The school is a Voluntary Aided Church of England School in the parish of Ross-on-Wye. The parish church is St. Mary's and the Rector, Revd. Sean Semple is a governor of the school. Revd Semple regularly takes school assemblies and the school has its Christmas and Easter services at St. Mary's. Other members of St. Mary's act as Foundation Governors, as members of the 'Open the Book' team or as Volunteers listening to children read or helping in some other way.
Most of the present church was built between about 1280 and its dedication in 1316. By the middle of the fourteenth century the East end had been extended and the tower added, together with the porches to the North and South. St. Mary's is open every day during daylight hours to visitors and for private prayer. A free leaflet is available for visitors to guide them around the church and information panels are located around the building.
St. Mary's is part of a "Benefice" of churches with Walford and Brampton Abbotts. Further details of services and other activities can be found on the benefice website.
One in four primary schools and one in 16 secondary schools in England are Church of England schools. There are more than 4,700 of these establishments, where around one million pupils are educated. A church school - in the way the Church of England understands it - is not confessional. Church of England schools are established primarily for the communities they are located in. They are inclusive and serve equally those who are of the Christian faith, of other faiths and of no faith.
Further information regarding the Church of England's 'Vision for Education' can be found on the Church of England website.
