With Christ at Our Heart

At Our Lady & St Oswald’s, our Catholic faith shapes the life of our school: the welcome we offer, the relationships we nurture, the learning we inspire and the care we show for one another.

Every child is made in the image and likeness of God, with a unique dignity and gifts to discover and share. We want every child entrusted to our care to feel known, valued and loved, and to grow in faith, knowledge and confidence.

   Proudly Catholic and open to all, we warmly welcome families of all faiths and none into a             community rooted in the love of Christ.

Life to the Full

“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10

Our Vision: Growing Towards Fullness of Life

Jesus’ words inspire our ambition for every child. Fullness of life means discovering God’s love, developing our talents, deepening our understanding and learning to use our gifts generously in the service of others.

Our vision guides our decisions and the standards we hold for ourselves. We seek to:

• Place Christ at the centre through prayer, worship, the Sacraments and the ordinary moments of school life.
• Pursue excellence in learning, helping every child to think deeply, work purposefully and achieve their best.
• Model professional excellence through the preparation, conduct and care of the adults in our school.
• Build positive relationships, treating children, families and colleagues with dignity, encouragement and respect.
• Speak with kindness and integrity, using words that build trust and reflect the dignity of each person.

    Working in partnership with families and our parish, we support children’s spiritual, academic,          social and personal growth.

Our Adult Promises

The adults in our school bring our vision to life through three shared promises. These shape the way we teach, guide and care for children each day.

Connection

We take time to know each child, listen carefully and build trusting relationships. We want children to feel valued and safe, with a strong sense of belonging.

Confidence

We communicate our belief that every child can learn and grow. Through encouragement, challenge and support, we help children persevere, recognise their progress and approach new experiences with courage.

Consistency

   We provide calm, clear expectations and dependable routines. Children experience adults who         respond fairly, follow through and help them understand how to make positive choices.

Our Children’s Promises

Our three simple promises help children understand how we live and learn together. They give even our youngest children meaningful ways to put our faith and values into action.

We Are Kind

We use gentle words and thoughtful actions, include others and offer help. We learn to forgive, seek forgiveness and put things right.

We Make Safe Choices

We care for ourselves, other people and our surroundings. We listen to guidance, think about the impact of our actions and ask for help when we need it.

We Try Our Best

   We approach learning with curiosity and effort, take pride in our work and keep going when               something is challenging. We recognise that mistakes can help us learn and grow.

Our Eight Gospel Values

Rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus, and inspired by the Beatitudes, our Gospel values help children understand what it means to follow Christ in everyday life.

Through our shared focus on each value, we help children understand its meaning, notice it in others and practise it in their own choices.

Humility seeing life as a gift, recognising the gifts of others and being willing to learn.	Compassion showing empathy and care, noticing when someone needs help and responding with love.
Kindness showing gentleness in our words and actions, and helping others feel included.	Justice standing up for what is right and fair, and respecting the dignity of every person.
Forgiveness showing mercy, seeking reconciliation and making a fresh start.	Integrity being honest and doing what is right and true, even when nobody is watching.
Peace choosing peacemaking and non-violence, listening respectfully and resolving disagreements calmly.	Courage standing up for truth and goodness, and choosing what is right when it feels difficult.

As children practise these values, they develop habits that shape their character and help them contribute positively to the lives of others.

Religious Education: Faith Seeking Understanding

Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum. It gives children the knowledge, language and opportunities for reflection to explore the Catholic faith thoughtfully and deeply.

Following the Religious Education Directory, To Know You More Clearly, children encounter Scripture, explore the teaching of the Church and consider important questions about God, human dignity and our responsibilities towards one another.

   We encourage children to ask questions, make connections and explain their understanding             with growing confidence. Through this learning, we invite them to deepen their understanding of       God’s love and the call to live as disciples of Christ.

Prayer and Liturgy: Growing Together in Faith

Prayer is woven into the rhythm of our school day. It offers time to listen to God, give thanks, seek forgiveness, pray for others and bring our hopes and worries before Him.

Through classroom prayer, Celebrations of the Word, whole-school worship and Mass, children experience the richness of Catholic prayer and the seasons of the Church’s year.

As they grow, children are supported to participate with increasing understanding and confidence: reading Scripture, preparing prayers, reflecting and helping to lead worship.

   Our relationship with the parish and opportunities to share in the sacramental life of the Church       help children recognise their place within a wider Catholic family.

Living Our Faith Every Day

Our mission takes shape in ordinary moments: welcoming someone who is alone, persevering with a challenging task, offering an apology, caring for our surroundings or speaking up for someone who needs support.

Guided by Catholic Social Teaching, we help children recognise the dignity of every person, care for God’s creation and understand their responsibility to contribute to the common good. We encourage them to notice where help is needed and to respond with generosity.

Families are our partners in this work. Together, we help children connect what they learn and pray with how they live at school, at home and in the wider community.

This is our shared calling: to grow in the love of Christ, discover and develop our gifts, and help one another live life to the full.