Prayer and liturgy forms a fundamental part of daily school life. Across the academic year, we establish opportunities for a range of prayer and liturgy opportunities: prayer trails (Advent), prayer walks (Lent and The Stations of the Cross), retreat opportunities (Year 4 Retreat of Hope), whole school liturgy, whole school celebration of the word, celebration of the word in class and daily prayers.

School leaders and teachers identify opportunities for pupils to play a key role in the preparation and delivery of prayer and liturgical sessions, to enrich their experience and encounters with Christ.

The school staff understand the importance of deepening prayerful experiences as pupils develop, alongside teaching the pupils how to proclaim the Word of God.

At every opportunity, we have looked for unique experiences for pupils to contribute to wider prayer and liturgy in the wider community. This has included Y5 working with pupils from Cardinal Newman High School on a Stations of the Cross prayer trail, Y3 attending a local donkey parade during Lent and the whole school collaborating with partner schools within the Holy Catholic Family Multi-Academy Trust to sing ‘Because He Lives’ as part of our Lenten journey.

Prayer is an important part of each day that nourishes our spiritual needs and helps us focus on why we are here. Daily prayer occurs within each classroom, starting with the Lord’s prayer. At midday, pupils encounter the Angelus and at the close of day, a prayer of thanks is given. Prayer is also integral during whole-school assemblies. Prayer walks and prayer trails also add to the pupils’ faith journey.

Collective Worship is a time during the day when children gather together, listen to and reflect on Gospel readings; it takes place when we are gathered together as a whole school and also within the classroom through teacher and pupil led Celebration of the word sessions.

Singing is another key element in being closer to Christ. Each week the children gather to sing hymns in unison, led by the skilled Jon Barton from the Shrewsbury Diocese. Pupils at Our Lady’s have also contributed to video-recorded songs as part of the Holy Family Catholic Schools Multi-Academy Trust to immerse themselves further in the liturgical calendar.

Church – at Our Lady’s we look for opportunities to allow our pupils to attend our parish church, St.John Henry Newman; we hope that by strenghtening links with our parish, the pupils will enjoy reflections, services and Mass itself, and become closer to God through Christ. Opportunities are created for all our pupils from our youngest who visit to engage with nativity scenes right up to our Y6 who are celebrated as they prepare to move on to the next phase of their journeys.