St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Click here to view our Catholic Social Teaching School Overview

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we want to help parents understand why Catholic Social Teaching, often called CST, is an important and valued part of your child’s education. Catholic Social Teaching is the Church’s way of helping us understand how to live out the message of Jesus in everyday life. It is based on the belief that every person is created and loved by God and that our faith should guide the way we treat others, make decisions, and care for the world around us.

Catholic Social Teaching gives children a practical way of understanding the command of Jesus to love one another. It teaches them that faith is not something limited to prayer or Religious Education lessons, but something lived in kindness, justice, respect and compassion. CST helps our pupils recognise that they each have a responsibility to help build a fairer and more loving world.

The core principles of Catholic Social Teaching are introduced in simple and age-appropriate ways so that children can understand them and apply them at school and at home. They learn that every person has dignity and worth because they are made in the image of God. They explore the importance of family and community and begin to see how their actions affect others. They learn that we must pay special attention to those who are poor, vulnerable or struggling and that we are called to stand in solidarity with people who suffer injustice. Children are taught that the world is God’s creation and that we must act as good stewards of the earth. They also learn that every person has rights, such as the right to feel safe and respected, and that we have a responsibility to protect these rights for others.

At St Mary’s, Catholic Social Teaching is not taught as a separate subject but is woven through all aspects of school life. It influences the way we behave, the way we treat one another, and the way we encourage children to respond to real situations in the world. You will see it lived out through the work of our Mini Vinnies, through charity fundraising, through caring for creation projects and through discussions in class about fairness, kindness and responsibility. It shapes our worship, our curriculum and our relationships with families and the parish community.

Parents play a vital role in helping children understand and live out Catholic Social Teaching. Every time you encourage your child to share, to forgive, to care for someone in need, to respect others, or to appreciate the beauty of creation, you are helping them grow in this Catholic tradition. Our termly RE newsletters also support you by explaining what your child will be learning and highlighting themes from the Church’s year. These updates can help you talk with your child about the principles we are exploring in school and reinforce these lessons at home.

Catholic Social Teaching helps children understand that love is active. It asks them not just to know what is right, but to do what is right. By working together as parents, school and parish, we help our children grow into young people who truly live the message at the heart of our mission: Love One Another.