Catholic Life of the School
Celebrating our Faith
Our journey in faith starts at home. As parents, you are the first and most significant educators in your child's life. By having your child baptised, you have expressed your wish to have them brought up within the Catholic faith. Working closely together, forming a partnership between parents and the school, we aspire to nurture the unique qualities of each child and allow them to flourish and grow throughout their primary years.
Christ is present in our daily lives and through living out our mission statement. It is more than just part of the curriculum - it is the Catholic ethos that makes St Mary's a special and inclusive environment where children can learn and grow, with staff that offer outstanding care and guidance to your children. Our mission statement is our distinctive purpose; it is what makes our school special - meeting God each day. Jesus Christ is at the heart of everything we do and by following His example we can become good Christian role models.
Whether children have a Christian, other, or no faith at all, we aim to bring children closer to God by learning and understanding the teachings of Jesus, so that we can all lead a rich and fulfilling life. We believe we are called to serve others and we do this through our community, starting at school.
Religious Education Curriculum
From September 2025 a new RE curriculum has been implemented across all classes. 'To know you more clearly' - The Religious Education Directory, sets out the new curriculum following a pattern where children hear, believe, celebrate and live out the Gospel.
September 2025: EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 are teaching the new curriculum from the 'Lighting the Path' resource. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 use a scheme that has been written by the Diocese of Salford in the style of 'Lighting the Path' using 'branches' to structure the learning.
From September 2026: It is expected that the whole school will be using the 'Lighting the Path' scheme of work.
We develop the children's knowledge and understanding of other faiths, respecting and appreciating alternative viewpoints. We recognise that the social, moral, spiritual and cultural diversity of our country and our local community are a vital source to be investigated, to encourage curisoty, tolerance and respect and to inspire pupils to understand how lift in modern Britain and the wider world is changing around them. Throughout the academic year we have multi-faith days where we learn about Abrahamic religions, especially drawing out the elements shared by all these faiths to increase solidarity and understanding as well as studying other world faiths.
The religious education of our pupils is the part of our core curriculum. 10% RE Curriclum time is allocated across all key stages. The staffing and resourcing devoted to RE is of the highest standard. The requirements of the Religious Education Directory are met by all key stages including the Foundation Stage.
Through our RE curriculum and Sacramental programme, we guide children on their journey in faith. All children take part in prayer, celebration of word and attend Mass.* In Year 3, children who have been baptised prepare to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion - the Church works closely with parents during this time to reinforce the important role of parents within God's family during these special celebrations.
St. Mary's is very well supported by our parish priest, our families and by the parish community.
Catholic Social Teaching
The church has seven principles of social teaching that we share with out children through all that we do, through the curriculum, special events and through ordinary actions in school. As members of the Catholic Church we are called upon to preserve the dignity of all human beings, to care for creation and to reach out to the vulnerable. Pope Francis emphasised that it is our duty to work together to bring about a more just and peaceful world, to put love into action. It is vital that our children can articulate the connection between Jesus' teaching and doing good deeds. We use CAFOD and Caritas Social teaching and other resources such as Mission Together to support the children in understanding these principles.
At St. Mary's Catholic Social Teaching is incorporated into our curriculum. Children are asked to put their faith into action and reflect on how their learning enables them to do so.
*Parents have a right to withdraw their child from all or parts of Religious Education. However, given the importance of Prayer, celebration of the work and Mass in a Catholic school, parents and prospective parents will be made aware of the fact that it can never be confined to ‘timetabled slots’ but may take place in a variety of contexts other than those which are specifically structured.
