Description

St. Helen's Church of England School, located at EX39 5AP in the North Devon countryside, stands proudly as a warm, inclusive, and highly regarded institution renowned for its Christian ethos, innovative curriculum, and high expectations. Established in 1851, the school has a rich history of serving the community of Abbotsham and the surrounding areas, together with Alwington since 1957. The current building opened in 2004.

With a strong focus on character building and joyful learning, St. Helen's offers a unique "Curriculum 360" experience that encourages children to explore the world through real-life issue projects and enrichment experiences. Their educational philosophy is to inspire children to become "Inspiring Change Makers," helping them create positive change locally, nationally, and globally.

St. Helen's is part of the Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust family of schools and is a Voluntary Aided Church School with a governing body comprising a majority of Foundation Governors appointed by the Church. The school fosters a happy and safe environment in which children learn courtesy, good manners, and the value of consideration for others.

The curriculum at St. Helen's is high achieving, offering a wide and engaging variety of academic experiences, promoting the Christian values emphasized in the school's mission statement: "Every Child Matters to God." The school encourages regular parental engagement and involvement in their children's education.

As a result of their dedication to education and community, St. Helen's has been recognized as an "excellent" Church School in the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools. The school engages closely with St. Helen's Church and the Torridge Coastal Mission Community to ensure children discover the Christian faith and its impact on their lives. Headteacher Mrs. Rebecca Northcott leads the dedicated staff team, while Mrs. Zoe Batten serves as the headteacher.

St. Helen's maintains a strong commitment to safeguarding, viewed as a collective responsibility for staff, governors, and volunteers. The school is also dedicated to promoting the social, moral, spiritual, and cultural well-being of its students.