The school's mission is to develop the sense of the true, the sense of the good, the sense of the beautiful
The Catholic life of All Saints Catholic High School is oriented towards developing all that is good, true and beautiful in each member of our community.
Our Mission is to support parents as the primary educators of the faith and to build upon the work that is carried out by our local clergy in our family of parishes. Providing a holistic education and solid formation which allows all members of our community to grow in faith and love of Christ.
Our most recent Section 48 Inspection recognised our outstanding work in Catholic Life:
“Students are proud of their school and able to articulate the concept of the All Saints Family and how their faith joins them together. Students very clearly express how they are loved and cared for, and the concept of family resonates; one student said, “We are like a home, a big, massive family, a safe haven.”
The Apostle Paul affirmed the significance of prayer, and wrote in one of the epistles, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states prayer and the Christian life are inseparable. (CCC 2744). It is the life of prayer that places us in relationship with God (CCC 2565).
Prayer, in all its expressions, is thus a means of communicating with and listening to the Divine in our lives. Collective Worship is held in high esteem in All Saints RC High School and is central to our Mission as a Catholic School.
Collective Worship is delivered through a combination of form time, assemblies, liturgy and Eucharist.
Collective Worship in All Saints RC High School is based on the following core practices:
- Reverence - at the beginning of each act of worship students and staff will be invited to be still and enter into a moment of silence so they are prepared to speak and listen to God.
- Witness - each act of worship will begin and end with the sign of the cross in acknowledgement of the Triune nature of God and joining All Saints to the universal Church through this sign of faith. The following formula is prayed at the end of each moment of prayer ‘Our Lady Queen of All Saints: Pray for Us.’
- Proclaiming - all members of the school community will have the opportunity to proclaim through the leading of worship and reading scripture.
- Response - prayers, scripture will be linked to the theme of the Collective Worship allowing those present to articulate an individual and collective response to the moment of prayer.
Our Chapel is located at the physical centre of the school and is open daily from 7:00am - 6:00pm. Our Chapel offers a safe and nurturing environment for all members of our community to touch their spiritual base.
The Chaplaincy Team, lead by Rev Dcn Bennett consists of:
- Mr T McGuinness - Head Teacher
- Mr D Hayes - Head of RE
- Ms L McFadden - Teacher of Mathematics
- Ms H Williams - Teacher of Geography
“The chaplain has a deep understanding and knowledge of Catholic tradition in prayer and of the needs of the community of All Saints. He is passionate in embedding this into the prayer life of the school community” Section 48 May 2023"
Together this team animate the chaplaincy programme. The core programme consists of:
- Prayer
- Retreat
- Liturgy
- Eucharist
- Alms
- Pilgrimage
- Extra-curricular trips
Each class in KS3 has a number of chapel sessions each year led by Rev Dcn Bennett. Here the students consider issues such as:
- Belonging
- Advent
- Covenant
- Lent
- Reconciliation
- Easter
- Positive Body Image
- Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
- The Sanctity of Life
- Justice & Mercy
- Environmental Awareness and caring for our common home
Each class at KS4 has two sessions considering:
- Vocation and the Sacrament of Holy Orders
- Healing and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
Services of Reconciliation are offered at various stages of the Liturgical Year.
The Chaplaincy Team leads two trips a year to each year group to:
- Ultimate Indoor Paintball
- Nerf World
- Kartworld Go Karting
- Super Bowl
- Cinema
The Chapel serves the staff of the school by offering Tuesday morning Prayer & Friday morning Meditation.
‘Liturgy is the work of the whole Christ, head and body’ (CCC 1187)
The Liturgical Year is followed by All Saints RC High School; offering a wide range of liturgical experiences from whole School liturgical celebrations for:
- Remembrance Day
- Advent
- Christmas
- Feast of St John Bosco
- Lent Easter - Peters Passion
- Year 11 & 13 Leavers Liturgy
To year group celebrations such as:
- Year 7 Mass of Welcome
- Year 8 Sacrament of Confirmation
- Services of Reconciliation
‘The Liturgy of the Word is an integral part of the celebration. The meaning of the celebration is expressed by the Word of God which is proclaimed and by the response of faith to it.’ (CCC 1190).
Liturgies of the Word are celebrated by Rev Dcn Bennett on the third Friday of each month.
Lectio Davina is offered by Rev Dcn Bennett during Advent and Lent.
‘The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life.’ (CCC 1324)
The Holy Eucharist is celebrated at key times in the schools life and the Liturgical Year such as:
- September: Year 7 Mass of Welcome
- December: Each Friday of Advent
- February: Each Friday of Lent
- June: The Sacrament of Confirmation
Central to the Catholic Life and Mission of the school is our commitment to retreat. One day retreats take place in Year 7 & 8.
Year 7 have two full days of retreat:
- Term 1: Belonging
- Term 3: Celebration
Year 8 have a full day retreat:
- Term 1: Covenant
In addition each year group is offered a voluntary residential retreat. Here students in KS3 & 4 spend the weekend in Dolly Hall mid-Wales (www.dollyhall.co.uk). A full spiritual programme takes place:
- Morning Prayer
- Night Prayer
- Service of Reconciliation
- Eucharist
- Students attend Mass at St Mair (www.rcdwxm.org.uk/machynlleth)
Students in KS5 are offered a residential retreat in Years 12 & 13 where they stay in the Salesian Centre Savio House (www.saviohouse.org.uk). Attending Mass at St Gregory’s (www.stgregorysbollington.org.uk).
All retreats offer the students time to play, relax and form new friendships. In addition to the full spiritual programme students have lost of fun:
- Visiting Barmouth Beach and Fun Fair
- Trekking the Dovey Valley Forest Trail
- Eating out!
- Making Dens in the woods
- BBQ & Bonfire
- Having a disco
Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer. For pilgrims seeking living water, shrines are special places for living the forms of Christian prayer "in Church.’ (CCC 2691)
All Saints RC High has a long tradition of undertaking pilgrimage to Lourdes. The first annual pilgrimage to Lourdes took place during Easter 1991. Since that first pilgrimage the pilgrimage programme has evolved and now takes place during the week of the Liverpool Archdiocese Pilgrimage in July.
Our annual pilgrimage to Lourdes is very popular attracting over seventy-five applications for forty places. Whilst on pilgrimage our students enjoy a holy-holiday with Our Lady and St Bernadette. In addition to a full pilgrimage programme including Mass, Stations of the Cross, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and private prayer. Our students enjoy visits to:
- Spain - St Sebastian’s Mountain Fun Fair
- The beach at St Jean De Luz Atlantic resort
- The Pyrenean mountain village of Bartes
- The Pic De Jur mountain with it's breathtaking views of Lourdes
The Bosco Club is our school youth club. As a school in the Salesian tradition we embrace the wisdom of St John Bosco who said:
“It is not enough to love young people! They must know that they are loved.”
The Bosco Club is staffed by:
- Rev Dcn Bennett
- Ms Stoddart
- Mr Dylan
The above are ably supported by a group of Junior Youth Leaders from Year 8.
The Bosco Club opens:
- Monday 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- Tuesday 4:00pm - 6:00pm
The Bosco Club provides a safe space for young people to make new friends, socialise and relax. Facilities include:
- PS4
- XBox
- Pool
- Table Tennis
- Table Football
- Air Hockey
- Dance Mats
- A range of board games
The Bosco Club also offers regular trips such as Bowling, Paintballing, Nerf, Cinema. The highlight of the year being our Christmas Movie Night with McDonalds and KFC!
The Bosco Club is free of charge to all students.