This is a Roman Catholic High School for boys aged 11 to 16 with a mixed Sixth Form. The school opened as a two form entry school in 1960. In September 1973 it was extended to become a four form entry school and its status was changed to a bilateral school (i.e it has both a selective - eleven plus intake and none-selective intake).

The school became Grant Maintained on 1st September 1993, and reverted to Voluntary Aided Status in September 1999. The first Sixth Form intake was admitted in September 1996. It is a co-educational Sixth Form. In 2001 we extended to become a five form entry school. It now offers 30 selective and 120 non- selective places. We became a Specialist School for Maths and Computing in September 2004. The school roll in September 2007 was 995 including 200 in the sixth Form.

While the majority of pupils come from Catholic Primary Schools, the Governors are pleased to accept applications from committed families of other Christian denominations and families wishing a Catholic Eductioan. Girls are admitted into the 6th Form.

St. Thomas More is the only Catholic Boys' Secondary school in the south-east of Essex and serves a wide catchment area.

The Accommodation

An ambitious refurbishment programme has upgraded the Science Labs and classrooms in English and Maths. The Computer and Technology, Sports, Careers, Business Studies and Media Studies facilities have all been improved recently.

• Four Religious Education rooms
• Chapel
• Six English rooms
• Six Mathematics rooms
• Six Computer rooms
• Seven Science Laboratories
• Three History rooms
• Four Geography rooms
• Three Modern Language rooms
• Five Technology workshops
• Three Art rooms
• One Music room
• Three Music practice rooms
• Recording studio
• Drama studio
• Two Special Needs rooms
• Staffroom
• Dining Room
• Sports Hall Sports Hall

The Basic Need Expansion Program

Phase one was completed in Autumn 2001. This has provided extra classrooms and a new reception area. Phase two (a large two-storey teaching block at the rear of the school, housing the departments of Technology, Art, Music, Business Studies, Graphics and Psychology) was completed in 2003. All classrooms have a digital projector and whiteboards. All teachers have a laptop computer. There are three pitches attached to the school, one of which is an all-weather Astroturf pitch. The school is bounded on two sides by playing fields belonging to two neighbouring grammar schools. Private housing and a main dual carriageway border the other two sides.

The Sixth Form College

A new 6th Form Centre was built in 1996. It contains 2 Science Laboratories and a Prep Room; the Business Studies department; the School Library; 6th form teaching rooms and private study area; the 6th form Common room plus offices and other facilities. Additional remodelling in the main school buildings has created further teaching spaces, a new A-level computer room.

The 6th Form offers all our pupils the opportunity for further studies at A-level or Applied A-level and Vocational Qualifications, and a direct route to University and other forms of Higher Education. We expect that most of our boys will stay on into the Sixth Form, though some will continue to choose the Post 16 routes which have always been available in the area. A separate Prospectus regarding admission to the 6th Form is available at the school.

The Food Technology Block

The technology block was extended in 2010 to increase the schools facilities and give the ability to teach Food Technology. All of the new rooms are fitted with state of the art audio visual technology including digital projectors, interactive whiteboards and sound systems.

The extension houses the following rooms:

• Food Technology
• Learning Centre
• Psychology
• Business Studies

 Please see the Complaints Procedure and Policy Document.

“You are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have clothed yourself in Christ and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Jesus Christ”

Galatians 3: 26-29

Objectives

To ensure that all staff are fully aware of the requirements of the Act and the implications of this for delivery of their subject through effective staff training.

To raise awareness of indirect discrimination which can occur when policies, criteria and practices inadvertently result in pupils with a particular characteristic being treated worse than other pupils.

To review the subjects covered in PSHE to ensure they include equality and diversity.

To collect and analyse data to ensure all groups are making good progress and no group is subject to disadvantage.

Statement of Commitment: Racism in Catholic Schools 

There is no place for racism in our Church and education community. The Diocese of Brentwood is actively working with pupils, teachers, parents, governors and service providers, through the Brentwood Diocesan Education Service, to promote inclusion and a culture of respect. We believe that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and we uphold fairness and justice for all people.

The Diocese of Brentwood is committed to:

• ensuring that no pupil leaves any of our schools without knowing and understanding that all human life is sacred and that, racism can never be justified in any circumstances
• ensuring that our schools celebrate the richness of racial diversity in our day to day lives and throughout the world
• providing regular opportunities for pupils, teachers and others to share their stories and be heard
• ensuring that no pupil in our schools is subject to prejudice or discrimination or experiences bias based on their social, cultural or ethnic heritage
• regularly reviewing and developing the curriculum in our schools so that it presents and explores society, culture, literature and history accurately and fairly
• actively encouraging the creation of diverse staff and governance teams that reflect our school communities and ensures that black, Asian and minority ethnic team members have equal opportunities to all posts/roles
• collating, reviewing, monitoring and evaluating school-level data in a way that enables us to address any concerns relating to discrimination and to identify exemplary practice, reporting these annually to the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE)
• setting up of a working group to help us find the best ways to deliver on these commitments.

"Supporting Catholic schools to provide excellent education where pupils flourish, and Christ is made known to all."