As we came into a new term as well as a new year, our schools have been busy! Here is some of the latest news from our schools.

New nursery for St Mary Magdalen’s

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon officially opened the new nursery at St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School in Penwortham.

The brand-new bespoke building has been 18 months in the planning for the ‘Mighty Minis’ and will now cater for 15 children aged 3 years.

The nursery first opened in February 2022 and proved to be so popular that it had to move into the church hall after only a few months. School leaders and governors sought funding, and the Archdiocese of Liverpool committed £160,000 to the new build.

Parish priest Father Ian McParland and the parishioners of St Mary Magdalen's generously donated a car park at the back of the church building, adjacent to the school, and the project was developed. 

Already with a waiting list until September 2025, the nursery welcomes children from all backgrounds and faiths. Mrs Bradley, EYFS lead at the school, commented:  "The idea of the nursery was to cement relationships with our parents from a very early age and to provide our youngest children with an environment befitting their development.

"We want them to have their own area but equally we want them to be very much part of our school with our core values running through all that we do." 

Attendees of the opening included the Mayor of Penwortham, David Shaw, Fr Ian McParland, Mrs A Cooper, Headteacher at All Hallows Catholic High School, Mr and Mrs Jones of SVP in Penwortham and Governors of St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School.

St John Bosco Arts College celebrates feast day

On Friday, 31 January, St John Bosco Arts College, Croxteth, celebrated the feast day of its patron saint, St John Bosco.

 The annual celebration is an opportunity for the school community to come together for collective worship and a chance for pupils to participate in Salesian activities. 

 The feast day celebrations began with a school-wide mass, led by Fr Anthony Kelly, parish priest at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs and St Swithin.  

 This year’s theme is based on the Salesian Strenna for2025 – ‘anchored in hope, pilgrims with young people’. 

 Each year group participated in different activities throughout the day that centred on highlighting the importance of the school’s core values of ‘Faith, Hope, Love, Respect and Community’.

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Debate team champions!

The debate team at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Croxteth recently won the Debate Mate Grand Final! The event, sponsored by Comic Relief, will be televised as part of Red Nose Day on 21 March. The winners went to London and met entrepreneur Deborah Meaden and also enjoyed a Q&A with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

New faith walls installed

St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, Warrington have improved their key stage 1 walls, putting faith and mission statement at the centre. This includes a place where they can practice their handwriting and their high frequency words. They also have space for maths, science, geography and PE.

It was a surprise for both the children and their families as they were installed over the half term break.