We are a friendly, happy and successful school, serving the diverse and vibrant community of Chesterton in Cambridge. Our pupils come from a wide variety of backgrounds and many speak English as an additional language. Children love coming to Shirley - they literally 'run in' to our playground in the mornings, and they are welcomed by a happy and dedicated staff who support and nurture them in a variety of ways. We are a highly inclusive place of learning and are very proud to be the first school in the country to gain the Equalities Award.

Our new school logo and badge was created in 2021 by children and parents, and reflects the importance of growth, working together, key skills and a wider joy of learning, which are all fundamental parts of school life at Shirley. Our new motto: ‘Cognita Vitae’ is Latin for ‘Learning for Life’ – our aim is that children gain the knowledge, creativity, and understanding of each other and of the World, which will take everyone forward now and into the future. Our Curriculum is broad, deep and enriching with all areas of learning valued highly; we use the ‘Essentials Curriculum’ from Chris Quigley, along with the very best of other schemes and our own planning, to ensure everyone is challenged and supported, whatever their age, ability or level of confidence.

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