At Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School, Christ is at the centre of everything we do. Guided by the teachings of the Church, we pray, work, celebrate and care for one another, using the gifts we have been given by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that every child is uniquely created and loved by God, and we are committed to nurturing each child's faith, character and God-given potential.

As a Catholic school, we play a vital role in the faith formation of every child. We recognise that a child's experience of Catholic life during their primary years can have a lasting impact on their relationship with God and His Church. Through prayer, worship, service and community, we seek to create an environment where faith is lived, celebrated and experienced daily.

Our school is proud to support the diocesan vision of forming Christ-centred pilgrims of hope with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice. From the moment children join Guardian Angels, they become valued members of a loving Catholic community where they are encouraged to grow in faith and knowledge, develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and discover how their unique gifts can be used in the service of God and others.

Our Faith

At Guardian Angels, we look to Jesus Christ as our model and guide as we pray, work, celebrate and care. The Catholic faith is woven throughout every aspect of school life and shapes our relationships, decisions and aspirations.

Inspired by Christ's command to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34), we strive to treat every member of our community with dignity, respect, compassion and kindness. Our strong partnership with The Mother of God and Guardian Angels Parish strengthens our faith community and provides children with regular opportunities to participate in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church.

Prayer and worship are central to daily life at Guardian Angels. Through prayer, children are invited to encounter God, reflect upon His Word and grow as disciples. Our liturgies, celebrations and acts of worship are rooted in Scripture, the Church's traditions and the teachings of Jesus.

Prayer and Liturgy Throughout the Week

All children participate in daily prayer and worship, enabling them to develop spiritually and deepen their understanding of God's presence in their lives.

Monday - Gospel Celebration of the Word

We begin each week by gathering as a school family to celebrate the Gospel. Together, we listen to the Word of God, reflect on its meaning and consider how we can live out Christ's message in our daily lives. This provides children with opportunities to connect faith with action and respond to God's call to love and serve others.

Tuesday - Key Stage 1 Prayer and Liturgy

Children participate in age-appropriate prayer and liturgy experiences, helping them to develop confidence in worship and a growing understanding of their Catholic faith.

Wednesday - School Mass and Hymn Practice

Every two weeks, we gather as a school community to celebrate Holy Mass. Children from across the school prepare readings, bidding prayers and other elements of the liturgy, actively participating in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Parents, parishioners and members of the wider community are warmly invited to join us. On alternate weeks, the school gathers for hymn practice, praising God through song and preparing children for liturgical celebrations throughout the year.

Thursday - Key Stage 2 Prayer and Liturgy

Older pupils continue to deepen their understanding of prayer, Scripture and liturgy through worship experiences that encourage leadership, reflection and spiritual growth.

Friday - Celebration Assembly

Each Friday, we come together to celebrate the gifts, talents and achievements that God has given to our children. Through our Star Pupil Assembly, we thank God for the successes and efforts of individuals and recognise how they are living out our Gospel values within the school community.

Parents as First Educators in Faith

The Church recognises parents as the first educators of their children in faith. At Guardian Angels, we value the strong partnership between home, school and parish. We work closely with families to support children on their faith journey, recognising that together we play a vital role in helping them grow in their relationship with God.

From the moment a child joins our school, they begin a unique journey of faith, learning and personal development. Through encouragement, guidance and prayer, we strive to ensure that every child flourishes and achieves their full potential as a child of God.

Pupil Leadership in Prayer and Liturgy

At Guardian Angels, children are active participants in leading prayer and worship. As they move through the school, they are given increasing opportunities to plan, lead and evaluate liturgical experiences.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Our youngest children begin developing their understanding of prayer and worship by helping to prepare prayer areas, choosing resources, sharing ideas and participating in simple acts of prayer and reflection.

Key Stage 1

Children take an increasingly active role by making simple decisions about worship, including selecting hymns, choosing prayer responses and contributing ideas for liturgical celebrations. They begin to reflect on and evaluate prayer experiences to help make worship meaningful and engaging for all.

Key Stage 2

Children take significant responsibility for planning and leading prayer and liturgy. Using the structure of Gather, Listen, Respond and Go Forth, they plan reflections, select Scripture passages, prepare prayers and choose meaningful response activities. Through evaluating previous worship experiences, pupils continually develop their leadership skills and understanding of the purpose and power of prayer.

These opportunities help children grow as confident leaders of worship and faithful witnesses to Christ.

Social Action and Living Out the Gospel

At Guardian Angels, we believe that faith must be demonstrated through action. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we encourage our children to become active agents of hope, justice and compassion within their communities.

We seek to develop children who understand that they are called not only to learn about their faith but also to live it out through service to others. By responding to the needs of those around them, pupils develop a deeper understanding of human dignity, solidarity and the common good.

During their time at Guardian Angels, children have opportunities to:

• Support fundraising initiatives for local, national and international charities.
• Invite family members to participate in charitable and community events.
• Learn about and support foodbanks and community organisations serving those in need.
• Collect and donate food and essential items for vulnerable members of the local community.
• Engage in acts of self-sacrifice and almsgiving during Lent and other liturgical seasons.
• Participate in social action projects inspired by Catholic Social Teaching.
• Make informed decisions about charitable giving and stewardship.
• Reflect upon issues of justice, poverty and inequality, and respond through practical action.

Through these experiences, children learn that every person has the power to make a difference. By using their God-given gifts in service of others, they are helping to build God's Kingdom on Earth and fulfil our shared mission of becoming Christ-centred pilgrims of hope with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice.