“I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 17:6
We have a Worship structure which enables pupils to be confident and secure in their own religious faith, as well as being knowledgeable and respectful of other religions, thus playing a key role in building a cohesive society. Ethnic and racial diversity is, and always has been, a feature of the Catholic Church’s transnational presence, identity and membership. Here at St John the Baptist RC Primary School, this ethnic and racial diversity finds unity in religious faith and produces the shared core human values which contribute to authentic social cohesion.
In our multi-faith community, our shared core values, which promote respect for the rights and dignity of every human person are essential for social cohesion. Social cohesion and serving the community has been the biggest impact of our actions.
Fundamental British Values, along with the need for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children, are key points to education in all of British schools. At St John the Baptist RC Primary School, whilst not definitive, we teach the Gospel values based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) to strengthen values and developments. As people of God, we are people of love and respect. Respect for all is something embedded at St John the Baptist RC Primary School and within our community. St John the Baptist RC Primary School is a community with Christ at the centre. Prayer and liturgy are at the heart of the community life of the Catholic school. They are essential to the Catholic life and mission of the school, in a manner that is appropriate for the distinct educational setting of our school. Bishop Arnold stressed the important role that faith schools play in promoting inter-religious dialogue and integration. “From a Catholic viewpoint, we’re duty-bound by our ethos to welcome other cultures and foster understanding. As Pope Francis would say, it’s about putting faith into action.
Prayer at St John the Baptist RC Primary school is child led and all children participate. We encourage children to respect and respond to the Word of God, in a way that is comfortable for them. Our duty is to enable all children to develop spiritually, no matter which faith they follow. This inclusive and respectful approach ensures all children are welcome and a part of every encounter with God. We place our hands in our ‘prayer positions’ and children are able to join in in their own way.
Children here, in our Catholic school, are wonderful role models to society, and we are very proud of our strong Catholic ethos which is a lived and daily experience that permeates through everything that we do.
