Catholic school

“The students’ response to collective worship is outstanding. They are always highly respectful, and their overall behaviour is of the highest standard. They always fully participate through prayer, singing and quiet reflection.”

Denominational Inspection Report June 2018

Worship and prayer are central to the life of the school for and we seek to provide engaging, innovative and creative experiences of the richness of the Catholic tradition.

The academic year commences with a Start of Year Mass for all students. In addition, there is a special Welcome Mass for the new Year 7 pupils and their families. Mass is celebrated every Friday morning for a year group, in addition to the Holy Week and Advent liturgies in Sacred Heart Church. Mass is celebrated for the whole school on Holy days of Obligation and our School Feast day. There are special Leaver’s Liturgies for Year 11 and Year 13 students.

Daily Form Prayer takes place in Form registration time and is usually led by a student using our Weekly Prayer sheet or their own resources. Each tutor room has a religious focal point and prayer resources. Students are actively encouraged to contribute to prayer by requesting to lead the prayers, writing their own prayers and putting forward prayer request.

The school is very fortunate to have the Sacred Heart Church next door and the Parish Priest encourages the use of the church on a daily basis. The regular use of the church and its easy access for the students makes a very significant contribution to the Catholic Ethos of the school.

In addition to the church, the school has an area known as the chapel under the stairs and a Rosary Garden. Both areas are always available to students and staff to use for individual prayer and quiet reflection as well as group collective worship.