Frequently Asked Questions
These questions may be of particular use if you have not previously attended a Catholic school.
What does it mean to be a Catholic school?
Catholic schools like SJF are different from other schools because they place Christ at the heart of everything that they do.
In some ways this is easy to see; we display crucifixes in our classrooms, have a Chapel on each site and students attend Masses at various times throughout the year in addition to going to lessons. Religious Education is a core subject, which means that all our students sit their GCSE in Year 11. If you study in the Sixth Form at SJF you will also attend core RE classes.
However, being a Catholic school is about more than just the outward signs. We are committed to educating the whole person – not just helping pupils to get good grades, but to become the best people they can possibly be so that they can serve God or their community to their fullest once they leave us.
Can I come to SJF if I’m not Catholic?
SJF was founded primarily to educate Catholic young people living in Medway. However, we are proud to educate pupils of other faiths and those of no faith in addition to our Catholic pupils. We believe that our Gospel values are relevant and important to everybody, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Do I have to take part in religious services if I’m not Catholic?
We expect that all members of our community will attend Masses and other religious events. However, if you are not Catholic, you are not expected to pray; we just ask that students are respectful of others who are.
What are Gospel values?
The Gospel values are derived from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. While they are obviously very important to Catholics, we also believe that these values help everyone to be their best selves. The Gospel Values are:
- Honesty
- Compassion
- Trust
- Equality
- Forgiveness
- Mercy
- Community
- Servanthood
