Our 7 full time classes and nursery class total around 210 pupils an our Vision is that they will "Learn, Transform and Grow together as individuals and as members of our St Mary's community.
​We provide a rich and varied curriculum which ensures all our children are learning the key knowledge and skills they require to be successful learners and member of society but do so through experiencing rich and varied opportunities for learning both in and outside the school building. Daily phonics, reading, writing and mathematical learning is added to through well-constructed and creative project lead activities which enable the teachers to build on core knowledge and skills across a broad and stimulating curriculum. All our children's learning is enriched by specialist music teaching and in 2021/22 we are opening our After School Club and Forest School provision as well as embarking on the OPAL project to improve opportunities for play and outside activity to further enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of our children after the challenges of the Covid period.. ​

We continually develop new places and ways to learn. Hidden away we have our beautiful green space with  our Forest School and Early Years Foundation Stage outdoor provision area. All children learn outdoors at least once a week and we teach the 'Commando Joe's' Character Education programme across the school to enable all children to develop the resilience and fortitude required to live and succeed in the modern world.  All children also benefit from a wide range of culturally enriching opportunities to further enhance their learning and experience life in and around their local and national communities. Opportunities to broaden life experiences include visits to Tate Britain, Oxford’s Sheldonian theatre, Shakespeare performances, Blenheim Palace, Cotswold Wildlife Park, the National Memorial Arboretum, London’s West End theatres, The Black Country Museum, Oxford Unlocked, The National Space Centre as well as local links with  residential and nursing homes and many others.​ A programme of residential visits is also offered along with engagement in county wide music, art and sporting activities. WE also invite musician, actors and artists to school to enhance learning and share their enthusiasm and skills with our pupils. Opportunities include historical re-enactmets, community theatre visits and artists in residence .

Teachers, teaching assistants and parents work together to support the learning of all pupils. Regular formal and informal communication between home and school is encouraged and pupils and adults alike work together to identify the needs for each individual learner. Our Christian values; Compassion, Endurance, Truth and Koinonia underpin all our activities and our positive behaviour policy ensures that good choices and hard work are well rewarded through Headteacher and other award certificates. Children and families requiring additional support are well provided for with our pastoral support team and our Special Educational Needs Coordinator. 

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Our classrooms are fully equipped with Chromebooks for teachers and children, interactive whiteboards, i-Pads and a variety of other technology helping us to provide up-to-date, interactive and stimulating opportunities to learn about Computing and also, through the use of ICT in daily lessons, to equip our children with the skills needed to keep them safe as digital citizens.

Our Flight House offers enhanced facilities for the whole community both in and around St Mary's school. Our Breakfast Club, After School Clubs and child care facility  is based there with independent facilities and resources. 

Our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) and our Children's Therapeutic Counsellor are also based in this space. It is a private space for children to work to explore their mental health and wellbeing in a safe, warm and engaging space with adults who fully trained to meet the needs of some of our more vulnerable children. 

The Flight House is also available for community use – we are a small school with a big heart and open our doors to community and business use whenever we can. 

Our teachers are dedicated and experienced, bringing expertise from a wide variety of schools in Oxfordshire, London, the wider UK  to St Mary's. They work closely with a dedicated support team of teaching assistants and other professional support staff to ensure all our children achieve their personal goals. They all bring their personal skills to our rich and diverse school with additional languages, specialist teaching skills and experiences to share with our pupils.

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Our passionate Local Governing Board supports and develops the strategic direction of school and we are well served not only by our Trust but also by the Oxfordshire Diocesan Education Board and the clergy and community of St Mary's church. We are actively involved in the Banbury Partnership of schools, taking part in inter school sporting and curriculum events and SCIB (Safeguarding Children In Banbury) as well as fostering good links with our secondary schools. St Mary's also works closely with Cherwell District Council, supporting and steering their 'Brighter Futures in Banbury' initiative to support great outcomes for all families living in and around the centre of Banbury. 

We would very much like to share our vision and enthusiasm for learning with you and welcome anyone interested in joining our school community to contact us to arrange a visit to school when you can meet myself, the teachers, support staff and most importantly, the children - who I am sure will be able to explain just how much fun learning at St Mary's is much better than I can! 

I hope you enjoy your journey around our website and looking forward to welcoming you to school. 

Victoria Woods - Headteacher 

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