Our Faith
Our Faith
As a Catholic school, Jesus Christ remains central to every aspect of school life. All pupils are educated in the beliefs and devotional practices of the Catholic Church.
The importance of prayer is evident throughout school. The children are encouraged to learn set prayers for the beginning and end of the school day, together with grace before and after meals and traditional prayers of the Catholic Church. Parental support in promoting prayer is very much appreciated. Participation in daily collective act of worship remains at the helm of every morning and afternoon session, within RE lessons and at the end of each day. Every class in Key stage 1 and Key Stage 2 prepares and leads Mass throughout the year, with parents, families and parishioners warmly welcomed. Children plan, lead and participate in special liturgies during the school year which are linked to our Catholic virtues or are timed to coincide with events in the Church’s calendar, for example during Lent and Advent.
The Catholic RE scheme ‘Living and Growing as the People of God’ is followed throughout the school. This is supplemented by work on the saints and vocation, learning about other faiths and cultures, and Relationships and Health Education.
Celebrating the sacraments is a vital part of nurturing the children’s faith. Our parish priest, Father Eric Kemball, works closely with school staff and families, to help prepare year 3 pupils for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, whilst pupils in Year 6 prepare for Confirmation. We really appreciate the support of parents in Year 3 and Year 6, through retreat, celebration of Mass and parents' meetings. In this way the home, school and parish work very closely together in partnership.
All pupils learn about other religions and cultures and are encouraged to show respect and acknowledgement for the beliefs of others through open discussion and shared experiences. This is reflected through the involvement of pupils, both within school and the wider local community.