Mission Statement
"Following Christ we reach our goals."

Prayer and Liturgy at St Edward’s Catholic Primary School

‘Following Christ we reach our goals’

At St Edward’s, prayer and liturgy are not merely routines, but a meaningful daily encounter with the living God. Following the example of our patron saint, whose life was defined by deep devotion and peace, we provide a prayerful environment where our school community can pause, reflect, and grow closer to Christ.

Our Vision for Prayer and Liturgy

Prayer shapes the daily rhythm of life at St Edward’s. We aim to provide high-quality spiritual experiences that enable pupils and staff to:

• Develop a deep, personal, and lifelong relationship with God.
• Engage in moments of joyful praise, reverent silence, and deep contemplation.
• Grow in their understanding of the liturgical seasons, rites, and traditions of the Catholic Church.
• Internalise Gospel values and carry them out into the wider world as active disciples.
• Experience a profound sense of community, gathering together in times of celebration, thanksgiving, and pastoral need.

The Prayer and Liturgy Directory: To Love You More Dearly

In line with the mandatory national framework, To Love You More Dearly (2023), all our formal acts of worship are meticulously planned around a traditional, four-fold liturgical structure: Gather, Listen, Respond, and Go Forth.

Pupil-Led Worship & Prayer Leadership

At St Edward’s, we pride ourselves on giving children active agency in their faith journey from the very beginning of their school life. Guided by the CSI framework for "Outstanding" worship:

• Early Spiritual Leadership: From Reception through to Year 6, children are actively encouraged to step forward as confident prayer leaders during our weekly Celebration of the Word assemblies, which are led by the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher.
• Original Pupil Voice: During these sacred gatherings, our young prayer leaders compose their own original prayers, standing before the entire school community to articulate their faith and lead their peers in worship.
• Liturgical Ministries: Pupils also undertake vital liturgical ministries—including altar serving, serving as readers, and leading our school Chaplaincy Team—with remarkable reverence and skill.

Our Sacred Spaces for Reflection

We believe that spiritual encounter happens both in quiet reflection and through the beauty of God's creation. We are blessed with unique prayer sanctuaries and focal points across our school:

• The St Edward’s Prayer Room: Sitting at the physical and spiritual heart of our building, this beautiful indoor sanctuary provides a peaceful space for structured meditation, Lectio Divina, and targeted pastoral support.
• Our Mother Mary Grotto: Located right in the heart of the school playground, our custom outdoor Grotto provides a beautiful space for spontaneous prayer in nature. It allows children to freely pause during their busy day, offer up their intentions to Our Lady, and find moments of peace outdoors.
• The ‘Celebration of the Word’ Focus Table: Coordinated weekly by our Deputy Headteacher, this dedicated focal point changes every week to directly reflect the Sunday Gospel reading. It features a range of inviting, reverent activities for children to interact with if they wish to do so. Pupils are encouraged to independently engage with the Word by composing their own original prayers, writing deep personal reflections on the scripture text, or spending time quietly reflecting on a sacred image associated with the week's Gospel message.

Our Weekly Rhythm of Worship & Parish Partnerships

Our community gathers in varied ways to celebrate our faith across the week, deeply rooted in our wider Catholic family:

• Monday: Whole-School Gospel Assembly (Introducing the Sunday Gospel theme).
• Tuesday: Classed-based Prayer and Hymn Practice 
• Wednesday: Liturgy and Class-Based Prayer 
• Thursday: Chaplaincy led ‘Celebration of the Word’ 
• Weekly Parish Mass: Every week, our children journey to Our Lady of Compassion Church to attend Mass with Father Britto, strengthening our vital home-school-parish partnership.
• Friday: Whole-School Celebration Assembly (Connecting our achievements to our Gospel values).

Leadership and Governance of Liturgy

The Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, and RE Leader work collaboratively to oversee the spiritual life of the school, ensuring staff receive high-quality formation to lead liturgy confidently. Our Governing Body regularly monitors and evaluates the quality of Prayer and Liturgy, ensuring it remains a central, highly valued pillar of St Edward's Catholic identity.

Our Offer 

We are incredibly proud of our rich offer for prayer that celebrates the distinctive Catholic life and mission of St Edward’s. To see this in action, visitors are warmly encouraged to view our Prayer Padlet using the link below or QR code: 

School Prayers

School Prayers 2026 - Foundation Stage
School Prayers 2026 - KS1 Stage
School Prayers 2026 - Lower KS2
School Prayers 2026 - Upper KS2