CATHOLIC LIFE
& PUPIL LEADERSHIP
SERVICE
CHARITY
CONTEMPLATION
PUPIL LEADERSHIP
IN OUR CATHOLIC LIFE
While quiet observation and contemplation have a valuable role to play in spiritual formation, St Philip's sets great store in facilitating and encouraging its pupils to engage in their faith on a daily level. As a result, pupils contribute whole-heartedly to the Catholic life of the school and they do so in ways that are rich and varied.
Service​
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The Schola is a celebrated and valued part of St Philip's and every boy is given the opportunity to audition for membership in their time at the school. Led by the senior year group in general - and the Captain of Music in particular - the pupils sing a rich and challenging repertoire of choral music from Handel and Mozart to Byrd and Mendelssohn.
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A team of dedicated altar servers practices weekly in order to lead the school's collective worship. In 2025, a senior pupil recognised that new recruits were vital to the future of the team and made a compelling presentation in school assembly to encourage younger members of the school to consider joining the team and training to become senior altar servers. Numbers swelled and the tradition of senior members of the team training their younger counterparts is maintained.
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Pupils volunteer and are organised into a roster of readers of the Gospel in whole school prayers and on formal liturgical occasions. They are also given time each week to write bidding prayers, which are read either in class assemblies or in whole-school assemblies.​
Charity​
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St Philip's is proud to support charities local and national.
Carney's Community Centre in Battersea assists young people in the area to build relationships, personal resilience, and physical fitness, and provides pathways into future employment.
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In January 2026, our boys - via the pupil council - chose to also support Stella Maris, which is an international organisation that provides chaplaincy services to people who spend long periods of time at sea.
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While school events are popular avenues for raising funds, boys regularly create their own charitable initiatives. In the past, pupils have organised table-tennis tournaments, book sales, and cake sales. In the academic year 2025-2026 one pupil wrote a book that profiled sharks and sold copies in his free time near his home. Inspired by this, a group of year 7 and 8 pupils created a book on birds and, having bound it professionally, sold it to fellow pupils and parents.
Contemplation​
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We encourage the boys to reflect on the Catholic values of the school, and aim for them to respond those around them with thought and consideration. Pupils nominate one another for commendations, often for small or large acts of kindness, helpfulness and/or consideration, and these are announced during morning prayers. The nominees are celebrated and it is a popular feature of morning assembly.​
