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St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

    Love

    Accept

    Respect

    Reflect

Staff Formation

At St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, staff formation is at the heart of our mission “With Jesus we live, love and learn.” 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 Thérèse of Lisieux, whose Little Way reminds us that holiness is found in small things done with great love.

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 Teresa’s, they are introduced to the mission that shapes our daily practice. Induction includes:

  • An introduction to our Gospel-rooted values: Love, Accept, Respect, Reflect

  • Formation around our school charism and the life of St Thérèse of Lisieux

  • 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 many teachers already qualified and a rolling programme ensuring that at least one teacher per year achieves this qualification.

Diocesan and Trust Training

Staff participate in:

  • Brentwood Diocese RE and Collective Worship training

  • Headteacher and Deputy conferences

  • Bishop’s Lenten Retreat

  • 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 (an Assistant 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

 

Living Our Faith Together

Formation at St Teresa’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 Food Drive, Uniform Bank and the Big Lent Walk

  • Engagement with the restored Prayer Garden, Outdoor Shrine and sensory spaces that nurture prayerfulness and wellbeing

  • Shared liturgies during the major seasons of the Church year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Staff voice praises the school’s ethos of compassion and supportive community, describing leadership as “a genuine Catholic ethos with compassion that filters through the whole community” (The Catholic Year in Review 2025)

 

A Supportive and Pastoral Culture

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

  • Access to BCCS 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 external safeguarding reviews praising the “excellent professional relationships” grounded in the school’s mission and values

Growing Together as a Faith Community

Ultimately, staff formation at St Teresa’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

The strength of St Teresa’s lies in the consistent habit of following in St Thérèse’s footsteps with small acts of love that make a big difference.

This is the heart of staff formation: not only learning about our faith, but living it together.

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