Our Lady and St. Philomena's Catholic Primary School stands as a beacon of genuine inclusion, proving that the challenges of deprivation do not—and will not—place a boundary on potential. Operating in a challenging area of Liverpool, we maintain a profound commitment to ensuring every single child—regardless of their background, special educational need or home circumstance—is given the tailored support and resources they need to thrive.

We don't just welcome diversity; we actively embrace it, tailoring our learning environments and teaching methods to unlock the unique talents within each pupil. Our school environment actively dismantles barriers by celebrating the diverse needs and gifts of all pupils, fostering a climate where equity is not just an ideal but a daily practice that drives academic and personal success.

Furthermore, we view ourselves as an indispensable community anchor in the spirit of love, peace and justice, extending our resources and support beyond the school day to families, creating an atmosphere of trust and partnership that ensures the entire community recognises that for the children of Our Lady and St. Philomena's; there are genuinely no boundaries to their future.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

At Our Lady and St Philomena’s, we celebrate the many languages, cultures and experiences that children bring to our school community. We recognise multilingualism as a strength and are committed to ensuring that every pupil who speaks English as an Additional Language feels welcomed, included and able to achieve their full potential.

We use the Bell Foundation EAL Assessment Framework to identify pupils’ English-language proficiency and understand any barriers to learning. Teachers use this information to plan appropriate support, including explicit vocabulary teaching, visual and practical resources, modelling, structured opportunities for talk and carefully chosen scaffolds.

Our expectation is that pupils with EAL access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers. Support is designed to remove language barriers rather than reduce challenge, and scaffolding is gradually reduced as pupils become increasingly confident and independent.

We work closely with families and value children’s home languages and cultural identities. Where pupils need additional support, this is carefully targeted, regularly reviewed and adapted in response to progress.

We also recognise that EAL is not a special educational need. Where there are concerns about a pupil’s progress, we carefully consider language acquisition alongside their wider learning needs so that the right support is provided.

 

Inclusion Quality Mark

We are so proud to have achieved the Inclusion Quality Mark Centre of Excellence Award...again! 

Following the assessment, we are extremely proud that the school has been awarded the status as an IQM Centre of Excellence for 2026-2027. This is a significant achievement and reflects the hard work, care and commitment of our entire school community. 

The assessor recognised the school as a “positive, stable and inclusive culture” where children “thrive when the whole family is supported.” The report celebrates the strong relationships across our community and highlights the authentic culture of inclusion and belonging that is evident throughout the school.

There were many strengths identified within the report, including:

• The successful relaunch and impact of our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) provision, which was described as joyful, purposeful and highly effective in supporting pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and social development.
• The school’s commitment to removing barriers for families and ensuring all children can access opportunities, experiences and enrichment.
• Strong leadership and a caring, nurturing ethos where children feel safe, valued and included.
• Improvements in attendance, wellbeing and pupil confidence, particularly for vulnerable pupils and those who may previously have struggled to engage with school.
• The positive impact of leadership opportunities, outdoor learning, trips, clubs and enrichment experiences on pupils’ personal development.
• The strong sense of community across the school, with parents describing staff as caring, approachable and responsive.
• High staff morale and a staff team who are passionate about supporting children and families.

We were especially proud that pupil voice reflected “pride, safety and happiness,” with children describing the school as “kind, warm and inclusive, with a strong community spirit.” 

As a Catholic school, we are proud that our mission and values continue to shape every aspect of school life. Inclusion is not viewed as an initiative, but as a lived commitment to ensuring every child is known, valued and supported to flourish.

I would like to thank our wonderful pupils, families, governors and staff for the part each of you play in making our school such a special place. This achievement belongs to the whole community.