A Message About the Staff of St Clare’s

From the very beginning, SCIST and all parents have recognised that the true heart of St Clare’s lies in its remarkable staff.

The staff at St Clare’s are far more than just employees; they are the soul of the school. They are the teachers who ignite curiosity, kindness, and ambition in our children; the teaching assistants who demonstrate endless patience and care; and the pastoral and support staff who quietly hold the entire community together behind the scenes.

We have watched these dedicated professionals arrive each day and genuinely transform lives. Their compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment have been evident not just recently, but consistently over many years. Their dedication has never gone unnoticed, and we remain deeply grateful.

From the outside, we clearly see how tirelessly the staff have worked and how much they have contributed – often going far beyond what could reasonably be expected. They do this not for reward or recognition, but because they care deeply about the school and our children.

We have always known that the true strength of St Clare’s comes from the dedication and passion of its staff – not from investments, facilities, or branding. The real value of the school lies in its people and the meaningful difference they make every day.

Many staff members may never fully realise the profound impact they’ve had. Their kindness, encouragement, and guidance continue to resonate with our children long after leaving their classrooms. We have witnessed our children flourishing academically, socially, and emotionally because of the exceptional skill, patience, and compassion demonstrated by the staff.

The staff are the reason St Clare’s has been worth rallying around and fighting for. We have observed the emotional toll recent events have taken on them, and their courage and resilience in the face of adversity have only deepened our respect and gratitude.

We genuinely wish we could have spoken directly with staff to better understand their experiences, ideas, hopes, and concerns. Their voices would have been incredibly valuable because no one knows St Clare’s better than those who shape it every day. We would have greatly valued the opportunity to sit down with them, express our gratitude in person, and listen openly to what mattered most to them.

Unfortunately, circumstances beyond our control have meant we were never able to have this important dialogue – but our appreciation for all that staff have given to the school and our children remains undiminished.

Whatever happens in the future, please know this truth: the work of the staff at St Clare’s has profoundly mattered, and they are immensely valued and respected.

We sincerely thank the staff for everything they have done and continue to do.

They are what makes St Clare’s the truly special community it is.

With genuine appreciation,

SCIST