I am delighted to welcome you to our school website. St Mary Magdalen’s is a very special community where family, parish and school nurture and inspire our children. We pride ourselves on our deep knowledge of every child and we are privileged to teach enthusiastic, conscientious and compassionate pupils. As a small school within a faith community, we offer you and your children the warmth and welcome of a village school with the diversity and excellence that you would expect in the heart of London. We recognise that all our children, their families and their circumstances are different and we have a long history of working together to ensure outstanding outcomes for everyone.

As a Catholic School, our Christian values underpin all that we do and we seek always to develop the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that enable our children to become responsible global citizens with a life-long love of learning, equipping them for our ever-changing world.

Our excellent results speak for themselves, as does our presence on the Sunday Times Top 250 Schools’ List, but to us school is much more than this. Our pupils’ outstanding achievements, not only in English in Maths but also in the Arts, Languages and Sports, reflect the broad, bespoke curriculum we are building as a school. This curriculum aims to challenge and inspire, encouraging children to strive to do their best and to recognise that mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth.

Mrs Catherine Hughes MA (Cantab), PGCE

Headteacher

St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School has been an integral part of the Mortlake community for over half a Century. Our staff and our parents include past pupils and these deep roots and close bonds are integral to our long history of success.

At the heart of what we do is our love for our children and our community. We live our lives following Jesus’ example and give our pupils the chance to develop kind hearts nurturing their compassion, conscientiousness, and creativity. Our children try their best and help others to do the same secure and resilient in the knowledge that our mistakes are our opportunities.

Our pupils’ attainment is excellent and we have a culture of high expectations and aspirations. We are constantly amazed by our pupils’ ability to rise to the challenge and we nurture every child to reach their full potential. We encourage everyone to have big dreams and to develop the skills and attitudes that will help them to realise these and become happy, healthy, successful adults.

We have a long history of outstanding attainment but we are not complacent and we know that we must continue to learn and to change. We are privileged to teach compassionate and motivated children. We have supportive parents and to have an excellent staff team. We work together to ensure excellent outcomes for all our pupils.

Each year we produce a school development plan which reflects our dynamism and ensures our school provides pupils with an outstanding education.

This year we are celebrating being able to come back together as a community. It is the year of Family and we are looking forward to becoming stronger, kinder and wiser together. This plan reflects the importance of us nurturing the whole child so that they develop academically, socially and emotionally.

Richmond is a unique jewel in London’s crown. Often considered London’s most attractive borough it has been a favourite retreat for the rich and famous throughout history. Home to the marvels of Hampton Court and Twickenham Stadium it rivals anywhere in London for things to see and do. Seen as the happiest place in London to live, the balance of being close enough to central London while maintaining a large amount of open green space.

Located just 8 miles south west of central London, Richmond has fantastic transport links with access to London Underground’s District Line and train services to Waterloo. Heathrow Airport is 12 miles away and can be reached easily by road, train or bus and the M3, M25 and M4 motorways all provide easy access to the area.

Richmond is a friendly and lively centre with excellent facilities including numerous shops and boutiques, pavement cafes and bars, charming pubs and sophisticated restaurants serving top class international cuisine. With so much history and heritage, wildlife and leisure activities, Richmond has something for everyone and is a wonderful environment in which to bring up a family.  Along with a variety of galleries, art centres and cinemas, there is the fabulous Richmond Theatre on The Green along with The Orange Tree theatre.

The Borough also offers up some of the most attractive green open spaces within London including a number of Royal Parks, the most notable of which is the famous 2,300+ acres of Richmond Park.  The River Thames is a major feature of Richmond. Running through the heart of the Borough it winds its way for 21 miles allowing for some beautifully positioned riverside homes with fabulous river views.

Landmarks

Kew Gardens and Palace - Experience the Royal Botanical Garden Show at Kew Gardens. Visit the beautiful palace set within the 300 acre setting.

Richmond Park - London’s largest royal park, famous for its rambling heaths and multitude of deer. A popular jaunt West London locals looking to escape the hustle and bustle of London life.

Twickenham Stadium - The home of rugby. Catch England international rugby games here or during the summer the famous London 7s. Make the short walk to the smaller but just as lively Stoop to catch the local premiership club side, Harlequins RFC.

Hampton Court Palace - The famous royal palace that was a favourite for the King Henry VIII. Visiting here is a little journey to the past. During the winter months it is home to one of London’s largest ice rinks which is a fantastic evening no matter who you are.

Old Deer Park - Houses the boroughs favourite pagoda, it is a fantastic little park land. It is also the home ground of London Welsh Rugby Club if you are looking for an intimate family experience watching the sport.