Information for Parents
Welcome to St Thomas More Catholic Academy
Attendance
Here at St Thomas More Catholic Academy, we are committed to develop and maintain a culture which encourages all students to maintain consistently good attendance.
St Thomas More Catholic Academy has a named Senior Attendance Champion, Miss K Nuttall, who works closely with the MAC Education Welfare Manager (EWM), in partnership with parents/carers, in promoting and encouraging 100 percent attendance and punctuality for all pupils.
Holiday Requests In line with government policy, the school will not authorise holidays to be taken during term time. Following the City Council’s new Code of Conduct any unauthorised term time holiday could lead to a fine(s) from the LA. The Headteacher and governing body hold responsibility for implementing this policy and informing the LA of circumstances which could result in the imposing of a fine(s).
Term Dates 2024/25
Academic Year and Holiday Dates 2024 / 2025 | |
Autumn Term 2024 | |
Staff | Monday 2 September – Friday 25 October |
Inset | Monday 2 and Tuesday 3rd September |
Pupils | Wednesday 4 September – Friday 25 October |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 28 October – Monday 4 November |
Staff | Monday 4 November – Friday 20 December |
Inset | Monday 4 November |
Pupils | Tuesday 5 November – Friday 20 December |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 23 December – Monday 6 January |
Spring Term 2025: | |
Staff | Monday 6 January – Friday 14 February |
Inset | Monday 6 January |
Pupils: | Tuesday 7 January – Friday 14 February |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 17 February – Friday 21 February |
Staff & Pupils | Monday 24 February – Friday 11 April |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 14 April – Friday 25 April |
Easter Sunday: | Sunday 20 April |
Summer Term 2025: | |
Staff & Pupils: | Monday 28 April – Friday 23 May |
May Day: | Monday 5 May |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 26 May – Friday 30 May |
Staff & Pupils: | Monday 2 June – Friday 18 July |
Inset | Monday 21 July |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 21 July – Friday 29 August |
Staff Total: | 195 days including 4 staff inset days: 2&3/9/24 4/11/24 6/1/25, + 2 twilights in lieu of 21/7/25 |
Pupil Total: | 190 days |
Term Dates 2025/26
Academic Year and Holiday Dates 2025 / 2026 | |
Autumn Term 2025 | |
Staff | Monday 1 September 2025– Friday 24 October 2025 |
Inset | Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd September 2025 |
Pupils | Wednesday 3 September 2025 – Friday 24 October 2025 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 27 October 2025 – Monday 3 November 2025 |
Staff | Monday 3 November 2025– Friday 19 December 2025 |
Inset | Monday 3 November 2025 |
Pupils | Tuesday 4 November 2025 – Friday 19 December 2025 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 22 December 2025 – Friday 2 January 2026 |
Spring Term 2026: | |
Staff | Monday 5 January 2026 – Friday 13 February 2026 |
Inset | Friday 13 February 2026 |
Pupils: | Monday 5 January 2026 – Thursday 12 February 2026 |
Holiday: Pupil | Friday 13 February 2026 – Friday 20 February 2026 |
Staff & Pupils | Monday 23 February 2026 – Friday 27 March 2026 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 30 March 2026 – Friday 10 April 2026 |
Easter Sunday: | Sunday 5 April 2026 |
Summer Term 2026: | |
Staff & Pupils: | Monday 13 April 2026 – Friday 22 May 202 |
May Day: | Holiday Pupil Monday 4 May 2026 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 25 May 2026 – Friday 29 May 2026 |
Staff & Pupils: | Monday 1 June 2026 – Friday 17 July 2026 |
Inset | Monday 20 July 2026 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 20 July 2026 – Friday 28 August 2026 |
Staff Total: | 195 days including 4 staff inset days: 1&2/9/25 3/11/25 13/2/26, + 2 twilights in lieu of 20/7/26 |
Pupil Total: | 190 days |
Term Dates 2026/27
Academic Year and Holiday Dates 2026 / 2027 | |
Autumn Term 2026 | |
Staff | Tuesday 1st September 2026– Friday 23rd October 2026 |
Inset | 1st and 2nd September 2026 |
Pupils | Thursday 3rd September 2026 – Friday 23rd October 2026 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 26th October 2026 – Friday 30th October 2026 |
Staff | Monday 2nd November 2026– Friday 18 December 2026 |
Inset | 2nd November 2026 |
Pupils | Tuesday 3rd November 2026 – Friday 18 December 2026 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 21st December 2026 – Friday 1st January 2027 |
Spring Term 2027 | |
Staff | Monday 4th January 2027 – Friday 12th February 2027 |
Inset | 4th January 2027 |
Pupils | Tuesday 5th January 2027– Friday 12th February 2027 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 15th February 2027 – Friday 19th February 2027 |
Staff & Pupils | Monday 22nd February 2027 – Thursday 25th March 2027 |
Holiday: Pupil | Friday 26th March 2027 – Friday 9th April 2027 |
Easter Sunday: | Sunday 28th March 2027 |
Summer Term 2027 | |
Staff & Pupils: | Monday 12th April 2027 – Friday 28th May 2027 |
May Day: | Holiday Pupil Monday 3rd May 2027 |
Holiday: Pupil | Monday 31st May 2027 – Friday 4th June 2027 |
Staff & Pupils: | Monday 7th June 2027 – Tuesday 20th July 2027 |
Inset | 21st July 2027 |
Holiday: Pupil | Wednesday 21st July 2027– Friday 3rd September 2027 |
Staff Total: | 195 days including 5 staff inset days: 1&2/9/26 2/11/26 04/1/27, + 2 twilights in lieu of 21/7/27 |
Uniform
School Uniform Suppliers Longton Protective Clothing (Timberland) Sutherland Road, Longton, SOT If you are looking for second hand uniform, please contact the school office at office@stmca.org.uk
In order to maintain our high standards; all students are to follow the policy set out below, please note that modifications will not be accepted and that the Headteacher reserves the right to determine the suitability and appropriateness of all uniform issues.
Uniform
- Blazer: black blazer with embroidered school badge.
- Blazer and school badge can be bought separately if preferred.
- Shirt: plain white shirt with a top button that can be fastened.
- Tie: St Thomas More tie available from school office and school suppliers.
- Boys Trousers: plain black or dark grey trousers worn with black socks. (no cords, jeans, fashion trousers or lycra)
- Girls Trousers: black trousers (no cords, jeans, fashion trousers or lycra) worn with black socks. • Girls Skirt: grey knee length school skirt (no lycra) worn with black tights or black ankle socks.
- Jumper : optional item, traditional STM school logo black V neck.
Shoes
- Shoes must be black leather (or leather looking) and of a traditional school shoe style.
- If the shoes have laces, the laces must be black.
- Suede, canvas, trainers, pumps, boots of any type are not acceptable school footwear.
Coats
- Outdoor coats must be recognised as an ‘outdoor garment’.
- Hoodies, tracksuit tops and sweatshirts are not acceptable school coats.
Hats
- Hats are not to be worn on the school premises.
Bags
- Bags should be big enough for A4 folders, books, planner and pencil case.
- A separate bag is needed for PE Kit. Please note that students will be requested to replace lost equipment, equipment in poor condition and defaced equipment.
PE KIT
Boys PE Kit
- Blue / Black Rugby shirt with STM Logo – Advisable for outdoor activities
- Blue Polo shirt with STM Logo – Advisable for indoor activities
- Blue Hoodie with STM logo – Optional to purchase
- Plain black shorts (no branded logos/stripes)
- Black track pants with STM logo – Optional to purchase
- Black plain football socks
- White ankle sports socks (Summer term or indoor activities)
- Trainers (not boots)
- Football boots, shin guards and gum shields, are advisable for outdoor team games
Girls PE Kit
- Blue Polo shirt (either female or unisex fit) with STM Logo – Advisable for indoor activities
- Blue Hoodie with STM logo – Advisable for outdoor activities
- Plain black shorts (no branded logos/stripes)
- Black track pants with STM logo – Optional to purchase
- Black sports leggings (no branded logos/stripes) – Optional to purchase
- Black plain football socks
- White ankle sports socks (Summer term or indoor activities)
- Trainers (not boots)
- Football boots, gum shields and shinpads are advisable for outdoor team games
Please note that all students must bring their PE Kit to all PE Lessons, even if they are excused
Individual Expectations
- Hair / make-up Hair and make-up must be in keeping with a professional environment. Make-up, nail colour and hair must be of a natural colour only. Minimum length for boys must be a number 2 clipper setting. Extreme hair styles are not permitted, including tram lines.
- Jewellery
Boys – wrist watch only.
Girls – wrist watch and one set of gold or silver small stud earrings in the traditional position
Charging and Remissions
See Link:
EU Citizens
Parents Evening Booking
Here at St Thomas More Catholic Academy, we book Parents Evening Meetings through the school cloud system online. A few weeks before the parents evening, you will receive a letter from the school with the booking information. On the School Cloud platform, you will be able to select the teachers you wish to make appointments with and the times during the parents evenings.
Parents Evenings are usually from 3.40pm – 6.30pm on the year groups given evening.
If there are any problems accessing School Cloud, please contact the school office at office@stmca.org.uk or 01782 882900
Online Payments
St Thomas More Catholic Academy is proud to be a cashless school. All payments currently take place through parent pay. When your child is enrolled at St Thomas More, you will receive a letter from parent pay to give you access to the system.
Through here you will be able to pay for school lunches, pay for school trips and give permissions and support any fundraising happening in school.
School Menus
Our school canteen is open for students both at breaktime and lunch time. At breaktime there is a selection of hot food and sandwiches available. These include items such as toast, cheese oatcakes, pizza slices and much more.
Our full lunch menu can be seen below.
Free School Meals
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
· Income Support
· income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
· income-related Employment and Support Allowance
· support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
· the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
· Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
· Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
· Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2023.
Please click on the below link to complete your Free School Meals Application.
Careers
See below a link to our careers page:
SMSC British Values
At St Thomas More we understand our requirements to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSVC) development of our pupils. Through delivery of our SMSVC we will endeavour to:
- promote fundamental British values;
- meeting requirements for collective worship;
- ensuring our pupils positively regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance; and
- through our school ethos and teaching ensure our pupils are aware of the difference between the law of the land and religious law
Fundamental British values
Through our provision of SMSVC we will:
- enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
- enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
- encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
- enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
- further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
- encourage respect for other people; and
- encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.
As a result of taking part in SMSVC pupils will have:
- an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
- an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
- an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
- an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
- an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and
- an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.
We will do this through:
- include in suitable parts of the curriculum, as appropriate for the age of pupils, material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain, in contrast to other forms of government in other countries;
- ensure that all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to, and demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as a school council whose members are voted for by the pupils;
- use opportunities such as general or local elections to hold mock elections to promote fundamental British values and provide pupils with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view;
- use teaching resources from a wide variety of sources to help pupils understand a range of faiths, and
- consider the role of extra-curricular activity, including any run directly by pupils, in promoting fundamental British values.