Our School
Catholic Life
As a Catholic school, we understand the importance of being a learning community that lives its life according to the teachings of Christ. The whole community at St Michael’s embraces the responsibility for the Christian formation of those entrusted to our care as we support each young person’s journey into adulthood; a journey of faith and spirituality. All members of the community are loved, valued and encouraged to grow in an atmosphere of service and mutual respect.
SMCS CS Inspection Results November 24
SMCS CS Inspection Letter for Parents & Carers 2024
Catholic Diocese of Northampton Interim Monitoring Visit Report
We are a small learning community with big aspirations for the children who learn with us.
Through regular prayer, collective worship, masses and on-going work with our chaplaincy team, St. Michael’s pupils can embrace and develop an ever deepening knowledge of the themes from the liturgical year. From welcoming newcomers and celebrating our rich tapestry of race and culture to securing an understanding of the life and teaching of Jesus, our children are able, like Saint Paul, to be a beacon of Christian values for the world.
The curriculum reflects the Catholic ethos of our school. The teaching of religious education and pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are at the heart of learning. Each individual learns of her or his responsibility as a steward for this wonderful world that we share and we instil in pupils a sense of their immense potential, a recognition that they are made in God’s likeness. We aim to nurture the aspirations of every individual and our broad and balanced curriculum enables us to best meet the needs of everyone.
Pope Francis encourages all Catholics to live out the words of the Gospel. Our community strives to fulfil his entreaty as we actively show love of God and love for one another.
We are proud to have St Michael as our patron saint. The name “Michael” means “God-like” and therefore he serves as reminder that every member of the St Michael’s community is made in the image and likeness of God.
School Mission Statement
Our school mission statement, “Achieving in faith, with love, as a community,” reflects the core values that guide every aspect of our school life. Written by our students, it captures the spirit of unity and growth we strive for. Rooted in faith, we support one another, ensuring that each individual feels empowered to achieve their best, not just academically, but in every aspect of their personal and spiritual development.
Every morning, as we gather on the courts in tutor groups, we begin our day in prayer, bringing our whole school community together as one body. This collective moment of prayer is a reminder of our relationship with God, the foundation on which our community stands. Through love and faith, we are united in purpose and spirit.
As a diverse Catholic secondary school, we are committed to helping everyone grow and flourish. Our student expectations, encapsulated in the acronym FAITH, reinforce that this mission is at the heart of everything we do. Together, we strive to create a school environment where each person is valued, supported, and encouraged to be their very best selves.
St Michael Virtues
Our school virtues, based on the acronym of our patron saint, St Michael, guide our students in how to live meaningful, faith-driven lives. Every week, we deliver an assembly focused on one of these virtues, drawing connections to the gospel and showing how these values can be applied in daily life.
Through these reflections, students are encouraged to consider their actions and the impact they have on others and our wider community. It’s an opportunity to think about personal responsibility and how living out these virtues can foster a more compassionate, supportive environment where we grow not only in faith but also in character. By embracing these values, students learn how to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of those around them.
Catholic School Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching is deeply rooted in the gospel and the Church’s call for justice, peace, and human dignity. At our school, these principles are central not only in religion lessons but are woven across the curriculum, allowing students to engage with them in various subjects and reflect on how they relate to everyday life and society.
The principles are taught as a framework for understanding how to live out our faith in a practical and meaningful way. These values inspire students to consider the moral and social dimensions of their actions, both in the classroom and beyond, fostering a deeper connection between their learning, their faith, and the world around them.
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Solidarity
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Dignity
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Creation and environment
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Peace
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Dignity of work and participation
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The common good
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Option for the poor
Mission Team and Leadership
Our school Mission Team is an important pillar of our student leadership structure, with representatives from every form group playing a crucial role in shaping the spiritual and communal life of our school. These leaders are at the forefront of promoting and upholding the values that are central to who we are, ensuring that faith, service, and unity remain at the heart of everything we do.
Senior leaders from Post-16 take on significant responsibilities, leading the key strands of our mission; evangelisation, charity and justice, creative arts and media, environment, and multi-faith. These students bring leadership, vision, and dedication to each area, guiding the school community to live out our mission in practical, and meaningful ways.
Mission representatives are entrusted with organising the prayer rota, updating weekly virtues, and supporting liturgies and Masses throughout the year, as well as leading and running charity events. Their work is essential in fostering a school culture where faith is lived out daily, and where every student is encouraged to engage with the deeper purpose of our community. The impact of the mission team is felt across the school, as these leaders inspire their peers and uphold the values that define our identity.
RE
Our curriculum intent is as follows in RE:
Discovering the riches of the Catholic tradition, in dialogue with other worldviews, in pursuit of the common good.
We want to ensure that the RE curriculum leads the way in our youngsters’ continued faith formation so that they can grow closer to God.
Our RE leads across primary and secondary ensure that the curriculum is progressive and aligned with the Religious Education Directory. All KS4 pupils are entered for the Edexcel Catholic Christianity GCSE. At KS5, pupils are able to study Philosophy and Ethics.
Chaplaincy
Chaplaincy is at the heart of our school’s Catholic life and mission, playing an integral role in shaping our community. Our chaplains provide opportunities for prayer and worship in both formal and informal settings, ensuring that faith remains a living, active part of our daily lives. They run retreats for all year groups, giving students a chance to deepen their understanding of Catholic values and scripture, while also fostering stronger relationships with God and one another.
Each week, chaplains facilitate tutor group visits to the chapel, offering a reflective space for students to explore and grow in their faith. They also organise all liturgies and Masses throughout the year, helping to unite our school in prayer. Additionally, chaplains play a vital role in supporting some of our most vulnerable students, offering a safe, non-judgmental space for them to pause, reflect, and seek guidance. Their presence is a source of comfort and support, and their conversations with students are always open and respectful.
Beyond the school, chaplains also help facilitate team-building among mission representatives, and regularly support events across the diocese, ensuring that our community is connected in faith both within and beyond our school.
Prayer and Liturgy
We pray our school prayer every morning to begin the school day. It reminds us how we live out our Mission Statement each and every day:
In addition to our morning prayer, we pray during tutor time, just before lunch and at the end of the day.
In our classrooms we have a crucifix which we turn to for prayer. We have prayer folder which contains prayers for the day as well as additional prayers that pupils have written. Our pupils regularly lead and facilitate our prayers during the day. These moments are very special as we bring our thoughts, hopes, achievements and challenges before Our Lord.
All pupils attend assembly at least once a week. In doing so, we reflect on Sunday’s gospel, our Mission and our value of the week. We reflect, in particular, on those values which are displayed around the school together with relevant quotes from scripture. In doing so, we think about how we can live out these values in our daily lives.
Christ’s presence in the Eucharist is at the core of who we are as a Catholic School. We are reminded that the Eucharist is both the source and the summit of our Christian spirituality. (CCC 1324). Whole School Mass is celebrated once a term attended by all pupils and staff. Mass is also celebrated termly in year groups. Our mission teams and Chaplaincy leads play an active part in our Masses, leading us in our singing, our readings, bidding prayers and altar serving.
In addition to our Induction Masses for Years 7 and 12, we also celebrate our Year 6,11 and 13 leavers’ Masses. We pray that our youngsters will fulfil God’s specific plan for them and go out, as Jesus’ disciples did after Pentecost, to serve and transform the lives of everyone that they meet
NB: The law requires all schools to recognise and respect that parents have the legal right to withdraw their children up to the age of 16 from prayer and liturgy but not from the RE Curriculum itself (School Standards and Framework Act 1998, s.71(1A)).
Links to Local Parishes
Our schools are ably and enthusiastically supported by our local parishes. We are grateful for the time and commitment of our Parish priests in particular.
Here are links to our parishes and parish priests:
High Wycombe Parishes
- St. Augustine’s Catholic Church Fr Jonathan Hill
- BL John Henry Newman Parish Fr Jonathan Hill
- St. Teresa’s RC Church Fr Sean Healy
- St. Peter’s RC Church Canon John Udris
- St. Dunstan’s RC Church Fr Sean Healy
Aylesbury Parishes
- St Joseph and St Clare RC Church Canon John Beirne
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Canon John Beirne
Our charities
Charity is a fundamental part of our school’s identity, rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. We are committed to supporting both global causes and our local communities in High Wycombe and Aylesbury, placing equal importance on helping those in need, near and far.
Each of our Houses is linked to a local charity, and together with our mission representatives, they are responsible for organising and running charity events throughout the year. We encourage students not only to contribute generously but also to understand the deeper significance of their actions; the impact their generosity has on the lives and communities of those less fortunate, both locally and globally. Through this, we foster a sense of responsibility, empathy, and service, helping students realise the power they have to make a meaningful difference in the world.
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Aylesbury Parishes