The Catholic Life of our School
‘By following in the footsteps of Jesus,
we are making the heart, mind and spirit soar’
Our actions and words of today are the footprints of our future.
The mission of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School is to develop each and every member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Community to reach their full potential by following in the footsteps of Jesus, to 'make our hearts, minds and spirits soar’.
Our Parish Community
Our school is blessed to be served by the parish of Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains, Hartshill. We are grateful for the close and caring relationship we share with our parish community.
We are especially thankful for our priests, Fr. Matthew Kwaghtaver and Fr. Eamonn Mulcahy. Both priests are an important part of our school family, and we are always delighted to welcome them into school. Every two weeks, one of our priests comes into school to celebrate Mass with us. We feel truly blessed to gather together in prayer with our parishioners, families, and friends. It is a special time for us to grow in faith, give thanks to God, and share the love of our wider school and parish community.
Together, as one family of faith, we continue to grow in love, learning, and the light of Christ.
Click below to read our most recent 'OUTSTANDING' inspection:
Section 48 monitoring inspection (RE)
Jubilee Year Virtual Finale
On Friday 21 November, our school gathered in the hall to join the Archdiocese’s online Jubilee Year Finale. It was a special moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the ways we have grown in faith and service during this Jubilee Year. The live stream included a welcome from Archbishop Bernard Longley, and the Gospel and Homily from Bishop Timothy Menezes. Our pupils contributed with prayers, readings, and music, showing their understanding of the year’s themes, while CJM Music provided uplifting accompaniment.
Although the Jubilee Year continues until the Feast of the Epiphany in January 2026, this virtual gathering was a meaningful opportunity for our school community to come together in faith, just before the Solemnity of Christ the King. We feel truly blessed to have shared in this inspiring celebration.
ONELIFE RETREAT: WE WILL GO OUT AS PILGRIMS OF HOPE
Our school has been blessed with a grace-filled Jubilee retreat led by Dan and Emily from One Life Music. Through uplifting praise, prayer and reflection, we were reminded of our calling to journey as Pilgrims of Hope, carrying God’s light, joy and love into the world around us.
The children embraced this message wholeheartedly, creating beautiful artwork inspired by hope, faith and God’s guiding presence. These thoughtful pieces will be offered in our assembly as a sign of gratitude for the blessings we have received.
We were also grateful for a virtual visit from Bishop Timothy, who shared encouraging words about remaining joyful in hope, even during challenging moments. His message strengthened our trust in Christ as we continue to walk forward together in faith. We give thanks for the gift of community and the grace of growing together during this special Jubilee Year.
Visit from Fr. Matthew
Year 1-Together in Faith Celebration
Year 1 children shared their R.E. and Science learning about God’s wonderful creation with their parents and the whole school community. They taught us about the importance of being good stewards of God’s creation and reminded us that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for the beautiful world that God has given us to enjoy!
Confirmation Enrolment Mass
gather for the Enrolment Mass for the Confirmandi from our school and parish. These children have made a sincere commitment to continue growing in their faith and have taken the next step in becoming active workers for God. With the support of their parents and sponsors, they reverently renewed their baptismal promises. We are grateful to have shared in this special moment of their faith journey. Please keep them all in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We thank Fr. Elobe, parishioners and school staff for their continued support.
Year 2-Together in Faith Celebration
Year 2’s shared a special celebration about Noah’s Ark. Through their wonderful performance, the children reminded us of God’s promise to care for us all, and the importance of keeping the promises we make to one another. The assembly was filled with confidence, teamwork, and joy as Year 2 shared songs, readings, and reflections with the whole school community. Their creativity and enthusiasm truly brought the story to life, helping us all reflect on faith, hope, and God’s love. We are so proud of each child for their effort, courage, and the heart they put into sharing this important message. Well done, Year 2 — you shone brilliantly!
Year 3 Stay & Pray: Celebrating the Holy Rosary
Our Year 3 children led a beautiful Stay & Pray all about the Holy Rosary, guiding us in prayer, reflection, and song with confidence and reverence. Many of the prayers were written by the children themselves, shared with heartfelt devotion. Families joined in a special activity, creating prayerful reflections together, which made the celebration even more meaningful. We are truly grateful to our families for supporting the children and helping to make these moments of faith so special.
Parents shared their thoughts on this inspiring celebration:
"A lovely way to pray together as a family and reflect on God’s love."
"The children showed such care and understanding in their prayers — very moving."
"We felt truly blessed to share in this prayerful time with our children."
We give thanks for this uplifting celebration, and for the faith, joy, and community spirit that Year 3 brought to our school.
Year 4 Celebrate the Mysteries of the Rosary
Our Year 4 pupils led a wonderful class celebration all about the mysteries of the Rosary. With thoughtful prayers, reflections, and songs—many written by the children themselves—they helped us reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary. We are so proud of Year 4 for their confidence, care, and inspiring leadership in sharing their faith!
Blessing of Play area
Fr. Eamonn blessed and officially opened our new Trim Trail play area on the KS1 playground. With joy and prayer, he asked God to bless all the children who will play there and to keep them safe always. May it be a place of laughter, friendship, and happy memories under God’s loving care.
Eucharistic Congress
As part of our deanery’s Eucharistic Congress celebrations, our school was truly blessed to come together for a beautiful and reverent Mass, led by Fr. Eamonn and joined by parishioners and families. In the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, we were united in faith, love, and prayer. It was a sacred time of learning, reflection, and deepening our relationship with Christ. Hearts were touched, and we left renewed in the grace of His presence.