Our Catholic Life

Our School Prayer:

Holy Family is our school,
Let love live here.
Love of Jesus,
Love of learning,
Love of each other.
Grant us the gifts of forgiveness and honesty and help us to seek justice for all.
May you teach us the value of humility, peace and respect.
We ask this in your name, O Lord.

Our Pupil RE Council

Our RE Council members are ready to represent their classmates, share their ideas and play an active role in the Catholic life of our school, helping to make Holy Family an even better place for everyone.

Our Liturgical Year:

KCSP - A shared vision and strategy

RE Policy - HFCPS

Collective Worship Policy 2024-26

RHE - Policy

The Catholic Education Commission section 48 report

The Oscar Romero Awards:

As part of our ongoing commitment to the church's teaching on social justice and Catholic Social Teaching, we are proud to have enrolled in the Oscar Romero Awards. Through this, we demonstrate how we live our mission as a Catholic community, promoting social justice and awareness. (See the link below for more details).

Who was Oscar Romero?

Archbishop Oscar Romero is a 20 century martyr of the Catholic Church. He was the archbishop of San Salvador in Central America. On 24 March 1980, in the chapel of the cancer hospital where he lived, he was shot dead at the altar by a death squad marksman as he was about to offer the bread and wine in the middle of Mass. He was canonised (recognised as a saint) on 14th October 2018 by Pope Francis in Rome, having been beatified on 23rd May 2015. He serves as an inspiration to us all as to how to live our lives in the service of others, following the path that has been chosen for us by God, no matter the consequences.

'Participator Level' Award - Holy Family were ably represented by two Year 6 pupils at the Oscar Romero mass at St George's Cathedral, Southwark. There, we were delighted to receive the 'Participator Level' award from Archbishop John Wilson in February 2022.

'Developer Level' Award - In February 2023, on behalf of the whole school, two of our pupils proudly received the 'Developer Level' award form Archbishop John at the Oscar Romero mass at St. George's Cathedral.

'Innovator' Level - We are currently working towards the final Oscar Romero Award, the 'Innovator' level, where our whole school community is challenged to become fully alive, working to promote CST principles in and beyond the school. We aim to be constantly re-evaluating and actively changing the culture of our practice and life so that all our stakeholders see it as their duty to challenge inequality wherever they see it. We believe that our school’s commitment to CST principles should be visible and its impact tangible, measurable and sustainable. Our ultimate goal is that Holy Family becomes a 'missionary centre' for the spreading and embedding of CST principles in other schools and throughout our community.

The Oscar Romero Award

Our Mission:

At the heart of Holy Family School is our mission statement: “Love Jesus, Love Learning, Love Each Other.” These simple yet powerful words guide everything we do and say, shaping the way we learn, grow and live together as a faith-filled community. Prominently displayed at our entrance, this message greets every child each morning and every parent at the end of the day—a daily reminder of the life God calls us to live in love, kindness and purpose.

Catholic Life in Action:

At Holy Family, our Catholic faith is at the heart of everything we do. Throughout the year, our children come together to pray, worship, celebrate and serve as part of our school community.

From Masses and feast day celebrations to special liturgies, visits from our parish priest and opportunities to put our faith into action, we journey together through the liturgical year.

Celebration of the Word

At Holy Family, Celebration of the Word is a valued part of our school life, providing regular opportunities for children and staff to come together in prayer, reflection and worship.

Each week begins with a whole-school Celebration of the Word led by our Headteacher. During the week, children also gather for separate Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 celebrations. We come together again on Friday, providing an opportunity for our whole school community to reflect, pray and give thanks at the end of the week.

Each Celebration follows a simple and meaningful structure:

Gather – we come together as a community and prepare ourselves for prayer.
Listen – we listen to the Word of God through scripture.
Respond – we reflect on God's Word and consider what it means for us in our own lives.
Go Forth – we are encouraged to put the message into action through the choices we make and the way we treat others.

Through Celebration of the Word, our children are encouraged not only to deepen their relationship with God, but also to consider how they can live out the Gospel values in their everyday lives.

Pupil-led Worship

Alongside our weekly Celebrations of the Word, pupils are given regular opportunities to plan and lead their own worship. Using the same structure of prayer, gathering, listening to scripture, learning, responding and going forth, groups of pupils work together to prepare meaningful Celebrations.

These pupil-led Celebrations are aligned with our termly Gospel values and take place once a week. This approach encourages pupils to deepen their understanding of faith, reflect on how Gospel messages relate to everyday life and develop confidence and leadership within our school community.

Prayerful Reflection

Prayerful Reflection sessions are short, themed times of quiet reflection and meditation led by teachers. Each session focuses on a chosen piece of scripture linked to the termly Gospel value, helping pupils to deepen their understanding of God’s Word and its relevance in their lives. These moments offer a calm and peaceful pause within the busy school day. Gathered around a lit candle, pupils are encouraged to listen, reflect and pray in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Crowning of Mary

Year 1 and Year 2 pupils led a beautiful Crowning of Mary ceremony, honouring Our Lady in this special month of May. The celebration was attended by parents and members of our school community. We were delighted to welcome Father Desmond, who offered a thoughtful homily, reminding us of Mary’s example of faith, humility and love. It was a joyful and prayerful occasion for all involved.

Pilgrimage of Hope - Our School Journey

Inspired by the Pilgrims of Hope theme for Jubilee 2025, our school embarked on a meaningful spiritual journey within our grounds. Pupils participated in a specially designed pilgrimage, visiting five prayer stations—each rooted in Scripture and focused on a different form of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness, petition, and listening. These stations offered moments of reflection, healing and renewal, helping the children to deepen their faith and walk together in hope.

Pilgrims of Hope Candle Visit

As part of our Jubilee 2025 celebrations, we were honoured to welcome the Pilgrims of Hope candle to our school. CEO Anne Marie Whittle joined us for this special occasion, where our RE School Council led a reverent Celebration of the Word. The candle symbolises unity, faith, and shared journey, and it will now continue its pilgrimage, visiting each school in our Trust as a sign of our collective hope and spiritual renewal.

Stations of the Cross

Our Year 4 pupils led a moving and reflective Stations of the Cross, reminding us of Jesus' journey and sacrifice. It was a powerful time of prayer and reflection for our school community during Lent. A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who attended and supported the children as they guided us through this sacred tradition.

Lenten Reflections - Washing of Hands and Sharing Bread

As we approached the end of the 40 days of Lent and prepared for the Easter holidays, our school community gathered for a meaningful act of remembrance. Pupils took part in a symbolic sharing of bread and the washing of hands, echoing Jesus' actions at the Last Supper. Guided by Scripture—“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14)—we entered into a time of silent reflection, placing ourselves in the presence of Jesus during His final moments before the Passion.

Our Prayer Garden - St Francis

Our St Francis Prayer Garden is a quiet, sacred space at the heart of our school—a place for prayer, reflection and peace. Pupils often choose to spend time here alone or with friends, finding calm in the stillness. Prayer intentions can be written and left in the garden, creating a living expression of faith. The RE Council regularly gathers here to share meaningful moments; most recently, they prayed a decade of the Rosary together in honour of Our Lady during the month of May.

Our Lady Mary Prayer Space

In our EYFS classroom, we have a special prayer space dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This calm and welcoming area gives our youngest children a chance to learn about Mary, say simple prayers, and enjoy quiet moments of reflection.

Hall Displays:

Christ the King Mass

Pentecost Mass

Jubilee of Priests

The Feast of the Annunciation Mass

'Prayer Stones' for our Prayer Garden

The Liturgical Art Club is creating prayer stones, transforming simple rocks into meaningful works of faith. Each stone is hand-painted with symbols, scripture, and images designed to inspire prayerful reflection. As we craft these sacred pieces, we invite the Holy Spirit into our creativity, enriching our worship space with beauty and intention. These prayer stones serve as a gentle reminder of God’s presence, offering a moment of peace and meditation to all who visit the garden.