Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope that you had a relaxing and enjoyable half term and that the first week back to school after the changing of the clocks (and the darkness that goes along with that) has been a good one.
What an exciting start to the half term we had with our visit from Pudsey Bear and BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex. It was quite magical to see the faces of the children (and adults) when they spotted Pudsey on their way into school! A big thank you to our Head Boy and Head Girl who represented the school so well with their responses to the presenters’ questions. You can catch the interviews on i-player on the Breakfast Show recording for the 4th November – there is one on BBC Radio Surrey and another on BBC Radio Sussex.
After school on Tuesday, eight children in KS2 represented the school in a Cross Country event. Two children placed first in their races, two children came second place and two children placed fourth. Well done to our runners.
Our Year 5 and 6 boys and girls took part in a football tournament on Thursday afternoon. Our girls’ team came 3rd and the boys came 2nd after a thrilling golden boot decider! Well done to both teams.
On Sunday, our Head Boy and Girl will be carrying the school banner and laying a wreath at the Cranleigh Remembrance Day parade. If any other families would like to join in, Mrs. Chalstrey will be in the school car park at 10.30am and walking to St. Nicolas Church from 10.40am. It would be lovely to have a bigger presence and for children to wear their school uniform if possible.
Thank you to the 48 of you who responded to the parental questionnaire last half term. The Senior Leadership Team have begun to unpick your feedback and will share the actions we will be taking in response to the information you have provided over the coming weeks. One thing I wanted to address straight away was feedback regarding the emphasis we place on RE, prayer and worship. I just wanted to clarify this with you. As a Catholic School, RE is a core subject and therefore has parity with English and Maths. In order to be compliant with the Bishops’ regulations for Catholic schools, RE makes up 10% of curriculum time in our school. With regards to the time dedicated to collective worship, the DfE guidance states “In the UK, maintained schools in England are required to hold a daily act of collective worship for all registered pupils, which must be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character" unless a school has a specific religious designation.” https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/collective-worship-in-schools
Good luck to the children representing the school at the Swimming Gala on Sunday afternoon! Thank you to Ms. Robson and the staff supporting the event.
Do follow us on Instagram if you haven’t already https://www.instagram.com/saint_cuthbert_mayne/
God Bless,
Mrs. Amy O’Donovan
Headteacher
Collective Worship
Last Sunday’s Gospel was from Matthew and focused on the beatitudes and the church celebrated All Saints Day. The children made fantastic links between the beatitudes and the lives of saints – how they may have had difficulties in their lives but have been rewarded with eternal life in heaven and the honour of becoming a saint. I asked the children to consider a saint they are inspired by and pray to them this week for support and guidance.
Safeguarding
Bullying can affect children, both in and out of school – but adults can play a crucial role in helping young people speak up and support one another. This week’s guide is packed with practical strategies to foster confidence, kindness, and connection in the face of unkind behaviour.
From encouraging inclusivity to spotting signs of distress, the guide highlights how small, everyday actions by young people and the adults around them can make a big difference. With tips on nurturing empathy, teaching allyship and validating children’s experiences, it’s a timely reminder that empowering young voices is key to positive change.
Shoeboxes for The Ukraine
Just a reminder, If you are able to donate, boxes needs to be in school for collection by 16th November. Please see the information here for further information regarding what to put into the boxes and how to label them etc. Last year we donated 12 boxes – let's see if we can beat that number!
Reception 2026
We have just settled our Reception intake, but it is already time to think about 2026’s new intake! If your child is due to start school in September 2026 and you would like to find out more about St. Cuthbert Mayne Catholic Primary School, we will be running tours of the school so that you can see us in action and have the opportunity to meet with Mrs. O’Donovan, Headteacher on the following dates:
To book a place, please complete this form.
Friends of St. Cuthbert Mayne – Dates for your diaries
More information will be sent out after half term, but here are some important dates:
Uniform
The children should now be in winter uniform. Please see details below:
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Winter Uniform
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EYFS and KS1 (Reception – Year 2)
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KS2 (Year 3-6)
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Boys
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Winter
Purple round-neck sweatshirt with school badge
White polo shirt
Grey trousers/shorts
Grey socks
Black shoes
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Purple V-neck sweatshirt with school badge
White long-sleeved shirt
School tie
Grey trousers/shorts
Grey socks
Black shoes
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Girls
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Winter
Purple cardigan with school badge
White polo shirt
Grey skirt/trousers/pinafore dress
Grey socks/tights
Black shoes
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Purple cardigan with school badge
White long-sleeved shirt
School tie
Grey skirt/trousers/pinafore dress
Grey socks/tights
Black shoes
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PE Kit
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Black shorts
Black or Grey Tracksuit bottoms
Purple T-shirt with school badge
Socks
Trainers
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Other
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Haircuts: No extreme haircuts, extensions or dyed hair; no shorter than grade 2 and must be blended (eg: No tram lines).
Hairbands: Plain yellow, purple or black hairbands and hair ties. Shoulder-length hair must be tied up.
Jewellery: No jewellery is permitted, except one pair of small round gold or silver ear studs which must be removed for PE.
Make-Up: Pupils cannot wear make-up or nail varnish.
School Bags: Reception & KS1 have the school book bags (no rucksacks) KS2 have a small bag for books (which must fit in their locker). Pupils are allowed no more than one keyring on their bag.
Watches: analogue or digital only. Watches that have internet connectivity or recording capability are not permitted.
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Interested in teaching?
Are you or someone you know interested in a change of career or have a passion for teaching? If the answer is yes, The Xavier Teach South East Hub have several events coming up with opportunities to find out more about teacher training. You can find out more on their website: www.teachsoutheast.co.uk or if you feel you just want to apply, there is a fast track application here.
