our approach to wellbeing, inclusion and personal development. We work closely with families and the wider community to nurture children academically, emotionally and spiritually. Through prayer, worship, charitable activities, pupil leadership opportunities and a strong emphasis on kindness and respect, we help children develop confidence, resilience and a sense of responsibility towards others.”

The school also has a dedicated SEN unit for children with communication and language needs. With special schools across Lancashire at capacity, the unit provides children with the opportunity to attend a mainstream setting while receiving tailored support.

“We do a lot of transition work first to ensure everything is in place and that the child is happy and settled. We call it the Olive Class to symbolise that we’re reaching out and our school badge also includes an olive branch.”

The school allows children to grow both academically and personally: “We believe that education is far more than academic success , it’s about helping young people grow into compassionate, ambitious and faith-filled individuals who can make a positive difference in the world. We are incredibly proud of our children and the way they live out our mission every day.”

Our visit concludes with a tour of the school, which is spacious, warm and inviting. The outdoor area includes a prayer garden, allowing pupils to enjoy worship outdoors when the weather permits.

It is clear from meeting both staff and children that the school achieves its goal of everyone being truly known, valued and loved.

As a new academic year approaches, we finish our visit by looking to the future. The school’s next step is joining the Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust as part of wave one of the archdiocese’s vision for the future of Catholic education.

“We’ve had initial meetings with the trust, and we’re excited and positive about the future.”