Leweston School has unveiled an exciting new initiative: the GIFT Chaplaincy – Grow In Faith Together. Led by an enthusiastic team of Year 12 and Year 13 students, this programme will play an important role in shaping the spiritual life of the school community through leadership, creativity, and service.
The GIFT Chaplaincy team will take an active role in shaping faith-based experiences at Leweston, from leading liturgies and planning faith based events, to creating opportunities for prayer and service.
“This is just the beginning,” said Mrs Littlechild, Head of Religious Studies and part of the chaplaincy team. “Our vision is to grow and extend the chaplaincy throughout the school, inviting younger students to join us in living out Gospel values every day.”
Leweston’s Catholic ethos is central to its identity, offering a foundation of moral guidance, pastoral care, and spiritual development. While rooted in Catholic tradition, the school warmly welcomes pupils of all faiths and none, fostering an inclusive environment where values of community and service thrive.
The GIFT Chaplaincy builds on this ethos by helping students live out Gospel values and develop as responsible citizens and compassionate leaders. It supports Leweston’s mission to educate the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and heart—through:
- Affirming each individual as a unique part of God’s creation and valuing diversity.
- Fostering intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
- Encouraging personal growth through sport, outdoor learning, and academic excellence.
- Building relationships of trust and mutual respect.
- Inspiring pupils to develop their God-given gifts and be confident in who they are.
The Chapel of St Antony remains the heart of Leweston’s spiritual life, hosting weekly Mass and liturgies, as well as musical performances by the Choral Society. Pupils of all ages contribute to these celebrations, whether through music, readings, or serving.
This year, Leweston is also working towards the CAFOD Live Simply Award - an opportunity for Leweston, as a Catholic community, to answer Pope Francis' call to care for our common home and stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world. The project involves nine initiatives across global, local, and school-based activities, each reflecting the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching: human dignity, family and community, solidarity and common good, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor, the dignity of work, and stewardship.
As Leweston embarks on this new chapter, the GIFT Chaplaincy stands as a living expression of the school’s values—uniting faith, service, and community. By empowering students to lead and inspire, it ensures that the Gospel message is not only taught but lived, preparing young people to make a positive difference in the world.