We are a Catholic school which means that the tradition of the Catholic Church surrounds all we do. For example, daily prayers that all take part in follow the Catholic calendar and we celebrate the Mass together as the ultimate form of prayer.
Unlike some Catholic schools, our school was founded not by the local Church but by the La Sainte Union Sisters. The LSU – or Holy Union Sisters – were formed by Fr Jean-Baptiste Debrabant in the nineteenth century and they opened their first school in England in 1858. Their schools were founded to serve the local community and to prepare young women to be part of a world that is always changing.
This means that the St Anne’s community is made up of people from many backgrounds and from many faiths and none. We are united by our shared values, not divided by our differences. We come together and want to empower each other to live life to the full.
You can read more about us in our vision statement here and the history of St Anne’s here.
Our partnership with our sister LSU Catholic schools in England and Ireland is an important part of our identities. We value the opportunity to meet regularly to spend time reflecting on our distinctive LSU charism and shared vision and mission. We enjoy sharing information, discussing key issues and formulating shared plans. We hold collaborative events throughout the year involving interactions with Sisters, staff and students. These give us a rich understanding of our foundation and of our membership of a wider LSU family. Maintaining these traditions and rituals is important to us as they make us who we are and keep our charism at the heart of our school communities. Shared events include Debrabant Day in October, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December, marking the Death of Fr Debrabant in February, and the Feast of the Annunciation in March.
Our sister LSU schools are:
