Our Catholic Life
At St Michael Catholic Primary School and Nursery, our Catholic identity is central to everything we do. We are a loving, faith‑filled community rooted in the Archdiocese of Southwark, striving each day to follow the teachings of Christ in our words, actions and relationships. Our mission is to nurture every child so they may grow in faith, confidence and joy, becoming the people God calls them to be.
Our school family is guided by our C.I.R.C.L.E. values — Church, Independence, Resilience, Caring, Learning and Enjoyment. These values shape daily life at St Michael’s, helping children flourish as individuals created and loved by God. When pupils feel supported, respected and inspired, they are able to reach their full potential and are well equipped for an ever‑changing world.
This section of our website offers a window into our rich Catholic life. Through prayer, worship, service, leadership opportunities and community outreach, we guide our children to live out the Gospel and grow as compassionate, hopeful and resilient young people.
Explore Our Catholic Life
Please follow the links below to learn more about how faith is lived at St Michael’s:
- Circle Values
- Charities and Fundraising
- Prayer Leaders
- Mini Vinnies
- Prayer Life
- Hymns and Songs
- Diocesan Report
- Policies
- Year Groups
- Newsletters
- Current Events
Whole School Celebrations:
Our liturgical celebrations bring our community together in prayer, reflection and joy. Throughout the year, we mark key feasts and moments of the liturgical calendar, always seeking to deepen our faith and live out Christ’s message of love and service.
🌾 Harvest FoodBank Partnership
We were delighted to welcome Sharon from Medway FoodBank to speak about the charity’s vital work supporting those in need. She celebrated the generous donations from our school community, highlighting the real difference our compassion makes. We are grateful to all who supported this important outreach.
🌾 Harvest Mass — Led by Year 3
Our Year 3 pupils led a beautiful Harvest Mass centred on giving, gratitude and compassion. Their prayers and reflections were inspiring and reminded us all of the importance of kindness and generosity.
🕊️ Feast of St Michael — Led by Year 4
As a school, we joyfully celebrated our Feast Day with Fr Godwin. His encouraging words invited us to follow the example of St Michael — serving with courage, humility and kindness. Year 4’s leadership and reverence made the Mass particularly memorable.
✨ Beginning of the Year Mass — Aylesford Priory
Together with the Trust, we celebrated the theme “The Common Good.” Taking part in the procession was a meaningful reminder of our call to work together to build a just and loving community.
✨ Beginning of the Year Mass — St George’s Cathedral
Led by Archbishop John Wilson, this special celebration focused on hope. He reminded us that even when challenges arise, we can remain grounded in God’s love and look forward with trust. His message encouraged us to bring kindness, joy and compassion to others each day.
✨ Beginning of the Year Mass — “Mary, Gift of God to the World”
We also celebrated a beautiful beginning‑of‑year Mass centred on Mary’s guidance and love. We thank Fr Godwin for his leadership, and we are proud of our Prayer Leaders for conducting the Mass with such reverence and maturity.
Prayer, Liturgy & RSHE
At St Michael’s, Christian worship is our loving response to God’s invitation to be in relationship with Him. Through daily prayer, liturgies, assemblies and class‑based worship, children grow in understanding and deepen their spiritual lives.
You can explore each year group’s collective worship here:
Diocesan Report — RE and Catholic Life (Section 48)
All Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Southwark are inspected under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005. These inspections evaluate:
- The Catholic life of the school
- The quality and provision of collective worship
- The teaching and learning of Religious Education
This process ensures that Catholic schools remain faithful to their mission and continue to grow.
Section 5 (OFSTED) inspects overall school effectiveness, while Section 48 focuses specifically on Catholic life and RE. OFSTED does not inspect Religious Education or Catholic worship in schools with a religious character.
Judgements are made across the following areas:
- Catholic Life of the School
- Collective Worship
- Leadership of Catholic Life and Collective Worship
- Religious Education
Including:
- Pupil achievement
- Quality of teaching and learning
- Curriculum provision
Section 48 inspections occur every five years, with an interim monitoring visit in year three.
Read our most recent report here:
Catholic Life Policies
Visit our policies page to view:
Religious Education Curriculum: The Way, The Truth and The Life
We follow 'The Way, The Truth and The Life' scheme as the main teaching resource to support the teaching of the RE curriculum. This scheme of work exposes the children to the full catholic teaching and allows the children to embed its teaching practices in their daily lives. Our teaching provides creative and cross-curricular links with Art, English, Geography and History. Children will also have a clear and a deeper understanding of the stories written in the Bible and how to reflect on the significance and the importance in their lives.
The Way the Truth and the Life
Life to the Full (RSHE)
We use the Ten Ten “Life to the Full” programme to deliver our RSHE curriculum. This spiral curriculum covers:
- Physical and emotional well‑being
- Relationships and family life
- Body changes and puberty
- Personal safety and trusted adults
- Digital safety and social media
- Human dignity and the Common Good
All teaching is rooted in the understanding that each child is created, chosen and loved by God. The programme is fully inclusive and supports every child in developing confidence, respect and healthy relationships.