One of the unique features of Saint Cecilia’s is how we work out our spiritual vision, which is for the school community to live life in abundance. Our Christ-centred approach includes a holistic education where spiritual development, pastoral care, well-being and support are at the heart of ensuring pupils and students are not only academically fulfilled, but spiritually and emotionally fulfilled.
The aim of this page to highlight some of the key ways in which the school aims to fulfil its vision and mission statement. For more information that is not covered here, please browse links under ‘Our School.’
Spiritual Development
Every school will define the term ‘spiritual development’ differently, and for many this might mean emotional or moral development. However, at Saint Cecilia’s, spiritual development has a special and specific meaning: we aim to foster and develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit in all those within our school community. In addition to the good characters of the fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), spiritual development also includes how pupils experience the awe and wonder of God within the curriculum, extra-curricular activities, events, workshops, competitions and more.
Click on the thumbnails below for more full size versions:
Spiritual Support
Our Chaplain, Alex Shoderu, is developing and transforming our Chapel space as a multi-faith, meditation, relaxation, discussion and debate zone where pupils and students can ask questions, pray, seek counselling and support on a range of concerns and challenges. The Chaplaincy also brings our wider school community together through parent prayers and events, staff prayers and support and Worship in the Community. For more information, click here.
Mentoring System
“Pupils of all abilities and backgrounds flourish as a direct result of the school’s deeply embedded Christian character. The truly exceptional quality of care for staff and pupils is widely recognised to be a direct result of biblical inspiration from Ephesians 4:2: ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.’ The Bethany Centre demonstrates this in full measure. It provides a vast range of services closely linked with chaplaincy .”
Pupils and Sixth Formers are placed in mentor groups. The terms ‘form’ or ‘tutor’ groups might be more familiar, however, we call them mentor groups because our mentors’ role is to coach, support and guide pupils and students through academic challenges, friendship issues, transitions between key stages and they are the first point of contact with parents. Therefore, our mentors and Year Leaders play a crucial role in the holistic, pastoral (as well as academic) development of the child.
Year System
Year Leaders work closely with parents, pupils and students to ensure, as much as possible, the highest academic achievements a young person is capable of. They give guidance, support and coaching when it comes to attendance, behaviour and academic progress. They work closely with the Safeguarding Team to help our vulnerable young people to succeed and develop within the school. At its core, the year system aims to foster goodness and faithfulness as well as commitment, determination and a ‘never give up’ attitude.
House System
Every pupil, student and member of staff is placed in a house named after musicians (Schubert, Ives, Carter) or mathematicians (Archimedes, Turing, Newton) which reflects the music and maths specialism in the school. House Leaders celebrate achievement in and outside school and are champions for courageous advocacy in terms of charitable work, participation, pupil voice, change and community outreach.
The Bethany Centre
The Bethany Centre is named after the town of Bethany, a place of rest and refuge for Jesus in the New Testament. Similarly, our Bethany Centre aims to be a place of rest and refuge for our vulnerable pupils with Educational Health Care Plans and special learning needs. The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and team of Learning Support Assistants support our pupils, as well as parents, with regular coffee mornings to talk, ask questions, seek advice and more. For more information, please click here.
The Safeguarding Team
Our Safeguarding Team focuses on ensuring the safety and well-being of our pupils. We work closely with the police, children’s social services, mental health and well-being providers, hospitals, coaching support through Kick and Regenerate and Place2Be, the school’s new counselling service. For more information on well-being information for pupils, students and parents, please click here.
