CSI - Prayer and Liturgy
'HEARTBEAT' OF THE SCHOOL
Daily prayer in every class
Class Celebrations of the Word
Whole-school liturgies and Key Stage liturgies
Gospel Assemblies
Parish Masses and altar serving
Rosary Club
Stations of the Cross
Lenten reflections and retreat days with Sister Ann from the Marist Centre
Stay and Pray sessions during Season of Creation, Advent and Lent, open to families and parishioners
Use of the Progression Document and weekly templates to facilitate a "gradual release of responsibility," moving from teacher-led modelling in EYFS to pupil-independent worship in Year 6.
"Prayer and liturgy is central to life at St John’s and forms the heartbeat of the school day." CSI report, 2026
"A carefully planned calendar reflects the rhythm of the Church’s seasons bringing the whole school together..." CSI report, 2026
"...established a well-structured and effective policy... ensures that pupils progressively develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills..." CSI report, 2026
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER
"Across the school, pupils embrace opportunities for prayer, responding confidently through gesture, song and spoken prayer."
Pupils plan and lead Celebrations of the Word using a corkboard tool structured around Gather, Word, Response and Send, with House Captains leading half-termly value-based sessions for their houses
Prayer is woven into daily life through the Rosary group, prayer bags that go home to families, and a weekly Gospel template shared with all staff to support their own delivery
Staff receive weekly reflections alongside the template, nurturing their own spiritual life as well as their confidence in leading worship
PRAYER SPACES
Classroom altars with prayer trees for personal intentions, used year-round
The Chapel, centrally located and open throughout the day for quiet prayer and reflection
The Peace Garden
The Camino Walk of Creation, used during Advent
Stay and Pray space in the KS2 hall
Outdoor prayer trail through the forest
The allotment, linking care for creation to Catholic Social Teaching, with produce donated to charity or used in school meals
Focal points and sacred spaces in every classroom, resourced and monitored by Prayer Leaders
"Leaders have invested care in developing high-quality prayer spaces to support pupils’ spiritual formation... outdoor areas encourage reflection..."
REVERANCE IN EYFS
"Children in the early years show an instinctive sense of reverence, responding with stillness, reflection and awareness of sacred space." CSI report, 2026
Adults model stillness and reverence from the moment children start school, so that responding to sacred spaces becomes natural and embedded from the earliest years.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS AND LEADERSHIP
"Pupils take pride in serving as liturgical ministers, carrying out roles with enthusiasm, skill and maturity."
Prayer Angels and Mini Vinnies are trained by the RE Lead in selecting Scripture, music and focal points, and in leading prayer for others, with weekly meetings to develop their skills and confidence
Prayer Leaders mentor KS1 pupils to plan and lead their own class Celebrations of the Word, set up for Mass, monitor classroom prayer spaces to ensure liturgical readiness, and lead Golden Worship each week
Pupils serve regularly at Mass as altar servers, and Gospel Assemblies
A clear progression document for Celebration of the Word runs from EYFS to Year 6, with collective worship also modelled by the headteacher, deputy, assistant head, key stage leaders and RE lead to support the gradual release of responsibility to pupils
Prayer is enriched further through Visio Divina, meditation, Stations of the Cross, Lenten reflections, retreat days with Sister Ann from the Marist Centre, and a Year 6 transition retreat with Loreto High School's chaplain
The Chapel is open throughout the day for spontaneous prayer, prayer trees are used year-round for intentions, and outdoor spaces including the Peace Garden and Camino Walk of Creation extend opportunities for prayer.