CATHOLIC LIFE
DIOCESAN INSPECTION REPORT 2017
Summary of Key Findings for Parents and Pupils
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St Mary’s is a good Catholic school. As soon as you enter the school it is very clear that the prime purpose is Catholic education, helping children to develop their faith to understand that God loves them. It is a welcoming place where everyone is loved and respected and the love of learning is evident in all aspects of the school.
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The Catholic Life of the school is outstanding. Governors, senior leaders and staff have high expectations and a shared vision with regard to the Catholic mission and ethos of the school. Pupils make an outstanding contribution to the Catholic Life and take a leading role in activities which promote the school’s ethos within the school and wider community.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Religious Education is central to the educative mission of the Church. At St Mary's it is the 'the core of the core curriculum'. We follow the diocesan guidelines and framework for the teaching of Religious Education and implement the 'Come and See' RE programme across the school. We ensure that a minimum of 10% curriculum time is allocated for RE teaching across all key stages.
The Come and See programme is developed through three themes which are explored each time at greater depth:
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Church
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Sacraments
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Christian Living
Throughout each term, three units of work are delivered which follow the themes. Each unit lasts for four weeks and is structured into these aspects:
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Explore
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Reveal
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Respond
CATHOLIC LIFE & MISSION
LIVING, LEARNING, CARING TOGETHER WITH GOD BESIDE US
At St Mary's Catholic Primary our school mission statement 'Living, learning and caring together with God beside us' is central to everything we do and we recognise the importance of putting our faith into action. Our Catholic faith influences our school life in which to do our best to follow the Gospel values including love, justice, forgiveness and concern for others. We ensure that we are providing opportunities for our pupils to develop an understanding of their faith and to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. As a Catholic school, we aim to instil in our pupil a sense of belonging and community. We also encourage pupils to see themselves as part of the wider community of the parish, neighbourhood and the world at large. We do this by involving them in parish activities, local initiatives and national/international causes.
PRAYER & LITURGY
Prayer and worship are central to the daily life of St Mary's Catholic Primary School. We aim to provide opportunities for children's spiritual growth and development through involvement in a variety of forms of worship: formal, informal, spontaneous, private, shared and meditative. Our children are actively involved in planning and leading liturgical prayer times, both in class and whole school settings. Our shared acts of worship take place in an atmosphere of reflection and stillness, where we encourage each other to listen to God speaking to us and to respond by being witnesses of our faith.
Prayer & Liturgy at St Mary's:
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Whole School Celebration of the Word
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Class Celebration of the Word
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Mass at St Mary's of the Rosary Catholic Church, Forest Hall
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Daily school prayers
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Prayer stations
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Christian Meditations