We are proud to be a Church of England (controlled) Federation.  We enjoy links with St Mary's Church, Alverstoke and Leesland Neighbourhood Church. 

We do not currently have an Ex-Offcio governor from the Church.  We are awaiting an appointment to this role by St Mary’s parish.   This vacancy has existed since December 2020.  

The 'Open the Book' team deliver regular collective worship at both schools, and are enjoyed by both staff and pupils.  

Open The Book Collective Worship 

"Members of St. Mary's Church came and led an 'Open Book' assembly.  It was about King Solomon and his wisdom.  Several Year five children acted out the parts in a play.  All the audience thoroughly enjoyed watching the assembly."

By Enya and Ruby 

Children are innately curious about life. Growing up raises lots of questions, some to do with their experience, both the good and the bad, and some to do with their sense of wonder at the universe we live in and whether there’s more to life than meets the eye. Many have an interest in the non-material aspects of life, the spirit or soul, and want to explore how these ideas and experiences help them to develop their own sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose.

Prayer Spaces in Schools enable children and young people, of all faiths and none, to explore these life questions, spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way. Taking a broadly Christian perspective as a starting point, prayer spaces give children and young people an opportunity to develop skills of personal reflection and to explore prayer in an open, inclusive and safe environment. The approach does not proselytise and purposely allows pupils to make their own meaning and to draw their own conclusions.

A prayer space is usually a classroom sized area that has been transformed for a few days or a week with a range of creative activities that encourage personal reflection on issues such as forgiveness, injustice, thankfulness, big questions, identity and stillness. In some schools, teachers bring their students for a subject-lesson in the prayer space. In other schools, students are invited to visit the prayer space voluntarily, during their breaks and lunchtimes and maybe after the school day has finished.

Please see some of the responses from the Junior School below:

Sunday Service Times 

8.00am   St.Mary’s Said Book of Common Prayer Service: Holy Communion (2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays) or Morning Prayer (1st & 3rd Sundays) – a traditional Book of Common Prayer (BCP) service without music

9.15am  St.Mary’s Communion (1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Sundays) or Morning Prayer (on 2nd Sunday) – Common Worship words with hymns and Choir.  

9.30am   St.Faith’s Communion ‘Love’ (1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays) or Morning Worship ‘Joy’ (2nd Sunday) and ‘Peace’ (4th Sunday)  – communion using Common Worship with hymns.

10.15am  St.Mary’s Refreshments between services

10.45am   Church Alive – all new contemporary and informal worship accompanied by the Worship Band with different learning styles for all ages and communion on 2nd Sunday.

11.15am   St.Francis Morning Worship – a relaxed service where communion is on the first Sunday of each month

6.30pm   St.Mary’s Evening Worship – as follows: Evensong* (BCP 1st & 3rd Sundays), Merbecke* Communion (BCP 2nd Sunday), INVITE* (contemporary informal praise with guest musicians 4th Sunday) or special focus services e.g. healing (5th Sunday).   

*Evensong is a traditional choral service of Bible readings and prayers where the Psalms and responses are chanted and the Choir sings an Anthem.  *Merbecke wrote his classic Gregorian choral setting to BCP Communion in 1550 which we use at this communion service with the Choir once a month.  *INVITE  is a very relaxed and informal service for adults with a worship band, inviting guest musicians from other churches to come and lead our praise.