At St Clare’s, Catholic Social Teaching helps our children understand that faith is not only something we learn about; it is something we are called to live. It gives children a clear way of understanding how the teachings of Jesus should influence the way we treat other people, care for our community and look after God’s world.

Our Catholic Social Teaching is closely connected to our Mission Statement, “With Jesus, we learn to love and love to learn,” and to our school values of Respect, Resilience, Honesty, Love, Compassion and Inclusion. Our school posters make these connections explicit, helping children to see how Catholic teaching can be lived through their everyday choices and actions.

At the heart of Catholic Social Teaching is the belief that every person is created and loved by God. At St Clare’s, we teach children that everyone is important and that every person should be treated with kindness and respect. This principle is closely linked to our values of Respect and Love.

Children live this out when they listen carefully to one another, use kind words, respect differences, welcome new children and make sure that others feel valued. It can be seen when a child notices that someone is alone and invites them to join in, or when children disagree while still treating one another with dignity.

The Common Good teaches children that we should work together so that everyone has the opportunity to flourish. Our poster connects this with community, service, Inclusion and Love, reminding children that we all have a part to play in making our school and local community a better place.

Children demonstrate this when they work cooperatively, share resources, help to keep their classroom tidy, carry out responsibilities and think about what is best for the whole group rather than only themselves. They may help younger pupils, contribute to school events or take part in activities that support the wider community.

Solidarity means recognising that we belong to one human family and should stand alongside people who are experiencing difficulty. At St Clare’s, children are taught that we do not leave people out and that we stand with those who may be sad, lonely or struggling. This connects directly with Inclusion, Compassion and Love.

We see solidarity when children comfort someone who is upset, include someone who has been left out, help a classmate who is finding something difficult or stand up for someone who is being treated unfairly. It helps children understand that compassion involves action as well as feeling concern for another person.

Our Catholic Social Teaching also helps children understand responsibility. The school poster describes subsidiarity through shared responsibility, making good choices and taking responsibility for our own actions. It is linked particularly to Honesty, Resilience and Love.

For our children, this means learning to make increasingly responsible choices for themselves. We see it when a child admits that they have made a mistake, tells the truth, apologises and tries to make things right. It is also seen when children persevere with a challenge, take responsibility for their learning and carry out roles within the classroom or school community.

Stewardship reminds us that the world is God’s gift and that we have a responsibility to care for it. Our poster encourages children to look after plants, animals, water and the Earth and connects this responsibility with Love.

Children put this into practice when they avoid unnecessary waste, recycle, conserve water, care for plants and wildlife and help to keep the school environment clean and pleasant. We want children to understand that caring for creation is an expression of gratitude to God and of love for other people, including future generations.

Catholic Social Teaching teaches that work has dignity and that people should be treated fairly. Our school poster reminds children that everyone’s work matters and links this principle with our value of Respect.

In school, children begin to understand this by respecting the contribution of every member of our community. They learn to appreciate the work of teachers, support staff, office staff, cleaners, midday staff and others who help our school each day. Children show this principle when they say thank you, treat people courteously, take care of shared spaces and recognise that every role contributes to the wellbeing of our community.

Jesus showed particular concern for those who were poor, vulnerable or in need. Our Catholic Social Teaching poster expresses this in child-friendly language: we put others first, especially those who need help most. It also encourages children to give, share and support charities, linking this principle with Compassion, Love and Inclusion.

Children live this out when they share what they have, support fundraising or charitable giving, pray for people in need and recognise when someone may require additional help or friendship. Through these experiences, children learn that helping others is not simply an occasional charitable act; it is part of our responsibility as followers of Jesus.

Catholic Social Teaching in Everyday Life

At St Clare’s, we want Catholic Social Teaching to become part of the language and life of our school. Children learn that Respect, Resilience, Honesty, Love, Compassion and Inclusion are not separate from our Catholic faith. They are practical ways of living it.

We see Catholic Social Teaching in action when a child includes someone who is lonely, tells the truth after making a mistake, keeps going when learning is difficult, comforts someone who is upset, cares for the environment, thanks those who serve our community or gives generously to help somebody in need.

These everyday actions help children to develop character and understand that following Jesus means recognising the dignity of others, accepting responsibility, standing alongside those who need support and using our gifts to contribute to the Common Good.

In this way, Catholic Social Teaching helps our children to understand the deeper meaning of our Mission:

“With Jesus, we learn to love and love to learn.”

 

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI IS OUR ROLE MODEL IN FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING