Staff Formation

At St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, staff formation is at the heart of our mission “Aspire not to have more but to be more.” We believe that adults grow in faith just as children do, and that every member of staff—Catholic or of another tradition—deserves support, encouragement and opportunities to deepen their understanding of the Church’s mission and their own spiritual journey.

Our approach to staff formation ensures that colleagues feel confident, supported and inspired to nurture the faith of the children in their care. It is rooted in the charism of St Paul to be a dedicated teacher, driven by a deep care for individual growth and build a supportive faith community.

A Community Rooted in Mission

Staff formation begins with a clear grounding in who we are as a Catholic school.
From the moment new colleagues join St Paul’s, they are introduced to the mission that shapes our daily practice. Induction includes:

• An introduction to our Gospel-rooted values: Honourable purpose, Respect, Co-operation, Compassion, Stewardship.
• Guidance on the Catholic liturgical year, feast days, traditions and practices
• Modelling of prayer, collective worship and the language of faith in everyday school life

New staff consistently report that this induction helps them step confidently into the Catholic ethos of the school, whether or not they have worked in faith settings before

Professional and Spiritual Development

We invest intentionally in the spiritual and theological formation of our staff. This includes:

Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS)

We actively support colleagues in undertaking CCRS.

• We have teachers already qualified and offer the opportunity each year for teachers to complete this to develop their faith understanding.
   

Diocesan and Trust Training

Staff participate in:

• Shrewsbury Diocese RE and Prayer and Liturgy training
• Headteacher and Deputy conferences
• Parish led wellbeing session
• Trust-wide RE moderation and training sessions

These opportunities strengthen both personal spirituality and professional confidence in teaching Religious Education and leading prayer.

In-School Formation and Coaching

Our RE Lead (Deputy Headteacher) provides:

• Mentoring for Early Career Teachers and those new to Catholic education
• Support in planning RE and Collective Worship
• Modelled lessons and coaching cycles
• Practical guidance on Catholic doctrine and liturgical practice
• Providing resources to support RE and Prayer and Liturgy

Living Our Faith Together

Formation at St Paul’s is not limited to RE lessons. Staff grow in faith through:

• Daily prayer and reflection at meetings
• Participation in school and parish Masses
• Supporting children in charity and service projects such as the Harvest wellspring collection, CAFOD fundraisers.
• Engagement with the restored Prayer Garden that nurture prayerfulness and wellbeing.
• Encouragement to bring a prayer to display as a weekly staff room focus.

Staff voice

A Supportive and Pastoral Culture

Formation is also about how we care for one another. Our commitment to staff includes:

• Access to counselling and emotional support when needed
• A culture of mutual care, underpinned by Gospel values
• Work–life balance considerations in timetabling and expectations
• Leadership that models servant leadership, stepping in to support staff and families practically and pastorally

This pastoral approach has been recognised in Ofsted report in 2024  where “Staff spoke positively about how the school supports their workload and well-being”.

Growing Together as a Faith Community

Ultimately, staff formation at St Paul’s is about journeying together in faith.

We strive to create an environment where every adult:

• Feels confident as a witness to Christ’s love
• Understands the richness of the Catholic tradition
• Is empowered to form children both academically and spiritually.
• Experiences a sense of belonging within a joyful, faith-filled community