School Chaplaincy - G.I.F.T Team
G.I.F.T: Growing in Faith Together
Our G.I.F.T. Team brings together children from across the school who play an active role in nurturing and strengthening the Catholic life and mission of Sacred Heart. Through prayer, leadership, service and action, they encourage our whole school community to grow closer to God, live out the Gospel and put our mission, “Together we live and learn; we play and pray,” into action.
Pupil Leadership in Faith
At Sacred Heart, we believe that children should not simply participate in the Catholic life of the school; they should be given meaningful opportunities to shape it, lead it and help it grow. Our G.I.F.T. Team enables pupils to develop as confident and thoughtful faith leaders, taking increasing responsibility for the prayer, mission and service of our school community.
The G.I.F.T. Team works closely with the Headteacher to support the prayer and liturgical life of the school. Each week, pupils take an active role in our pattern of whole-school prayer and gathering. They support our Celebration of the Word every Monday, our Singing Assembly on Wednesday and our Celebration Assembly on Friday, working alongside our House Captains. These regular opportunities enable pupils to develop the confidence and skills to lead others while also growing in their own understanding of why and how we pray.
Their leadership extends beyond our weekly gatherings. G.I.F.T. pupils contribute to the preparation and celebration of Masses, liturgies and other significant moments within the Church's year. They help to create and maintain prayerful environments and encourage other children to participate with reverence, understanding and joy.
Importantly, pupil leadership at Sacred Heart is about more than carrying out jobs or being visible at special events. We want our children to understand that prayer leads us to mission. What we hear in Scripture and encounter through prayer should influence the choices we make and the way we respond to the needs of others.
Faith in Action
Our G.I.F.T. Team therefore works closely with our School Council, with both groups including children from each year group across the school. Together, they provide an important voice for pupils and help children to recognise that they can make a genuine difference within Sacred Heart and beyond.
They listen to the ideas and concerns of their peers, identify opportunities to serve others and help to turn these ideas into action. This includes supporting charitable initiatives and considering how our school community can respond practically to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the needs of our local and global communities.
Through this partnership, children learn that leadership is not about status; it is about service, responsibility and using our gifts for others.
Growing Leaders of Faith
As children develop as pupil leaders, we want them increasingly to be able to:
- lead and support prayer with confidence, reverence and understanding;
- explain why particular prayers, Scripture, symbols and actions have been chosen;
- listen to and represent the views of other pupils;
- recognise where there is a need within our school or wider community and consider how we can respond;
- make connections between Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching and action;
- work collaboratively with other pupil leaders and adults;
- evaluate their contribution and consider what could be developed further; and
- recognise leadership as an opportunity to serve others and witness to their faith.
In this way, our pupils are not simply recipients of the Catholic life and mission of Sacred Heart. They are active participants and leaders within it, helping our whole community to Grow in Faith Together and ensuring that our faith is visible not only in what we say and pray, but also in how we live, serve and care for one another.
