Catholic Life and Mission
Through God’s love we learn together, grow together and achieve together.
The mission statement of St Alban’s Catholic Academy clearly reflects the school’s role in the educational mission of the Church, promoting Gospel values and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Our mission statement is a touch stone of school life so that:
- Pupils have a clear understanding of its meaning and can articulate this at an age-appropriate level
- All staff embrace and implement the statement across daily school life through a range of opportunities e.g. class prayers, class masses and prayer services, whole school liturgical prayers, displays
- It is shared with parents and the wider community through school signage, our newsletters, email footers, school policy documents, website and parents meetings
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust, as a community of schools and through God’s Love, endeavours to inspire and motivate our children so they can learn together, grow together, and achieve together.
As a community of schools, we believe passionately in a rich
education.
Inspired by Jesus' words, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10), we nurture every child to flourish in faith, learning and life. . Our children learn to love God,
themselves and each other in our common world.
Parents
Parents are the first teachers of their children and we work in partnership with them. They are encouraged to support Religious Education lessons by helping their children complete homelearning tasks and discuss with their children learning being completed when preparing to receive the Sacraments.
Parents are invited to attend a variety of school events throughout the year, which include: prayer services, class assemblies, curriculum meetings, whole school Masses, the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross which take place throughout the year both in school and at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church and events such as the Christmas Nativities, Carols and Readings and Easter Story.
The Travelling Statue of Our Lady
They are encouraged to participate with their children during October and May when the Travelling Statue of Mary may visit homes; Advent when the ‘Travelling Cribs’ visit homes, encouraging a time of sharing and reflection and also during Lent when the ‘Easter Mystery’ visits homes.
Parents are encouraged to share their views through questionnaires, as well as at parent curriculum meetings and parents’ evenings. St Alban's encourages constant and open communication (sometimes known as an open door policy).
Parish Links
Links with the local parish are a vital part of Catholic life in school. The Parishes which serve our school are Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Our Lady of Fatima Church and St Thomas More Church with Fr Bogdan and Fr Leszek) and The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady (Old Harlow with Fr John).
Children visit Our Lady of Fatima church to look at the different aspects and features of a church. Fr Bogdan also supports the teaching of prayer and liturgy by attending Gospel Assemblies too share the Good News. Links with the priests are strengthened as they celebrate various services in the school with the children and staff, including Mass and Reconciliation.
We support the work of the Harlow SVP group through promoting their campaigns and Mrs Black is a member to liaise between the SVP and the Catholic Schools. We also share communications from the Priests with our school community to encourage attendance at church and involvement in church events.
How to pray the rosaryPDF File
Our teaching is encouraged by the words of Pope Leo XIV (from Drawing Maps of Hope):
Where educational communities allow themselves to be guided by the word of Christ, they do not retreat, but are revitalized; they do not build walls, but bridges. They respond with creativity, opening up new possibilities for the transmission of knowledge and meaning in schools, universities, professional and civic training, school and youth ministry, and research, because the Gospel does not grow old but makes “all things new” (Rev 21:5)
A Summary of What is Delivered Across the Year