Faith at Parochial

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

At Parochial Church of England Primary School, our Christian faith shapes everything we do. Rooted in the words of Jesus in John 10:10, we are committed to helping every child flourish — spiritually, socially, emotionally, and academically.

We are proud to be a school where children of all backgrounds are welcomed and valued. Worship and prayer are always invitational, allowing each child to engage in a way that is meaningful to them. Our Christian distinctiveness underpins our daily life, shaping how we live, learn, and grow together in God.

Our Christian Vision in Action

Our school motto, Living, learning and growing together in God, is more than words — it drives our actions and decisions. Inspired by John 10:10, we seek to provide every child with opportunities to thrive and experience life in all its fullness.

Our four school pillars help us live this out each day:

Hope and Aspiration
Dignity and Respect
Community and Living Well Together
Growing in Knowledge, Skills and Wisdom

You’ll see our vision in action across school life:

Our Pupil Parliament leads on collective worship and values-based action
We build strong links with our local churches and community organisations
Our curriculum promotes ambition, compassion and courage
Behaviour is guided by restorative conversations and mutual respect
Children contribute to their class worship spaces and reflect regularly on how faith connects to everyday life

Collective Worship

Worship brings us together as a school family. It gives us time to reflect, celebrate, and respond to the world around us. Worship is planned with intention and care, drawing on our three-year worship plan which maps key Bible stories, Christian values and events in the church calendar.

Each week includes:

Whole-school collective worship
Hymn practice
Celebration assembly
Class worship, linked to one of our four pillars

Worship is led by:

Miss Thompson (Headteacher)
Reverend Monk from St Michael’s and All Angels Church (our parish church)
Mrs Finlay and Mrs Sells (School Leaders)
Our Vision, Values and Ethos department within Pupil Parliament

Every class also has its own worship altar, which is created and maintained by children. These altars reflect the current theme or liturgical season and offer a meaningful space for prayer and reflection throughout the day.

Worship Through the Year

Throughout the Christian calendar, we come together for services and special events, including:

Harvest
Christmas
Easter
End-of-year Leavers’ Service
(All held at St Michael’s Church)

We also:

Take part in the Christmas Tree Festival at Albion Church
Visit places of worship from a range of faiths
Support the Place of Welcome at St Gabriel’s through choir performances, EYFS outdoor learning and intergenerational activities

Spiritual Development at Parochial

We believe that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. At Parochial, we use the Windows, Mirrors and Doors model to help children understand and explore spirituality in a way that’s practical and personal:

Windows – helping children look out and experience awe, wonder and curiosity about the world
Mirrors – giving time and space to reflect on their own thoughts, beliefs and experiences
Doors – encouraging children to respond through action, kindness and hope

This framework runs through our curriculum, worship, pastoral care and classroom environments.

Prayer Life at Parochial

Prayer is an important part of life at Parochial. It is always offered as an invitation — a chance to pause, reflect, give thanks or ask for support.

Children are familiar with:

Our School Prayer
Lunch Prayer
End-of-Day Prayer

These are shared daily and taught using both spoken word and Makaton, helping ensure everyone can participate.

Our School Prayer is a reflection of our shared commitment:

Dear Heavenly Father, friend of all children,
Bless our school here in Ashton,
Bless all those who work in it,
Help us to be kind to one another always,
As we grow together in God.
Amen

RE and World Faiths

We follow the NATRE RE scheme, which provides a broad and balanced curriculum that:

Deepens knowledge of Christianity
Builds respectful understanding of world faiths
Encourages questioning, discussion and reflection
Involves visits to places of worship and meetings with faith leaders

RE is more than a subject — it’s a chance for children to make sense of life, explore beliefs, and consider their own place in the world.

SIAMS

We are proud that our most recent SIAMS inspection recognised the strength of our Christian vision and how it shapes life at Parochial. The report describes us as:

“A wonderfully warm and welcoming school where every child flourishes.”

You can read the full report below: