“I came so that they could have life — indeed, so that they could have life to the fullest.”
Religious Education
St Herbert’s School believes that Christ is at the centre of all that we do, and the staff work to give each child full access to a broad and balanced curriculum that encourages, in each individual, a sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Many opportunities are offered for children to apply and use their knowledge and skills in cross-curricular studies, to deepen their understanding of religious truths and think creatively.
The programme of Religious Education we follow is in line with the Catholic Directory as specified by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. However Religious Education is not considered as simply one subject among many, but the foundation of the entire educational process – it is part of our mission to build the Kingdom of God.
Our school aims to meet the individual and changing needs of pupils through providing a variety of learning opportunities, which reflect their developing capacity for learning, from the Early Years Foundation Stage to the end of Key Stage 2.
Prayer and Liturgy
Our Catholic faith is central to the daily life of our school and all aspects of the curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to recognise the importance of their faith and they respond to all forms of liturgy and collective worship with respect and reverence. The experiences we provide are wide ranging and involve pupils, parents, staff, governors and the parish.
Throughout the year we share Mass, whole school assemblies and class Prayer and Liturgy sessions. We have a rich liturgical life and provide our children with a wide range of reflective and prayerful experiences. Our Pupil Chaplains lead weekly Advent reflections and during Lent the children reflect on the events of Holy Week through our ‘Easter Experience’ and assemblies. Devotions to Mary take place during the months of October and May.
We believe that all members of our school members can contribute to the faith life of the school and as a result, we are developing our approach to pupil led worship sessions. Children across the school are involved in the planning, preparation and delivery of class based worship – the spiritual impact of this is profound. We help our children to understand the teachings of Jesus and to translate their faith into their everyday life.