St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Parish Report
We are delighted to share some wonderful news and celebrate the many blessings experienced by our school community over the past year. We welcomed 17 pupils to our school in September; however, numbers continue to fall across the area. Currently 52% of our pupils are baptised Catholics.
The highlight of the year was our recent Catholic Schools Inspection (Section 48), which judged St Joseph's as Outstanding in Catholic Life and Mission. Inspectors praised the warm, secure and nurturing environment, the strong sense of family, exemplary pupil behaviour, and the increasingly strong partnership between school and parish.
What inspectors said we do particularly well:
• Provide a warm and nurturing environment where children develop their God-given potential.
• Foster a strong family atmosphere where all are respected, included and valued.
• Demonstrate exemplary pupil behaviour.
• Maintain strong school-parish partnerships that support faith development.
• Ensure high expectations for all pupils, including those with additional needs.
This year we were delighted to welcome Father Duane Reilly to our parish community. Father Duane has become a much-loved figure among the children and has been a tremendous source of encouragement and support throughout the year. He has celebrated Masses, supported sacramental preparation, worked closely with staff, and helped strengthen the special relationship between school and parish.
We were also delighted that 9 children received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and 9 children received their First Holy Communion. These special celebrations were joyful milestones in the children's faith journeys, thanks to the catechists who prepared them and continued to visit and support our school during liturgies and retreats.
Faith in Action
Catholic Life at St Joseph's is lived every day through prayer, worship and service.
Our pupils have:
- Attended school and parish Masses throughout the year.
- Led Celebration of the Word and child-led worship in every class.
- Led Stations of the Cross for the parish during Lent.
- Taken part in Easter liturgies and reflections with families.
- Explored Catholic Social Teaching and supported charities chosen by each class.
- Worked closely with our Mini Vinnies to support local and international charities
The Mini Vinnies have been outstanding ambassadors for the school. They visited Leeds Cathedral to meet Bishop Marcus and present funds raised for Catholic Care, organised prayer opportunities for families, supported parish events and helped local food banks through donations and practical service.
Children have put their faith into action through fundraising for CAFOD, the Good Shepherd Appeal, Catholic Care, local hospices, the local food bank Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary and Clitheroe Kids along with Help the Heros, all lead and organised by the children
. The Big Walk alone raised £548.
Inspectors also recognised the rich prayer life of the school, including Celebration of the Word, school Masses, Stations of the Cross, Easter liturgies, dedicated prayer spaces and strong links with parish catechists.
Enriching Experiences
Beyond the classroom, children have enjoyed a wide range of memorable learning experiences including:
- Whitehough Outdoor Centre
- Harlow Carr Gardens
- Manchester Museum
- A visit to a Jewish faith centre
- Beach School and Liverpool experiences
- Bikeability programmes
- Fire safety, NSPCC and online safety workshops
- Wellbeing Week and World Book Day celebrations
These opportunities help our children develop confidence, independence, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
A Strong Partnership with Families and Parish
We are grateful for the wonderful support we receive from our families and parish community. Parents continue to engage positively with school life through assemblies, liturgies, workshops, parents' evenings, and fundraising events. Feedback from parents remains overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the warm and caring atmosphere that makes St Joseph's such a special place to learn and grow.
Special thanks must also go to the Friends of St Joseph's, whose fundraising efforts have raised significant funds to enhance opportunities for pupils while bringing families together as a community.
Looking Ahead
As we look forward to the new academic year, we give thanks for the many successes we have celebrated together. The Outstanding judgement for Catholic Life, the sacramental journey of our children, and the countless examples of faith in action provide much to be proud of. We have said goodbye to some much-loved teachers who have retired and are welcoming two new teachers to our team- Mrs. Coward and Miss Yates.
I would like to say thank you to Fr. Duane, our parishioners, governors, families, and staff for your continued support and prayers. Together we continue to build a faith-filled community where every child can flourish and become the person God calls them to be. With "Jesus at the centre of all we say and do"
St Joseph, pray for us.
For more information;
Links to our website- https://www.st-josephs-barlick.lancs.sch.uk/
Follow us on Face book- scan the code
And see https://padlet.com/deputy211/mini-vinnies-25-26-x0xfvo9cld9nqkl
our Mini Vinnie newsletter on Padlet- scan this QR code
