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Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School is a one-form-entry primary school in Church, Accrington. As a Catholic school, our identity is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ and the Church’s tradition. We are committed to nurturing each child as a unique gift from God so that they may flourish spiritually, academically, socially and morally.

Our Context and Its Influence

Sacred Heart serves a richly diverse and dynamic community. With 42% of children eligible for free school meals (PP) and 52% speaking English as an additional language (EAL), our provision is shaped by the realities and needs of our families. These characteristics call us to:

  • Provide inclusive pastoral and curriculum support so all children can access learning and experience belonging.
  • Celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity as a strength that enriches school life.
  • Offer targeted support (academic, social and emotional) to overcome barriers to achievement and to promote equity.

Our Catholic identity informs how we respond: we do so with compassion, practical support and an educational vision that sees every child’s potential through God’s love.

Our Vision

We live out and teach one clear mission:

“Let the Love of Christ Show in all that we do.”

This vision guides every decision and relationship at Sacred Heart. It means we aim for love to be the primary lens through which we educate, discipline, support and celebrate. Love shapes our curriculum, our worship, our behaviour expectations and our partnerships with families and the local church.

The Sacred Heart Way — What We Live By

We express our vision through five simple but profound values:

Love God

  • Significance: Recognising God as the source of life and wisdom gives children a firm spiritual foundation.
  • In practice:

    • Collective worship, class prayer and liturgies are central, age-appropriate and accessible to all children.
    • Religious Education is taught faithfully and creatively so children encounter scripture, sacrament and Catholic teaching.
    • Quiet reflection and opportunities for spiritual growth are built into the school day.

Love Ourselves

  • Significance: Self-respect and self-awareness are essential for children to flourish academically and emotionally.
  • In practice:

    • Our pastoral programmes teach self-care, resilience and positive mental health strategies.
    • We celebrate each child’s achievements — personal, social and academic — helping them value their God-given dignity.
    • Personal, social and health education (RSHE) reflects Catholic teaching and supports healthy choices and self-worth.

Love Each Other

  • Significance: Community, empathy and service are at the heart of Christian living.
  • In practice:

    • Restorative approaches to behaviour ensure relationships are repaired and learning is prioritised.
    • Peer-mentoring, buddy systems and acts of service (local charity links, parish projects) foster mutual care.
    • Staff model compassionate relationships and expect children to treat everyone with respect and kindness.

Love Learning

  • Significance: Intellectual curiosity is an expression of gratitude for God’s gift of reason and creativity.
  • In practice:

    • A broad, ambitious curriculum provides challenge, progression and opportunities for wonder.
    • Teaching is inclusive and scaffolded: interventions, EAL support and differentiated tasks ensure all children can succeed.
    • Learning is celebrated through displays, assemblies and achievement events that show learning as a joyful pursuit.

Love God’s World

  • Significance: Stewardship of creation and solidarity with others underpin our moral responsibility.
  • In practice:

    • Eco-practice (recycling, gardening, energy awareness) is embedded across the school, giving children practical stewardship experience.
    • Global learning and charity work develop a sense of responsibility to the wider creation and global community.
    • Outdoor education and purposeful use of local parish and community resources connect children to God’s world.

Educational Approach — How We Teach Who We Are

Our educational approach flows directly from our vision and values.

Key features:

  • Faith-centred curriculum: Religious Education and collective worship are central and integrated into school life. Gospel values inform cross-curricular themes and moral education.
  • Inclusive pedagogy: Teaching adapts to meet the needs of a diverse intake — targeted support for PP pupils, strong EAL provision, and scaffolded challenge so every child makes progress.
  • Whole-child development: We balance academic achievement with spiritual, moral, social and emotional formation through RSHE, pastoral care and chaplaincy links.
  • Community partnership: Close collaboration with parents, parish and local agencies strengthens learning, safeguarding and social support.
  • High expectations and support: We set ambitious standards and provide targeted interventions so barriers to learning are removed and each child can flourish.

Our Commitment

As Sacred Heart RC Primary School, we commit to:

  • Ensuring every child experiences the love of Christ in welcome, teaching and relationships.
  • Making inclusion, high expectations and pastoral care central to daily practice.
  • Working closely with our parish and families so the school remains a place where children and adults flourish.

We believe that when the Love of Christ shows in all that we do, our children will grow in faith, confidence and competence, ready to serve God’s world with compassion and skill.