Catholic Social Teaching at St Teresa’s
Catholic Social Teaching is rooted in the belief that God has a loving plan for creation — a plan to build His Kingdom of peace, love and justice.
It teaches us that every person is made in the image of God and has inherent dignity. This means our faith is not only expressed through prayer and worship, but also through the way we live our lives, treat others and care for the world around us.
At St Teresa’s, we believe that we are all called to work for the common good and to recognise one another as brothers and sisters. This shared responsibility is at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching.
Living Catholic Social Teaching in School
The Catholic Church identifies seven key principles of Catholic Social Teaching, and these are embedded throughout life at St Teresa’s. Children encounter these principles through:
- the whole curriculum offer
- prayer and liturgy
- special events and charitable activities
- everyday interactions and relationships within our school community
Children are encouraged to put their faith into action and to reflect on how their learning helps them to live out Gospel values in practical ways.
Collective Worship and Faith in Action
Catholic Social Teaching is regularly referenced in collective worship, helping pupils to make meaningful connections between Jesus’ teachings and their own lives today. Inspired by the words of Pope Francis, we encourage our children to understand that love must be shown through action and that everyone has a role to play in building a more just and peaceful world.
Supporting Children’s Understanding
To support children’s learning, we use CAFOD’s Catholic Social Teaching resources:
- Animal mascots are used in EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Lower Key Stage 2
- CST ‘keys’ are introduced in Upper Key Stage 2 to deepen understanding and encourage independent reflection
Through these resources, children develop a clear understanding of how their faith calls them to serve others, care for creation and stand up for justice.
