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Welcome from the Headteacher
A very warm welcome to Our Lady and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
I feel incredibly proud and privileged to be the Headteacher of this fantastic school, serving families in Wath-upon-Dearne and across the wider Dearne Valley. Our Lady and St Joseph’s is a one-form-entry Catholic primary school with nursery provision, set in generous grounds with a large playing field and opportunities for children to learn and explore through our Forest School. Whether you are already part of our school family or are considering Our Lady and St Joseph’s for your child, I hope this website gives you a flavour of the happy, caring and welcoming community that I am so proud to lead.
Our Mission and Catholic Identity
Our mission, “Searching faithfully for excellence,” lies at the heart of everything I want for our school and every child within it. Christ is at the centre of school life. The teachings of Christ, the examples of Our Lady and St Joseph, and our Gospel values shape the way our children learn, treat one another and contribute to the wider community. Our seven Gospel values are Love, Hope, Justice, Forgiveness, Stewardship, Respect and Honesty. I want these to be much more than words displayed around school. I want our children to understand them, live them and use them to guide the choices they make and the way they treat others. Through our distinctly Catholic ethos, Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching, I am committed to ensuring that children grow not only academically, but spiritually, morally and socially too. I also greatly value our relationship with our parish and the wider Catholic community.
Helping Every Child to Flourish
My ambition is for every child to leave Our Lady and St Joseph’s confident, compassionate and curious, with the knowledge, skills and values they need to flourish in the next stage of their lives. For me, that begins with knowing and valuing every child as an individual. I have high expectations for every pupil, while recognising that children have different strengths, experiences and needs. I am committed to ensuring that each child receives the encouragement, challenge and support they need to succeed. Above all, I believe children learn best when they feel safe, happy, understood and that they truly belong. I want every child who walks through our doors to know that they belong, are valued, listened to and an important part of our school family.
Learning with Ambition and Curiosity
I am passionate about providing children with a rich and ambitious education that inspires curiosity, develops confidence and encourages a genuine love of learning. High-quality teaching, a love of reading and secure foundations in essential skills are central to this. Alongside academic achievement, however, I want children to be creative, independent, resilient and excited to discover new things. Our extensive grounds, large field and Forest School provide wonderful opportunities for learning and exploration beyond the classroom. I also believe strongly in celebrating children's achievements and providing wider experiences that enable them to discover new interests, develop their talents and create happy memories of their primary school years.
Working in Partnership with Families
I believe that the strongest schools are built on positive relationships with their families. Parents and carers know their children best, and I value the important partnership between home and school. I am committed to open, honest and respectful communication and want families to feel that they are an important part of school life. Parents and carers are warmly welcomed to assemblies, performances, parents' evenings, celebrations and community events throughout the year.
Come and Meet Us
Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and I know that a website can only ever give you a glimpse of what a school is really like. I would therefore be delighted to welcome you to Our Lady and St Joseph’s so that you can meet our children and staff, see our school in action and experience the warmth of our community for yourself. I hope you will immediately see what makes Our Lady and St Joseph’s such a special place to learn, grow and belong.
Louise Illien
Headteacher
Headteacher
Latest School Calendar Events
- School Photographs21Oct2026
- Last Day of Term23Oct2026
- Return to School02Nov2026
- Family Wellbeing Afternoon05Nov2026
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Parents Evening19Nov2026
3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Parents Evening25Nov2026
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Non-School Uniform Day27Nov2026
- Winter Wonderland30Nov2026
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
- KS1 Christmas Nativity01Dec2026
9:30 am - 10:30 am
- KS1 Christmas Nativity02Dec2026
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
- Advent Stay and Pray03Dec2026
8:50 am - 9:15 am
- Foundation Stage Nativity08Dec2026
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
- Foundation Stage Nativity09Dec2026
9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Christmas Dinner10Dec2026
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
- Year 3 and 4 Carol Service10Dec2026
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Year 5 and 6 Christmas performance14Dec2026
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Year 5 and 6 Christmas performance15Dec2026
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm