The key attributes of a Catholic school
- Education and formation of young people as sons and daughters of God
- Creating young adults in the image of God
- Places of experiencing of God's love Life long learning for all in the school community
- Preparing them for lives as Christian's in the modern world
- Working with partners to achieve the common good
How is a Catholic school different?
Our schools:
- Celebrate daily worship
- Collaborate with the local parish and the archdiocese
- Offer more religious education (10% of the school timetable)
- Shape children in charity and giving of self, helping them to think of others first
Religious Education
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. You will find us to be loving, caring and spiritual. We value and respect all; growing and learning together as part of God’s family, to be the best we can be. The children are educated in our Catholic Faith and Values and follow a programme of learning called Come and See.
Our Religious Inspection by the Archdiocese of Liverpool graded us an outstanding Catholic school:
Overall Effectiveness
St. Joseph’s School is Outstanding in providing Catholic Education.
Catholic Life
The extent to which the pupils contribute to and benefit from the Catholic Life of the school is outstanding.
The quality of provision for the Catholic Life of the school is outstanding;
Leaders and governors are outstanding in promoting, monitoring and evaluating the provision for the Catholic Life of the school.
The extent to which pupils achieve and enjoy their learning in Religious Education is outstanding;
The quality of teaching, learning and assessment in Religious Education is outstanding;
The principles of Catholic Social Teaching underpin all we do at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbours in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of Christ, we hope to make present in our unjust and broken world, the justice, love and peace of God. (Cafod).
Catholic Social Teaching is based on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came "to bring glad tidings to the poor...liberty to captives...recovery of sight to the poor" (Luke 4:18-19). It concerns what the Church has to say about social issues and the way in which Catholic faith should be lived out within society. These teachings are rooted in Scripture and especially in the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels.
Catholic schools therefore become places where our young people are helped to put their faith into loving actions for others so that their faith can illuminate life and society (Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei 55).
The Catholic Church has seven principles of social teaching that we share with our children through all that we do, through the curriculum, special events and activity and through our ordinary actions in school.
Catholic Social Teaching is used in many subjects, history, geography and English, it is not taught just in RE. Many of our assemblies feature Catholic Social Teaching, we discuss world events and how our faith challenges us to respond in a particular way.
We teach our children to be thoughtful about and challenging of the world's organisations and communities, we must work together to build a better world for the future.
There are 7 principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we are called to uphold them.
- Human Dignity - ‘What makes me special?’ ‘What makes people special? ‘How should we treat each other?’
- Family, Community and Participation- How can we ensure that all are treated equally and take part in society?
- Common Good/ Rights and Responsibilities - What is ‘true community’? The common good is reached when we work together to improve the wellbeing of people in our society and the wider world. How do we respect all in our community?
- Solidarity - Who are our leaders? How do we stand with others? How did Jesus show service and justice? How do we help our neighbour?
- Dignity in Work – How do we protect workers and ensure fair wages? How do ensure workers are respected and work for their vocation?
- Sharing God's World, Protecting the Poor and Vulnerable- How do pupils share at home and at school? What are the kinds of things that are shared? Should everyone get exactly the same? Should some people get more? Why? For example, families with more children might need more resources, or someone with a disability might need extra help.
- Caring for God's World - How do I show respect for Creation? The earth and all life on it are part of God’s creation. We are called to respect this gift. We are responsible for taking care of the world we live in and for sharing all the wonders and resources the earth gives us.
The CAFOD Live Simply Award
The Live Simply award is an opportunity for our school community to respond to the Church’s call to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the world’s poorest. It is an invitation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who lived and preached a simple life, and to take meaningful action on the ecological crisis we face today. The ecological crisis is a complex crisis that includes both the social crisis (global poverty, injustice, social inequality) and the environmental crisis (climate change, species loss, pollution of land, sea and air).
Through the LiveSimply award scheme we will:
- Learn about the connection between their faith and the environmental and social crises
- Respond with faith inspired actions
- Be empowered as active citizens to bring about positive change
This work takes time, this is why the Live Simply award is designed as a journey for our school to take throughout the year, to help your students to find ways of living more simply, helping them to grow and flourish as individuals.
Parish Newsletters 2024-2025
Parish Newsletters 2023-2024
The Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist
We are very lucky to have such close links with our Parish Church, St Joseph's and with our Parish Priest Father Phil. Our children are prepared for the Sacraments by a dedicated, experienced team of catechists: Mrs Swarbrick, Mrs Massam, Mrs Messham, Mrs Woods and Mrs Banks.
What is 'The Wednesday Word?'
The Wednesday Word is a national missionary initiative for the 21st Century. Please support The Wednesday Word school mission with your prayers. Specialised resources for primary schools and parish churches, are the focus of this new, Christ centred, weekly custom.
Strengthening the Home, School & Parish Partnership
When schools, parents and parishes work together, they deliver the best possible start for the faith-life of the children. A deep spiritual communion, based on the Word of God, between parishioners and school families on the same day each week will help build up the Body of Christ in school and in church and in the home.
Please visit: http://www.wednesdayword.org/
Wednesday Word 2024-2025
Wednesday Word 2023-2024
Collective Worship Statement
Collective Worship in our school aims to provide the opportunity for pupils to worship God, to consider Spiritual and Moral issues, and to explore their own beliefs.
Collective Worship must aim to encourage participation and response through:-
- Active involvement in the presentation of Worship;
- Listening to and joining in the Worship offered;
- Developing community spirit;
- Promoting a common ethos and shared values;
- Reinforcing positive attitudes.
For more information please read the Collective Worship Policy
Father Phil and the Weekly Gospel.
Father Phil comes into school weekly to read and record Sunday's Gospel. This is used in class on Monday's for Class Worship and also shared via dojo for our children at home. This can be watched in conjunction with the Wednesday Word for the appropriate week.The Wednesday Word also gives the children activities to complete that are associated with that Sunday's Gospel.
Thank you Father
Mini - Vinnies
Mini Vinnies is a club where we think about others who are less fortunate than ourselves. We think how we can raise money and who would benefit from it. So far we have collected warm clothes for refugees but as there were so many donations, we were able to help a homeless charity in Chorley. We have asked for donations of books and toys and resold them for a donation.
It's now Lent and we will be thinking of fundraising ideas for The Good Shepherd Charity.
All of the ideas come from the children. The group also lead Buddy Worships, which they write, produce a powerpoint and lead.
The children are so enthusiastic and have produced their own file and project book. WHAT IS MINI-VINNIES?
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Wrightington
‘Living Life to the Full’
John 10:10
Aims and Objectives:
To be a community where the message of Jesus is truly alive:
- By welcoming everyone into our school and treating them as we would like to be treated;
- By saying our daily prayers, following the example of Jesus;
- By being ready to forgive and to be forgiven;
- By recognizing the beauty of God’s world.
To look after each other so that we can always do our best:
- By knowing that we are all different and accepting and celebrating these differences;
- By knowing what we have to do to make our work better;
- By celebrating our gifts and talents during achievement assemblies.
To look after each other so that we can always do our best:
- By joining in with what is happening at home, at church and in our local area;
- By using our talents to help people who are not as lucky as we are both in our own country and around the world.
- By learning about the lives, faiths and cultures of others.
RE Statement:
The Governors and Staff of St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School recognise that they work to educate the children in their care in a range of ways; at the centre of this is the spiritual and moral development of the children, particularly in the Catholic faith.
In fulfilment of our Mission Statement, Living life to the Full, the aim of Religious Education at St Joseph’s school is to provide a Religious Education programme which will take into account the religious and educational needs of our children.
It will enrich the faith of those supportive Catholic homes, but it will also support those for whom the school may be their first and perhaps only experience of church.