St Mary’s School is very blessed to be in a central location in Loughborough. This enables the school to be part of a fantastic Catholic community, with the Church of St Mary’s right at our doorstep and part of a wider community which includes Loughborough university and the chaplaincy team there, Loughborough College, local churches, local library and a wide range of schools. We have made fantastic links with all parts of the community and look forward to strengthening these. St Mary’s school shares the parish and school hall with St Mary’s Parish, hosting many joint events together.
St Mary’s School has enjoyed the strong parish links with St Mary’s church. Please do visit the school and have a look at our prayer and Liturgy folder to see the partnership activities we have with the church, led by our very dedicated staff and supported wonderfully by the Parish priest Fr Paul and by Fr David. Father David and Father Paul are regular visitors in school and they spend time with one classes each term, talking to them about Scripture and giving them time to ask their ‘wonder’ questions. Due to the close proximity of the church, classes also regularly visit the church to enhance their RE learning and spirituality, such as learning about Baptism or to pray the Stations of the cross. We celebrate at Church at various times during the year, including for Harvest, Solemnities and for our Christmas Carol Service. Other Masses and celebrations of the word are celebrated with Father David or Father Paul, at school, including for Remembrance and the blessing of the Advent wreath. Once a term, the pupils welcome and read at the weekend masses at St Mary’s and also regularly join the parishioners for the Tuesday and Thursday morning masses. This year Father David will also be having a class mass for pupils and parents to develop pupil spirituality, planning and understanding of the Eucharist. Further opportunities will be planned in for Adoration. On Good Friday, the school hall and resources are used for the Parish children and local schools for a Good Friday Liturgy and Stations of the Cross.
First Holy Communion and Reconciliation Preparation
Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Communion takes place when the children are in Year 3 and is led by members of the Parish and school Catechists and takes after school and in the school and Parish hall. Children work on their preparations throughout the year and take their First Holy Communion during June. We will share information with you about this when your child begins Year 3. The school also supports with the confirmation programme, with the catechists using the school hall and classrooms.
St Mary’s School converted to an academy as part of the Blessed Cyprian Tansi Catholic Academy Trust. From September 2018, the school became part of the St Thomas Aquinas Multi-Academy Trust, with all 23 Catholic schools in Leicestershire. We partner Sacred Heart School in Leicester, which enables the children and staff to learn from each other and develop the prayer and Liturgy and Catholic Life and mission in both schools.
