Inspired by our patron St John Henry Newman, we aim to encounter Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life. As a Catholic School, the spiritual life of our pupils and staff is central to our educational mission. This enables us to live out Newman’s motto by connecting our hearts to our relationship with Jesus and with others.

We live this daily through:

We have a dedicated school oratory (chapel) where we encounter the Blessed Sacrament. This is open every day for private prayer for both staff and pupils.

Daily prayer – Morning Prayer, “The Way,” Lunch Time Prayer, “Hail Mary,” Prayer To End Our Day, “Newman Prayer.” There are also opportunities for prayer in RE lessons. Regular prayer in the chapel

Regular prayer in the chapel - Form Time Reflection, where each form has their own time in the chapel with guided worship on a rota basis. Staff INSET, which includes Mass or guided worship.

Form Time Reflection, where each form has their own time in the chapel with guided worship on a rota basis.

Staff INSET, which includes Mass or guided worship.

Liturgical Worship – A weekly Mass is celebrated on a Friday morning for two form groups on a rota basis. Each Year group will celebrate Mass together at least once a year. The whole school is invited to celebrate Mass on all Feast Days that are holy days of obligation.

Weekly assemblies – All pupils attend assemblies every week linked to our theme, “Oh Lord open my lips, so my mouth shall send forth thy praise,”Matthew 7:7-8.

Retreats – Year 7 Day Retreat at Castlerigg Manor, Year 8 and 9 Residential Retreat at Castlerigg Manor, Year 10 Morning Retreat in School, Sixth Form Day Retreat at Blessed Christopher Robinson House, Youth Minister Residential Retreat at Castlerigg Manor.

Charity – each year we support many charities through prayer and fundraising events as a whole school and as individual forms to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Youth Ministers – we have a group of thirty Youth Ministers from Years 8-13 who meet on a Tuesday to develop their faith and work on how to lead the worship in our school. They are currently supporting our pupils with preparation for Mass, teaching them how to write bidding prayers and how to read scripture.

Chaplaincy - Fr. Luiz, the school Chaplain, is available on a Wednesday lunchtime and the school Lay Chaplain is available at breaks and lunchtimes for a chat with both staff and pupils where they can freely converse about their spiritual lives.

RE lessons - Teaching faith in RE lessons and across the school is a strong way of letting pupils learn about themselves and other people’s faith and appreciating the diversity of God’s people.

Memorial Garden – This space outside our school is a place of tranquillity, where everyone has an opportunity to remember those members of our school who have died, and all our departed loved ones.

Miss E Lowery – Deputy Headteacher

Mrs J Radcliffe – Chaplain

Mrs A McAree – Head of RE

Fr. Luiz - Priest Chaplain

Fr Luiz Ruscillo was born in Askam-in-Furness in Cumbria. His father is half Italian, half English and his mother is from Portugal. But Fr Luiz supports England in all sports. He went to school in Dalton, and then to Barrow VI Form for A-Levels. Fr Luiz went to Rome at the age of 18 to study for the priesthood for the Diocese of Lancaster. He has been a priest for 30 years and has served in Preston, Blackpool and Lancaster before coming to Carlisle.

When he was younger Fr Luiz played football and rugby for school and local teams. He also played table-tennis (badly) and cricket (even worse), but he is very competitive and enjoys all sports. When it comes to music he likes old fashioned stuff, big-bands and swing, rock 'n' roll, jazz and Motown. He likes singing, but people don't like listening to him sing. His favourite songs are "You'll never walk alone" (from Anfield) and "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra.

Fr Luiz is not interested in cars or clothes but is very interested in food and drink and likes to consume both. The 'love of his life' is Jesus, the Catholic Church and the Bible