ST BEDE'S
VALUES & ETHOS
Catholic Life
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“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty.” John, 15:5 (New Jerusalem)
We strive to promote an understanding that a fullness of life and a positive sense of self and one’s wellbeing, is informed and achieved by placing Jesus’ teaching, his model for living and a sense of our own place in a wider community, at the very centre of our lives, our aspirations, choices and relationships.
Inspired by the values of Faith, Hope and Love, we aim as a Catholic Community to provide a collaborative system support which supports and nurtures the needs, uniqueness and dignity of all, allowing every member of our community to develop personally, academically, socially and spiritually. This Christ centered approach informs our behavioural policies, procedures, expectations, and personal conduct, enabling and empowering our young people to flourish by showing that justice, peace and human freedom are borne out of love, accountability, compassion and reconciliation.
Inspired by Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the school community aims to be an active presence in our local parishes, community organisations, national and international organisations and to bear fruit for the common good.
With Jesus as our teacher and guide, in our learning and teaching we strive to grow, to develop, to achieve, to excel and to celebrate success. Inspired by Jesus’ offer of an abundant life (Jn 10:10) we seek to offer a wide variety of enrichment opportunities and educational visits for personal, cultural and spiritual development.
The Catholic life of the school seeks to permeate all areas of school life, from lessons in class, to interaction in communal areas, to involvement in extra-curricular activities. The pupils are encouraged to live out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in all that they do. The curriculum and enrichment provision at St Bede’s provide opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in a variety of ways.
The guiding principles of our Catholic shared vision of life:
- That we are all made in the image and likeness of God;
- That the ultimate role model for being a full human being is the person of Jesus Christ.
Enabled by the Holy Spirit, we strive to make these principles a lived reality.
- Through prayer and worship, assemblies, daily school routines, curriculum and policies we will reflect the values of the Gospels and the principles Catholic Social Teaching.
- Our relationships will be guided by the Gospel values as described by Jesus in the Beatitudes: Faithfulness, Integrity, Dignity, Compassion, Humility, Gentleness, Truth, Justice, Forgiveness, Mercy, Purity, Holiness, Tolerance, Peace, Service, Sacrifice. (Matthew 5:1-12)
- As a school community we are active in taking responsibility for others, those in our community and those in need around us locally, nationally and internationally.
- We will nurture the growth of each pupil in our care through the artistic, academic, creative, practical, social, moral, physical and spiritual aspects of school life.
- We will be a place of welcome by demonstrating God’s love to all who come into our school community. We will achieve this through working with all people of goodwill, particularly parents, families and the Church.
- We will reflect the beauty of God’s creation through aspiring to excellence in all we do.
Prayer and Liturgical Worship, as a means of contemplating, celebrating and developing our relationship with Christ is central to the school ethos and its mission.
This is expressed through opportunities for prayer and reflection, both privately and as a community, through assemblies, and through whole school prayer and Collective Worship each morning during form. It is also expressed through sacramental and non-sacramental liturgies during different parts of the year.
Our worship is reflected beyond the confines of school, particularly through, a range of faith formation programmes, retreats, social outreach projects and community and parish faith events.
Mass
Weekly Mass for alternating year groups is celebrated in Saint Anne’s church on Wednesday or Thursday mornings. Whole School Masses are celebrated at various points in the year marking key Liturgical dates. Pupils are escorted to Mass on Holy days of Obligation. Students have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in the preparation and leading of liturgies in a variety of ways; individually, as classes and as part of faith formation groups. Music is an essential part of our school’s prayer and worship provision, and our choirs support the community in prayer and praise.
Non -Sacramental Liturgies
pupils’ faith formation and relationship with Christ is further developed through the celebration off non-sacramental liturgies including reconciliation services, examination of conscience services, distribution of ashes and The Stations of the Cross, meditated upon during Lent, and the Carol Services.
Liturgical assembly.
The liturgical calendar and lectionary informs the planning of these liturgical assemblies. They may be based on feast days, Holy days of Obligations, Catholic devotions, such as a reflection on the Stations of the Cross. These assemblies will be built around a variety of scripture, traditional, reflective prayer and reference to Catholic Social Teaching. Students will have the opportunity, and will be encouraged to participate in the preparation and leading of assemblies. The school Chaplain , Head of RE and year leaders work together to realise this.
Pastoral assemblies
Pupils also enjoy one pastoral assembly each week. These assemblies are planned thematically and will have a different focus each week, they are varied and wide ranging and linked to personal development. Whilst different in content to the liturgical assemblies, scripture and prayer are also an essential part of these pastoral assemblies and are an integral part of the planning and delivery of them, reflecting our Catholic identity.
Form time
Our school Mission statement promotes the truth that fullness of life is to be found when Christ is at the centre of our lives. Our pupils flourish academically, spiritually and emotionally through the realisation of this in daily life. It is for this reason, that every single day begins with prayer. There is a fixed weekly form timetable for each year group to ensure that a variety of prayer and reflection is enjoyed, either in form classes or year groups.
Form Time Prayer Resources
- Daily prayer and collective worship resources which are linked to key dates in the liturgical calendar and secular key national events are prepared and distributed weekly to all staff for delivery in form time. Pupils are given the opportunity to write their own form prayers for inclusion in the weekly resource. Form prayer resources reflect the richness of the Catholic tradition in that they include a mixture of inherited traditional prayer, reflective prayer, use of scripture, opportunities for contemplative stillness.
- Lectio Divina Sunday Gospel Reflection. During form, pupils examine and reflect upon the coming Sunday’s Gospel each Thursday or Friday, depending on their form class timetable.
- Wellbeing and scripture every two weeks resources are prepared and shared with all forms to develop a faith based approach to pupil wellbeing and mental health. The resource allows pupils to reflect on aspects of wellbeing and development of healthy coping strategies through reference to secular strategies and scripture and in support of the Personal Development and Ethos curriculum.
- Catholic Social Teaching in the Media every two weeks resources are prepared by pupils and is designed to explore how Catholic Social Teaching and scripture can help us respond to current affairs in a Gospel rooted, socially active manner and in support of the Personal Development and Ethos curriculum.
Pupils are given opportunities throughout the year to lead the planning and delivery of liturgical and non liturgical faith services and events, in school and in the wider community. In doing so, pupils involved understand how prayer and liturgy can actively contribute to faith-based community cohesion and enhance their own journey of faith through social action.
Our school prayer space offers the opportunity for personal and planned prayer and reflection, for both pupils and staff.
The school works closely with local parishes and is actively involved in the planning and delivery of Sacramental catechesis in school and coordinates the celebration of the sacrament with the Pastoral Deanery. Further to this, the school works with the Archdiocese annually as we promote and encourage the annual Youth Pilgrimage which is well attended by St Bede’s students.
At St Bede’s we place emphasis on pupil engagement with faith-based enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities. These groups and events are well attended and show that our pupils are enthused by their faith and willing to live out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
- Million Minutes lunchtime club
- Student Liturgy leadership group
- The Web – Wellbeing and Ethos at Bede’s student committee
- Faith in Action Award
- Gardening Angels environmental group
- Laudato si’ Award
- Live Simply Award
- Choir groups focused on liturgical music
St Bede’s Catholic High School Retreat Programme
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Year 7 |
Welcome Day – Belonging – how to bear fruit and flourish September |
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Year 8 |
Living Authentically – be who God intended you to be March (complimentary of the RSHE enrichment day) |
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Year 9 |
Castlerigg residential – overcoming adolescent challenges and bearing fruit May |
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Year 10 |
Discernment – how our faith helps us to make healthy, informed decisions March (complimentary of the RSHE enrichment day) |
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Year 11 |
Lourdes pilgrimage After GCSE examinations |
If you would like to find out more about chaplaincy at St Bede’s Catholic High School then please email the School Chaplain, Mrs Jacinta Brown e.brown@sbchs.co.uk
GET IN TOUCH
St Bede’s Catholic High School,
St Anne’s Road,
Ormskirk.
L39 4TA
Telephone: 01695 570335
Email: Admin@sbchs.co.uk
