Catholic Life
Our Catholic mission is to enable every child to develop an active and enquiring mind, a spirit of empathy and compassion, and a sense of aspiration and ambition, so that they may become the person God calls them to be. At St Peter’s, we warmly welcome children and families of all faiths and none.
Through our mission to put Jesus at the heart of everything we do, we support our children in developing a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith. We guide, nurture and prepare them to be ambassadors for Christ in their daily lives through the teachings of Jesus, prayer, worship, and meaningful opportunities to encounter Him.
The Catholic life of our school is rich in opportunities for children, staff, families and the wider community to encounter God and deepen their relationship with Him as a loving and compassionate Father. Read on to find out more.
Religious Education
Religious Education is at the heart of life at St Peter’s and underpins our mission to put Jesus at the heart of everything we do. As a small and nurturing Catholic school, we are committed to educating the whole child, supporting their spiritual, moral, personal and academic development.
Inspired by St Peter’s declaration, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68), we encourage our children to follow Peter’s example, learning from Jesus and growing in faith, wisdom and understanding.
Our Catholic ethos permeates every aspect of school life. Religious Education is taught through the Birmingham Diocesan programme Discerning Disciples and is enriched through prayer, worship, liturgical celebrations and daily opportunities to live out Gospel values. Through all areas of the curriculum and wider school life, we help children grow in faith, character and confidence, enabling them to become the person God calls them to be.
Sacramental Programme
At St Peter's, the Sacramental Preparation Programme is an important part of our children's faith journey. Through the Discerning Disciples curriculum and in partnership with St Peter's Parish, children are prepared to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Through prayer, worship, reflection and catechesis, children deepen their understanding of God's love and forgiveness, encounter Christ in the Eucharist, and grow as active members of the Catholic community.
As sacramental preparation forms part of the Discerning Disciples curriculum, all pupils participate in the relevant programme of study. In addition, we may enhance the curriculum with further opportunities for prayer, worship, reflection and preparation for both pupils and their families.
Due to our mixed-age classes and small-school structure, we operate a two-year rolling Sacramental Preparation Programme. In one year, pupils in Years 3 and 4 prepare to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. In the following year, pupils in Years 5 and 6 prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The cycle then repeats.
During the 2026-2027 academic year, pupils in Years 3 and 4 will be preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Families wishing for their child to prepare for or receive a sacrament outside of the school's cycle should consult their local Parish Priest, who will be able to advise on alternative arrangements.
Prayer and Liturgy
Prayer forms the foundation of our Catholic life at St Peter’s, nurturing a culture of reflection, spiritual growth and encounter with Christ across our school community. Inspired by Jesus’ promise, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20), we seek to create meaningful opportunities for children and adults alike to come together in prayer, deepen their relationship with God, grow in faith and respond to His call in their daily lives.
As a small and nurturing Catholic school, we provide a rich and varied prayer life that enables every child to develop a personal relationship with God and grow in faith. Children pray throughout the school day, including morning prayer, grace before and after meals, and end-of-day prayer. In addition, they experience a range of traditional and contemporary forms of prayer through class prayer, collective worship and whole-school gatherings. As they progress through the school, children are introduced to an increasing range of prayers, helping them to develop both confidence and understanding in their prayer life.
We are particularly proud that our children play an active role in planning and leading prayer and acts of worship from their earliest years in Reception. As Jesus reminds us, "Out of the mouths of infants and children you have prepared praise for yourself" (Matthew 21:16). Through these opportunities, children develop confidence in prayer, take an active role in worship and liturgy, strengthen their relationship with God, and grow as faithful disciples who are inspired to serve others and live out the Gospel in all that they do.
Prayer is equally important for our staff. Meetings begin with prayer and reflection, and colleagues participate in spiritual formation opportunities throughout the year, including termly experiences delivered by One Life Music. Together, we strive to create a prayerful community where children, staff, families and parish members can encounter Christ and grow as disciples of Jesus.
Prayers We Learn at St Peter's.
As part of our commitment to developing children's prayer life, pupils are introduced to a wide range of traditional Catholic prayers and devotions throughout their time at St Peter's. These prayers are revisited regularly, enabling children to grow in confidence, understanding and participation in the prayer life of the Church.
|
Year Group |
Prayers and Devotions |
|
Reception |
The Sign of the Cross |
|
Year 1 |
Act of Faith, Hope and Love |
|
Year 2 |
Act of Faith |
|
Year 3 |
Act of Love |
|
Year 4 |
Prayer to the Guardian Angel |
|
Year 5 |
Regina Caeli |
|
Year 6 |
Hail Holy Queen |
PRAYER AND LITURGY POLICY 2025-2026
PROGRESSION IN PROGRESSION IN PUPIL LEADERSHIP OF PRAYER & LITURGY
Parish Community
We are proud to be part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham and the wider family of Catholic churches in Leamington Spa. Working in partnership with Our Lady's Church, Lillington, and St Joseph's Church, Whitnash, we seek to support the faith formation of our children and families and promote active participation in the life of the Church.
To find out more about Catholic life in Leamington Spa, please visit: Catholic Leamington.
St Peter's is fortunate to be located just a few minutes' walk from St Peter Apostle Church, our parish church. This close relationship enriches the Catholic life of our school and provides regular opportunities for prayer, worship and the celebration of Mass. Through these experiences, our children develop a strong sense of belonging to their parish community and come to recognise their place within the wider Church. Our PTFA and Governing Body also make use of the parish centre facilities, further strengthening the partnership between school and parish.
Our Parish Priest, Fr Stephen, is a valued and visible member of our school community. He visits us regularly throughout the year, supporting our children and staff to deepen their faith and grow in their relationship with Christ. This year, we will work closely together to further strengthen the links between our school and Parish, and explore how our pupils can do even more to put their faith into action.
We are also blessed to be part of a thriving network of Catholic schools within our parish and local area, including Trinity Catholic High School. We are all members of St Raphael the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, and we work collaboratively to promote excellence in Catholic education and provide rich opportunities for faith formation. Through joint Masses, sacramental celebrations, retreats and shared liturgical experiences, our pupils experience the unity of the wider Catholic community and grow as active disciples of Jesus.
These strong partnerships help to ensure a seamless journey of Catholic education, enabling pupils to continue their spiritual, personal and academic development as they progress from St Peter's to Trinity High Catholic School.
Mass
We celebrate Mass at St Peter’s Church as a whole school at least twice each half term, with additional opportunities to worship alongside our parish community throughout the year. We also mark the beginning and end of each term, as well as feast days and Holy Days of Obligation, through the celebration of Mass.
Working closely with our parish and fellow schools within St Raphael the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, we regularly participate in joint Masses, strengthening our sense of belonging to the wider Catholic community.
At every Mass, our children actively participate in worship by leading readings, prayers and songs of praise.
Parents, governors, parishioners and members of the wider community are warmly welcomed to join us as we gather in prayer and celebrate our faith together.
CAFOD Live Simply Award
In June 2026, we were delighted to receive the CAFOD Live Simply Award, recognising the commitment of our whole school community to living out our faith through action.
We have embraced the Live Simply journey through a wide range of activities, initiatives and fundraising events. These experiences have helped our children to understand what it means to care for God’s creation, stand in solidarity with others, and put our Catholic Social Teaching into practice through acts of justice, compassion and service.
The award is a wonderful reflection of the way Live Simply has become embedded within the Catholic Life of St Peter’s. We are proud of the part our pupils have played in making a difference and will continue to find ways to live simply, sustainably and compassionately, caring for our common home and for one another.
Please look through our Live Simply presentation to see our journey come to life!