Prayer and Liturgy
Prayer and Liturgy at Holy Ghost Catholic Primary School are fundamental to the school's ethos and mission, enriching every aspect of its community life.
As a central pillar of the school's identity, at Holy Ghost we aim to foster spiritual growth, a sense of belonging and a deeper relationship with God for pupils, staff and families alike when engaging in prayer. This is expressed through daily acts of classroom collective worship, whole school collective each Monday, key stage assemblies, class masses at Holy Ghost Parish and the active celebration of the Church's liturgical year with formal Liturgies held in school with our Parish Priests - Father Richard and Father Ariel.
The collective engagement cultivates Gospel values, inspires reflection on Christ's teachings, and prepares children to lead prayer and liturgy with confidence and understanding. Holy Ghost integrates these practices with its curriculum and parish connections, ensuring that all children experience the richness of Catholic traditions. Through prayer and liturgy, the school embodies its commitment to to nurturing spiritual maturity, inclusivity, and a Christ-centered education. 
Prayer and Liturgy at Holy Ghost
Prayer and Liturgy takes place on a daily basis in school.
Monday: Whole School Prayer and Liturgy led by our Executive Headteacher, Mr Brading and/or our Head of School, Mrs Murphy.
Tuesday: Class Masses on a rota to the Holy Ghost Parish Church. Individual Class Prayer and Liturgy (pupil or teacher led).
Wednesday: Individual Class Prayer and Liturgy (pupil or teacher led)
Thursday: Whole School Religious Singing Practice.
Friday: Individual Class Prayer and Liturgy (pupil or teacher led).
Ten:Ten
We use Ten:Ten to support our classroom prayers and whole school liturgy and prayer sessions.
Please see below our Spring assembly and classroom prayer schedule from Ten:Ten.
Class Masses and Visits
Each week one class will attend mass on a Tuesday at 9.30am with the parish. We attend
masses on days of Holy Obligation and welcome all parents to join us. KS2 children are given the opportunity to read at our whole school and class masses.
Our school chaplain, Fr Ariel, visits our classes weekly to discuss questions which the class have raised. These can be based on our RE learning that week or on wider topics. These visits are welcomed each week and it allows each year group to have time to contemplate with Father.
Some of the questions which children have asked in KS1 so far are:
Is Jesus our King?
Why is Jesus the light of the world?
How did God make our world?
And in KS2:
Can you explain the Holy Spirit to us and help us understand when we can feel its presence?
How does it feel to perform Mass as a priest?
We have been studying justice and looking at Martin Luther King, Father Pedro and Oscar Romero-who do you think is the greatest example of justice?
What should we say to God when we pray to ask for forgiveness like Jonah had to when he was in the whale?
Pupil Lead Collective Worship
Pupil-led collective worship sessions at Holy Ghost Catholic primary School are an essential part of the prayer and liturgy experience, designed to engage students in the planning, preparation and delivery of worship. These sessions allow pupils to take ownership of their spiritual development and share their reflections with peers. All pupils in Year 3 - Year 6 are given the opportunity from Spring onwards to lead collective worship in class.
In these sessions, pupils are guided to select themes, reading, prayers and/or hymns that align with the liturgical calendar or Gospel values being studied. For younger pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1, involvement might include making the Sign of the Cross, selecting a hymn, or helping to introduce a prayer theme with teacher support. As children progress to Key Stage 2, they take on more responsibility, such as structuring the worship according to the key elements of gathering, listening to God's Word, responding, and being sent forth with a mission.
By leading these sessions, pupils develop a deeper understanding of liturgical practices and their significance. It fosters confidence, creativity and teamwork while ensuring that worship remains a vibrant and integral aspect of school life. Moreover, pupil-led worship reflects the school's commitment to nurturing active participation and instilling Gospel values in everyday life.
Prayer Intentions Tree
As a school, we are committed to nurturing opportunities for our students to deepen their connection to prayer. To support this, we have introduced a Prayer Intentions Tree, where children can write down the names of the people or intentions they wish to pray for. These heartfelt intentions are then offered to God during our whole-school collective worships.
We encourage all students to take part and make use of this meaningful additional to our spiritual life as a school community.
Important prayers we learn at school
Holy Ghost Common Prayer Booklet
The children also participate in classroom prayers to celebrate the start and end of each school day.