Catholic Social Teaching helps us understand how our faith shapes the way we live and act. It is rooted in Scripture, the writings of popes and saints, and the witness of Christians through the centuries.

At St Mary’s, we work closely with Caritas Westminster and use their resources to support our teaching of the six key themes of Catholic Social Teaching:

• Human Dignity

• Community & Participation

• Care for Creation

• Dignity in Work

• Option for the Poor

• Solidarity & Peace

These values run through all areas of school life. Our teachers look for opportunities to connect learning across the curriculum to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, helping children see how faith is lived out in everyday life and in the wider world.

 

Human Dignity

At St Mary’s, we believe that every person is uniquely created in God’s image and deserves to be valued, respected and loved. Rooted in our Catholic mission, we celebrate the individuality, gifts and talents of every child, fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment where all can flourish. Through our curriculum, pastoral care and commitment to supporting vulnerable pupils and families, we ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging and worth. Our school values of love, respect and community inspire pupils to recognise the dignity of others, embrace differences and treat everyone with compassion, kindness and fairness.

Community & Participation

At St Mary’s, we nurture a strong sense of belonging, recognising that every member of our school, parish and wider community has a valuable role to play. Rooted in our Catholic mission, pupils are encouraged to actively participate in school life through collective worship, parish celebrations, pupil leadership groups, charitable initiatives and community volunteering. Through opportunities such as our Eco-Warriors, RE Chaplains and school council, children develop their voice, take responsibility and contribute positively to the common good. These experiences strengthen our values of faith, service and community, empowering pupils to recognise that, as members of God's family, we are called to work together, support one another and make a meaningful difference to the world around us.

Care for Creation

At St Mary’s, we inspire our children to recognise the beauty of God's creation and their responsibility to protect and preserve our common home. Guided by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, pupils are encouraged to become responsible stewards of the environment through practical initiatives such as Eco-Warriors, litter picking along the River Thames, local park clean-ups, recycling projects and environmental learning experiences. Through these opportunities, children develop an understanding of sustainability, biodiversity and the impact of their choices on the world around them. Rooted in our Catholic values of respect, service and community, we empower pupils to put their faith into action by caring for God's creation for present and future generations.

Dignity in Work

At St Mary’s, we teach our children that all work has dignity and that everyone deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and kindness. Through careers education, our IntoUniversity programme, pupil leadership opportunities and community volunteering, children learn to value the contributions of others and recognise their own God-given talents. We celebrate the dedication of all members of our school community, encouraging pupils to appreciate the importance of service, teamwork and using their gifts to contribute positively to society.

Option for the Poor

At St Mary’s, we teach our children to follow Jesus’ example by showing compassion, generosity and care for those most in need. Through initiatives such as our Catholic Children’s Society Lenten Appeal, CAFOD fundraising and Harvest collections for the Holy Trinity Women’s Shelter, pupils actively support vulnerable individuals and families both locally and globally. These experiences deepen their understanding of Catholic Social Teaching, encouraging them to recognise inequality, uphold human dignity and put their faith into action through meaningful acts of service and kindness.

Solidarity & Peace

At St Mary’s, we celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our school community, teaching our children that we are all part of one human family, united by God's love. Through International Evening, multicultural celebrations, global learning, collective worship and charitable initiatives such as CAFOD, pupils develop respect, empathy and understanding for people of different cultures, faiths and backgrounds. Inspired by Jesus’ example of love and reconciliation, children are encouraged to become peacemakers, challenge injustice and stand in solidarity with those experiencing hardship or conflict. Rooted in our Catholic values of love, respect and community, we empower pupils to build friendships, celebrate differences and contribute to a more peaceful and just world.

Year 6 – Learning About Solidarity and Peace

Our Year 6 pupils took part in a thought-provoking lesson on Solidarity and Peace. The children engaged in deep discussion, sharing their ideas and reflections on what these values mean in today’s world.

They offered some truly insightful responses:

“Peace and solidarity is very important to us because there is much war going on right now. If we worked together we would be able to live in a peaceful world.” – Y6 Student

 

“I think peace and solidarity makes the world a happier place and that’s what Jesus wanted us to do.” – y6 student

It was inspiring to see how our Year 6 pupils connected their learning to the wider world, as well as to the teachings of Jesus.