Main SchoolCatholic Life

Catholic Life & Mission

Aspiring not to have more, but to be more

Catholic Life is not something that happens in the background - it is the heartbeat of our school. Inspired by our mission to “Aspire not to have more, but to be more,” students are encouraged to live lives of faith, service, and hope, following the example of Christ and the teachings of the Church.

Our Catholic identity is visible, vibrant, and lived daily. Every classroom has a prayer focus and crucifix, every lesson begins with prayer, and our form time, assemblies, and curriculum are shaped by Gospel values.

The chaplaincy team works closely with students to provide opportunities for prayer, reflection, and social action. Liturgy Leaders and Catholic Life Ambassadors plan and lead worship, while Sixth Form students take part in the Oscar Romero “Be More” Award, deepening their commitment to faith in action.

A highlight of the year is our whole-school Retreat Day, held near All Saints’ Day, when the timetable is suspended for prayer, reflection, and Mass. Year groups also participate in experiences such as Reconciliation services, the Stations of the Cross, and visits to our partner parish, Our Lady & St George’s.

Catholic Life extends far beyond liturgy - it shapes how we treat one another, how we serve, and how we teach our young people to live with purpose. From student-led fundraising to our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, we are building a community where every person is known, loved, and called to greatness.

Whether planting trees, preparing hampers, leading worship, or raising money for CAFOD, our students don’t just learn about faith - they live it.

Catholic School Inspectorate March 2026

Our Catholic School Inspectorate took place in February. You can read the report below which grades Holy Family as "Outstanding" in every category. 

Catholic School Inspectorate Report 

The report, published this week, recognises the strength of our ethos and the commitment of our entire school community.

Inspectors highlighted our exceptional pastoral care, transformative prayer and liturgy and our welcoming family ethos, as well as the outstanding outcomes in RE.  

This exceptional outcome is particularly impressive, as we have gone from a Grade 2 under the previous framework to a Grade 1 under this more demanding one - a fantastic achievement!

The report reveals the excellence at the heart of our school - that everything we do, every day, is for the flourishing of our children, their families and all who work in our community. 

I am incredibly proud of this outcome and grateful to our staff, students, families and the wider community for their support. We will continue to strive for excellence in everything that we do, aspiring always “not to have more, but to be more”

Mrs Laws

Headteacher