Our Mission Statement

"Teach the children with all the kindness and gentleness possible"
Marie Madeleine 1837

Welcome

It is a genuine privilege to be part of this remarkable school. FCJ Primary School is a special place where children feel safe and happy. At FCJ, our pupils thrive personally and academically, confident in the knowledge that their teachers truly care for them.

At the heart of our mission are our Catholic Ethos, and FCJ Values, guiding everything we do. Following the Ignatian pedagogy, we walk alongside our students, recognising and nurturing each as an individual on their learning journey.

We believe in making education an exciting adventure. Our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and ignite a love for learning, ensuring that every day is filled with discovery. Our dedicated team of educators is committed to providing a nurturing environment where each child’s potential is developed and celebrated.

We believe in fostering a love of learning that goes beyond the classroom, preparing our students for a future full of possibilities. Everything we do is for the benefit of the children in our care, and for this reason, we place strong emphasis on working in partnership with parents.

We encourage you to delve into the pages of our website and invite you to witness the warmth of our school by joining our open tours every Tuesday morning at 9 am.

Thank you for visiting, and we look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant learning community.

Ms Donna Lenzi
HEADTEACHER

Our Values

Excellence is an inclusive value in an FCJ School, incorporated in every aspect of school life and living. We set the highest possible standards in supporting each other as we strive to achieve our personal best; to become what we aspire to be.

Companionship is an all-pervading quality present when we work together in an atmosphere of support and love. The dignity of each person is recognised as that of a human being made in the image of God. Everyone is genuinely listened to and what they say is heard. Companionship is breaking the bread of life together as we live God’s dream for each one of us more fully. Together we learn; we pray; we laugh and cry.

Dignity is treasured in the school community, nurtured in the individual and enhances the life of the school. Everyone is genuinely listened to and what they say is heard. This sense of dignity and respect provides opportunities for each person to recognise and celebrate their own self-worth. It demands, when challenging circumstances arise, that we seek dignified solutions for all concerned.

Justice acknowledges and embraces diversity; ensures fair treatment for all; promotes just relationships and structures within our school and in the world. It challenges opinions and actions that contradict Gospel values and requires us to stand shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed.

Hope inspires and enables us to persevere in the face of difficulties. It empowers us to fulfil our aspirations and grow towards spiritual, intellectual and emotional maturity.

Gentleness is the fruit of quiet self-possession that has been gained through daily growth in self-understanding through the light of grace (Adrian Van Kaam). It is a quality which helps us to keep a calm spirit, a peaceful heart, and control in our words and gestures; even when the circumstances seem to call forth, or at least justify, an explosion of displeasure or anger. Gentleness results in right relationships with God, self and others. Gentleness keeps our hearts always within the boundaries of justice, reason and love.

‘Let the morning find you more advanced than the day before and in the evening be further still.’

Marie Madeleine

Our Aims

At FCJ School we recognise the uniqueness of each individual and we learn to respect this as we prepare our children for life in the wider world. We are concerned with the development of the whole personality of each individual. We do not forget that we are part of a process; we want our children to go on to the next stage of their education with a built-in desire for further learning experiences and opportunities.

It is our aim

  • To place God at the centre of all that we do.
  • To make visible the values of God’s kingdom through the teachings of Christ so that FCJ is a place of prayer, truth, holiness, justice, love, forgiveness and peace.
  • To provide a secure and safe environment where children feel valued and happy.
  • To involve parents in all aspects of their child’s education by promoting positive home-school partnerships.
  • To provide excellent standards of teaching and learning within the framework of the Jersey Curriculum and to help our students acquire the skills of independent learning.
  • To provide learning experiences that will develop the children intellectually, socially, morally, aesthetically, physically and spiritually.
  • To instill in our students a sense of decency, commitment, self-reliance, responsibility, respect for others and healthy self-esteem.
  • To create an atmosphere that is relaxed but purposeful; and facilitate the achievement of these aims by forming the best possible relationships between teachers, children, parents and others involved.
  • To help the students develop an understanding of their cultural heritage.
  • To provide quality professional development opportunities for staff and governors.

Rights Respecting School

Inspired by the Gospel and true to Marie Madeleine’s founding ideal, our vision is that FCJ schools are communities of personal and academic excellence. FCJ Education: Our Vision and Values

Article 42: Children have the right to learn about their rights.

FCJ School is a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos, culture, vision and values. We aim to continue to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. At FCJ, we are proud to be a  Gold Rights Respecting School. 

The Rights Respecting School award is given to schools by UNICEF UK, the leading organisation working for children and their rights. In 1989, governments across the world agreed that all children have the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential. The UN CRC recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Here at FCJ we marked the occasion with a special day of activities that celebrate our rights in action.

FCJ pupils will learn about their rights by putting them into practice every day. A Rights Respecting School models rights and respect in all its relationships. This encompasses the work that we do at FCJ as a Catholic School, and allows the children to make links between our values and their rights.

Our FCJ Rights Respecting Ambassadors team are working hard to promote the rights within the UN Convention. Recent projects have included the children, staff and parents writing their own pledges in support of children’s rights around the world and the Rights Respecting Ambassadors team working with Ms. Lenzi and Mrs. Inglis to create a child-friendly version of the School Development Plan (SDP). This really allows our children to have a say in the positive development of the school.

For more information about Rights Respecting Schools, please see www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

A Brief History of the School

The school was founded by the Society of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, a religious order of women whose foundress is Madeleine de Bengy de Bonnault d’Houët; mother, wife, daughter, widow, friend and loving grandmère.

Having founded the order in 1820 in post-revolutionary France, Marie Madeleine soon travelled abroad to found schools in England, Ireland and Belgium. Maria Fidelis, Euston, is the oldest Catholic school in London. After her many years of religious life Marie Madeleine died in Paris in 1858.

FCJ Primary School has been established in Jersey since 1911. Most islanders will remember the old FCJ Convent School at David Place. This site housed the convent as well as the School. In 1967 the FCJ Sisters bought Grainville Manor, in the Parish of St Saviour. Work began on the new Convent and School building in 1969. The Prep School was opened in 1970 and the Convent and Secondary School a year later.

In 1979, as a result of falling rolls, the Catholic Schools in Jersey were asked by the States to rationalise the provision of their secondary schools. After much discerning and discussion, it made sense for the Society of FCJ to relinquish its secondary school and focus on increasing its primary school provision. The two other Catholic Schools, Beaulieu Convent for Girls and De La Salle College for boys shared the same site and could further share, in particular, Sixth Form provision. These two schools agreed to reduce their primary intakes to one form entry (4+ – 11 years) and increase their secondary capacity to cater for students transferring at secondary level from FCJ Primary School.

The FCJ Educational Trust

The Trust was established by the congregation of the Faithful Companions of Jesus to work with schools to ensure that they operate within the teachings, tenets and practices of the Catholic Church in accordance with the ethos reflecting the FCJ charism.

The are five schools which comprise the FCJ Educational Trust, one in Jersey and four in England. They are:

FCJ Primary School Jersey
Gumley House School FCJ
Maria Fidelis School FCJ
Bellerive Catholic College FCJ
Upton Hall School, FCJ, Upton

As members of the Trust, we have been able to share and reap the benefits of many of the achievements and activities which the FCJ Educational Trust provide, including;

Sharing of best practice to continue our support and deliver educational tools on mental health and resilience for students.
Curriculum leadership training for 17 curriculum leaders across all FCJ schools.
School Improvement support including; Ofsted and Jersey Review preparation and curriculum changes
Teacher Training and Induction based on established materials created specifically within the Trust.
Leadership Training to ensure strong leadership across the Trust combining knowledge and experiences to work on challenges and solutions together.
Governors and Trustees can draw on each other’s experiences to formulate strategic approaches.

The Trustees are as follows;

Sister Brenda Wallace fcJ, Chair (former Headteacher of Gumley House)
Sister Josephine Grainger fcJ,
Sister Moira Cashmore fcJ
Sister Brigid Halligan fcJ, Treasurer

Governors

The School is run by the Governing Body, which works with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, ensuring students at FCJ receive a good education.  Working in partnership, they will:

  • help plan the School’s future direction;
  • make decisions about the School’s budget and staffing;
  • ensure that the statutory requirements of the Jersey Curriculum are taught;
  • decide how the School can best support the students’ academic, spiritual, moral and social development;
  • ensure that the School provides for the needs of its students; including those with special educational needs.

The School’s Governing Body consists of the FCJ Sister Provincial, the Headteacher, one Parent Governor, one Teacher Governor and no more than 10 Foundation Governors, who are appointed by the FCJ Sister Provincial. The Foundation Governors bring to the group a wide range of personal and professional experience and expertise.  The Parent Governor is elected by the School’s parent body and the Teacher Governor is elected by the School’s teachers. They are not elected to represent the views of parents and teachers. Rather, their experience of being a parent or a teacher will enhance the views and decisions of the governing body as a whole.

Should anyone wish to contact the Governors, please email Sue Renouf, the Clerk to the Governing Body: admin@fcj.sch.je.  She will forward your communication to the Governor concerned.

Siobhan Riley (Chair of Governors, Governance, Safeguarding, Finance & HR Sub-Committees))
Siobhan’s relationship with FCJ spans decades.  She is a past pupil of FCJ, as are her daughters.  Siobhan qualified as a Jersey Advocate in 1999.  She spent 25 years of her career at Carey Olsen, including 14 years as a partner of the firm, specialising in trusts, private wealth and employment law.

Allyson Sinel (Vice Chair of Governors, Governance, Finance, H&S/Building Sub-Committees)
Allyson attended FCJ Secondary School and her children attended FCJ Primary School.  She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and heads up the accounts team within a family office setting.  She has been a Governor for many years.

Sister Catherine FCJ (RE/Ethos, Curriculum Sub-Committees)
Sr Catherine currently lives in Birkenhead, having taught throughout her working life, until retiring.  Sister Catherine has taught in Belgium, Middlesbrough, Leeds, and Jersey.  She spent 25 years teaching in Upton Hall School FCJ, on the Wirral, and was at FCJ Primary School, Jersey in the late 70’s.  Since retiring, Sr Catherine undertakes work in her local parish.

David Capps (Foundation Governor, Governance, Finance, H&S/Buildings Sub-Committees)
David trained with a commercial shipping law firm in London, and was admitted as an English Solicitor in 1974, the year he settled in Jersey and established his own practice from which Capco Trust grew to become one of the largest of the family-owned independent trust companies in Jersey with branches in the Isle of Man and Nevis. The business was sold in 2018, and he retired in 2019; while maintaining a keen interest in real property, having developed small sites in the UK, France and Nevis. He has also assisted start-up businesses in the fields of health, and technology.

In 1989 he joined St Ouen’s Parish Church, where he is currently a Church Warden. In 1993 he qualified as a Lay Minister in the Church of England. He Chaired the Mission to Seafarers Jersey Branch for nearly two decades; and is the Chairman of Grace Trust Jersey, a local charity that helps the less fortunate in our community.

His daughter joined FCJ in 1986, when he witnessed the ethos of the School in action. He became a Governor in the 1990’s and served for 10 years as Chair.

Alexa Munn (Foundation Governor, Governance, H&S/Buildings Sub-Committees)
Alexa is a current parent at FCJ and has always been extremely supportive of the School.  She has delivered training at staff INSET.  She holds the position of Head of Governance within the Government of Jersey Education Department.

Toria Bisson (Lead Safeguarding Governor, SEN/MLL/JP Sub-Committee)
Toria is a previous FCJ parent.  She holds a senior lead position in safeguarding within the Government of Jersey Education Department.  She has held senior roles within safeguarding in schools, the SPB, has previously worked with the Children’s Commissioner and has extensive experience in SEN.

Natalie De Gruchy (Teacher Governor, RE/Ethos, Curriculum Sub-Committees)
Natalie has been a member of the teaching staff at FCJ for 15 years and during this time has taught across a range of different year groups and has had leadership responsibility for Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 as well as other curriculum areas.  Her current responsibilities include Reception class teacher, Manager of the Registered Pre-School, Senior Leader for Foundation and Key Stage 1, Curriculum Leader, Internal and External assessment Moderator, Lead First Aider, Fire Marshall and Mentor for Degree, CACHE and Trident students as well as students undertaking enrichment experiences from other schools.   She has recently joined the newly formed FCJ Chaplaincy Team; currently undertaking training for this role alongside the FCJ Sisters and Education Officer.

Marta Pugsley (Foundation Governor, Safeguarding, RE/Ethos Sub-Committees)

Marta’s faith was nurtured during the happy years that she attended FCJ Secondary School as a student.  Her two sons attended FCJ Primary School.  She worked as a qualified social worker in the field of childcare for 23 years, both in the UK and in Jersey.  She subsequently worked at Beaulieu Convent School as their Lay School Chaplain for 14 years.

Victoria Queree (Foundation Governor, SEN/MLL/JP, HR Sub-Committees)
Victoria is the mother of two boys, who both attended and loved FCJ.  She has 15 years’ experience of working in Human Resources, the majority of that time being within the Education sector.  Her current role is Project & Change Manager within the Inclusion Department at the Department of Childrens, Young Persons, Education and Skills.

Hollie Benec’h (Parent Governor, RE/Ethos, Curriculum Sub-Committee)
Hollie has a strong background in finance and is currently employed as a manager in a large finance company within the Island. She has over 15 years’ experience in this role. She manages a team of complex real estate portfolios for a variety of key clients which include both institutional investors and high net worth individuals, this is a wide-ranging portfolio all of which focus on Property Investment largely within the UK Real Estate Market. She is STEP qualified, she has completed her ICSA Diploma and the Advanced Certificate in Fund Administration.

Her history with FCJ spans three generations. She attended the school, as did her sister and her mother previously. She has two sons currently in full time education at the school.

FCJ Primary School Governors:

  • Ms. Siobhan Riley; Chair of Governors                                                   
  • Mrs. Allyson Sinel; Vice Chair of Governors &                                       
                                          Chair of Finance Sub-Committee                                                          
  • Mr. David Capps; Foundation Governor                                                 
  • Mrs. M Pugsley; Foundation Governor                                                   
  • Mrs. V Bisson; Foundation Governor                                                       
  • Mrs. A Munn ; Foundation Governor                                                         
  • Mrs. Victoria Querée; Foundation Governor                                             
  • Mrs. H Benec’h; Parent Governor                                                               
  • Mrs. Natalie DeGruchy; Teacher Governor                                             
  • Sister Catherine Bibby; FCJ Sisters                                                             
  • Ms. Donna Lenzi; Headteacher/Governor                                             
  • Mrs. Sue Renouf; Clerk to Governors                                                         

 

To contact the FCJ Governing Body, please email Mrs. Sinel at: a.sinel@fcj.sch.je

 

Directors d’Houet Ltd:

 

 

  • Ms. Donna Lenzi; Headteacher/Director d’Houet Ltd                         
  • Mrs. Claire Inglis; Director d’Houet Ltd