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:

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:

Year Groups

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:

Diocesan Report

Catholic Life Policies

Visit our policies page to view:

Policies

Religious Education Curriculum: Lighting the Path

At the heart of our R.E. curriculum lies the carefully designed scheme, “Lighting the Path.” This inspiring programme provides a clear and progressive journey through the Catholic faith, enabling children to develop their knowledge and understanding of Scripture, the Church and the Catholic worldview. Rooted in the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church, the scheme encourages pupils not only to learn about their faith but also to reflect on how it shapes the way they live their lives.

Lighting the Path is structured around six annual themes, or “branches,” with each branch linked to a term of the academic year. Through these branches, pupils encounter the Bible and explore the Catholic worldview as it is lived and celebrated within the Church. They are given opportunities to reflect on what they learn and consider how their faith connects with their own experiences, choices and relationships.

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.

Life to the Full