Liverpool: Interdenominational school celebrates start of Advent

Fiona the Donkey led Faith Primary Academy pupils to St Francis Xavier's church

A primary school in Everton, Liverpool, celebrated the start of a new chapter and the beginning of Advent by hosting a special service in its local church.

Faith Primary Academy, located on Prince Edwin Street, is an inclusive, joint denominational school which has 204 pupils and 35 members of staff. The school has recently joined All Saints Multi Academy Trust and is the first primary school to join the trust's inspiring family of schools.

To celebrate the new partnership and the start of advent, All Saints Multi Academy Trust and the school held a special service at St Francis Xavier's Church, which is located in the heart of the Everton community and has strong links with the school which further strengthens the Christian values at Faith Primary Academy.

Pupils and staff walked to the church and were led by a very special guest, Fiona the donkey. The procession symbolised the scene from the bible where Mary and Joseph were planning the arrival of their new baby, while at the same time having to make such a difficult journey on a donkey, and was re-enacted by the children walking the half a mile distance from their school to the church.

During the service, Rev Stuart Haynes explained the meaning of Advent to pupils, staff and special guests including Stuart Harrison, director of education of the Diocese of Liverpool, Sue Killen, primary director of education at School Improvement Liverpool and local headteachers.

Rev Stuart Haynes highlighted how the season of Advent is the beginning of a new year for the church and perfectly aligns to a new chapter for Faith Primary Academy, with exciting times ahead for everyone.

Over 200 children joined in with hymns and filled the church with their beautiful voices. Students and staff from other academies within the trust also were in attendance and warmly welcomed a new school community into the family.

At the end of the service and to mark the new beginnings at Faith Primary Academy, everyone came together and said the trust's very own prayer. After the service pupils were given an advent calendar from the trust to take home with them.

All Saints Multi Academy Trust is jointly sponsored by both the Diocese and Archdiocese of Liverpool and is inspired by the ecumenical vision of Bishop David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock of how communities are 'stronger and better together'.

The trust operates two secondary schools in Liverpool, The Academy of St Francis of Assisi and The Academy of St Nicholas, as well as All Saints Sixth Form College.

Sarah Williams, headteacher of Faith Primary Academy, said: "It has been such a special day and we are blessed to be able to celebrate new beginnings for our school, as well as the start of advent, in a unique and memorable way.

"We are overjoyed to be joining All Saints Multi Academy Trust. Our own values perfectly match those of the trust, and together, we will work in partnership to bring the best education and life chances for our children."

CEO of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, Heather Duggan said: "We are pleased to welcome Faith Primary Academy into our family of schools.

"Faith Primary Academy is much loved by its community and as a trust we encourage all of our academies to maintain their individuality whilst underpinning Christian values. We are excited to embark on this new journey and support Sarah, and her excellent team of staff, so that they can continue to flourish and provide academic success for all children."

LINK

All Saints Multi Academy Trust: www.allsaintsmat.org.