Catholic Social Teaching

At Our Lady School, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a vital part of our ethos and curriculum. It helps our children understand how their faith calls them to act with justice, compassion, and love in the world around them. CST is not just something we learn, it’s something we live, every day.

What Is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Church that guides how we live out our faith in society. It is rooted in Scripture, the life of Jesus, and the Church’s tradition of caring for the dignity of every human being. CST teaches us that we are all part of one human family, and that we have a responsibility to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable.

Quite simply, it is ‘Faith in action’

The Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

At Our Lady School, we explore the key principles of CST through our RE lessons, assemblies, and wider curriculum. These include:

• Human Dignity – Every person is made in the image of God and deserves respect.
• Solidarity – We are one global family; we stand together in love and unity.
• The Common Good – We work for the wellbeing of all, not just ourselves.
• Option for the Poor – We prioritise care for those who are most in need.
• Care for Creation – We are stewards of the Earth and must protect it.
• Participation – Everyone has a right to be heard and to contribute to society.
• Rights and Responsibilities – We uphold the rights of others and take responsibility for our actions.

Rooted in Love – The Caritas Programme

To bring these principles to life, we use the Caritas 'Rooted in Love' programme across the school. This programme helps children understand CST in practical and age-appropriate ways. Through stories, discussions, creative activities, and real-world projects, pupils learn how they can make a difference in their communities and beyond.

Each year group explores different themes linked to CST, encouraging reflection, action, and a deeper understanding of how love and justice go hand in hand. The programme also supports our school values - kind, safe, respectful, and reflective -by helping children see how these values connect to their faith and their role in the world.

Living CST in Our School Community

Catholic Social Teaching is woven into the fabric of school life at Our Lady School. Whether we are supporting charitable causes, caring for our environment, learning about global issues, or simply showing kindness to one another, we are living out the Gospel message of love and service.

Through CST, we help our children grow into compassionate, thoughtful, and active citizens, rooted in faith and ready to build a better world.