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Catholic Social Teaching

 Catholic Social Teaching at St Edmund’s

 

At St Edmund’s, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is at the heart of our mission: “Through Christ we learn.” CST shapes how we pray, how we learn, and how we act in the world. It ensures our pupils understand that faith is not just what we believe, but how we live.

 

Rooted in Love

We follow the Caritas “Rooted in Love” programme, developed with the Diocese of Westminster. Each half-term, pupils focus on one CST theme such as Human Dignity, Solidarity, Care for Creation, or The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. These themes are woven into RE lessons, assemblies, prayer, and daily school life.

 

Pupil Choice and Action

 

At the start of every autumn term, each class chooses a charity to support for the year. Together, pupils discuss and vote on causes close to their hearts — whether local, national, or global. They reflect on:

  • Why does this charity matter?

  • Who are we helping?

  • How does this connect to the Gospel and CST?

This ensures every fundraising project is rooted in pupil voice and theological reflection. Children take pride in their choice and are motivated to plan creative fundraising events that make a real difference.

 

Living CST in Our School

 

 Our pupils act for justice and compassion at every level:

 

  • Local: Classes support food banks, parish initiatives, and local hospices. Projects include the Rudolph Run for St Joseph’s Hospice and harvest donations. (Insert food bank photos)

  • National: Pupils contribute to campaigns such as Children in Need, Young Minds, and Macmillan, understanding that they are part of a national community of action. (Insert cake sale / fundraiser photos)

  • Global: Through CAFOD, Mission Together, and Caritas, pupils learn about solidarity with the poor and vulnerable worldwide. Projects like the Year 5 Caritas fundraiser show how small actions can have a global impact. (Insert Caritas project photos)

Caritas Ambassadors: Faith in Action

 

Our Caritas Ambassadors play a vital role in leading Catholic Social Teaching across the school. They not only help shape assemblies and support charity events, but also design and deliver their own fundraising projects, showing what it means to put faith into action.

This year, the Ambassadors planned and ran a Caritas community fundraising project. Together, they:

  • Reflected on CST principles (Dignity of the Human Person and Option for the Poor).

  • Researched local needs and decided which cause to support.

  • Organised and promoted the event themselves — making posters, speaking in assemblies, and motivating their peers.

  • Raised an impressive amount of money to support both local families in need and wider Caritas outreach.

Through this project, our Ambassadors learned that small acts of love and service can have a big impact. It was not just about raising funds, but about living the Gospel message and inspiring others.

Their leadership is a shining example of how pupils at St Edmund’s are empowered to be agents of change — locally, nationally, and globally.

Please find a link to Caritas Ambassadors website below:

Caritas Ambassadors

St Edmund’s Fundraising Campaigns – Making a Difference Together

 

At St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that even small acts of kindness can create big ripples of change. This year, through the generosity of our children, families and staff, we have supported several important charities — helping communities locally and across the world.

 

CAFOD – Building a Better World


Our school raised £52 for CAFOD, supporting projects like Khera’s community in Kenya. Donations help families receive hardy chickens so they can earn a living, buy essentials, and send their children to school.

 

Catholic Children’s Society – Supporting Local Families


We also raised £60.70 to help disadvantaged children and families in our local area, providing vital support and hope where it is needed most.

 

St Joseph’s Hospice – Caring for Our Community

Through our fundraising, we contributed £454.60 to St Joseph’s Hospice. This helps them provide high-quality care for people across East London living with life-limiting conditions and support for their loved ones.

 

These achievements are a reflection of our school’s Gospel values in action — showing compassion, generosity, and community spirit.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed. Together, we are living out our mission to make the world a fairer, kinder place.

Pupil Leadership and CST

 

CST is not just taught — it is lived through leadership across the school. Our ambassadors embody CST principles and inspire their peers:

  • Prime Ministers / Head Boy & Girl – lead pupil voice (Human Dignity, Common Good).

  • School Council (MPs) – promote fairness and representation (Solidarity).

  • Digital Ambassadors – encourage safe, responsible tech use (Dignity of the Person).

  • Equality & Inclusion Ambassadors – champion justice and respect (Option for the Poor, Solidarity).

  • Environmental Ambassadors – lead Laudato Si’ projects (Care for Creation).

  • Sports & Play Ambassadors – promote teamwork, fairness, and joy (Participation).

These roles complement our Caritas Ambassadors and Peace and Justice Chaplaincy Team, who ensure CST values are central in worship, assemblies, and outreach.

Reflection in Prayer and Worship

CST themes are revisited in Celebration of the Word assemblies, where Gospel, mission, and CST principles meet. Pupils are challenged with open-ended theological questions such as:

  • How does God call us to live justly?

  • What does it mean to see Christ in the poor?

  • How can we use our talents to serve others?

Through Catholic Social Teaching, our pupils grow as compassionate leaders, courageous advocates, and disciples of Christ in action.

The Liturgical Year at St Edmund’s

“The mission of the Christian in the world is a mission for all, a mission of service, which excludes no-one; it requires great generosity and in particular the gaze and heart turned heavenward to invoke the Lord's help.”
— Pope Francis

At St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, the life of the Church is lived joyfully through the Liturgical Year. Pupils, staff, and families journey together through the great feasts and seasons, celebrating the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our entrance, corridors, classrooms, and shared spaces reflect the Church’s calendar with prayer tables, displays, and seasonal colours.

 

Autumn Term

  • Prayer tables: Green cloths mark the start of Ordinary Time in the academic year.

  • Harvest Thanksgiving: KS2 celebrate a Harvest Mass in the parish church, while EYFS and KS1 hold a Harvest service in school. Produce is collected and donated to local food banks as part of our Catholic Social Teaching.

  • Month of the Rosary (October): Every child receives their own rosary beads. Each class prays the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries across the month. KS2 pupils attend a lunchtime Rosary Club.

  • Advent: Prayer tables turn purple. Each classroom lights their Advent wreath. Pupils prepare spiritually for Christmas through daily prayer, reflection, and charitable action.

  • Christmas: EYFS and KS1 present a Nativity play in school, while KS2 lead a Carol Service with dramatization of the Nativity at St Edmund’s Parish Church, with parents warmly invited.

 

Spring Term

  • Prayer tables: Gold cloths for Christmas and Epiphany, then green for Ordinary Time after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

  • Epiphany & Holy Family: Celebrated at parish Mass if during term time.

  • Lent: Purple cloths mark the season of repentance. KS2 and staff receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our parish priest, Fr Christopher Silva, in school.

  • Stations of the Cross: KS2 pray the Stations in St Edmund’s Church, led by Fr Christopher.

  • Holy Week and Easter: Although Easter often falls in the holidays, the whole school prepares through a 4-week RE topic, special assemblies, and displays. EYFS enjoy an Easter bonnet parade, and Year 4 lead a Passion Service at the parish church.

Summer Term

  • Prayer tables: Gold for Eastertide until Pentecost, then green for Ordinary Time.

  • First Holy Communion: Year 3 children (and some from other year groups) make their First Holy Communion at St Edmund’s Parish. The school community joins in a Parish Thanksgiving Mass, followed by a celebration in the school hall.

  • May – Month of Mary: Year 5 lead a Marian service for KS2 in the parish church, and Year 1 lead KS1 in a Marian service in school. KS2 pray the Angelus daily; KS1 pray the Hail Mary at noon.

  • Feast Days: The Ascension, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi are taught in class through RE topics and marked with prayer and liturgy. Years 2–6 take part in Eucharistic Adoration for Corpus Christi. The Feast of St Peter and St Paul is celebrated with a whole-school Mass.

  • Leavers’ Celebrations: Year 6 pupils are honoured with a special Leavers’ Mass in the parish church, followed by assemblies and a farewell celebration.

Ordinary Time

In Ordinary Time, we use green to represent life and growth. Pupils are reminded that every day is an opportunity to walk with Christ and live out our mission: “Through Christ, we learn.”

Celebration of the Word – Monday Gospel Assembly

 

Every Monday morning, our school community gathers for a Celebration of the Word Assembly, led by our Peace and Justice pupil leadership team.

Rooted in the Sunday Gospel and supported by the Wednesday Word, these assemblies help pupils reflect on the Word of God and apply it to their daily lives.

Each assembly includes:

  • Our School Mission and Patron Saint Prayer as the opening.

  • A reading of the Sunday Gospel, explained by the Peace and Justice team.

  • A Word of the Week and a Weekly Mission, offering children practical ways to live out the Gospel message.

  • An open-ended reflection question to carry into the week.

  • Showcasing of the Home Prayer Book by a different class in rotation, strengthening the home–school link in faith.

This Celebration of the Word sets the spiritual tone for the week and provides the framework for:

  • Classroom reflection sessions later in the week.

  • Pupil-led class assemblies, which follow the same Gospel structure.

 

Daily Prayer and Worship at St Edmund’s

 

Our prayer and liturgy timetable ensures that pupils experience prayer, worship, and reflection every day of the school week:

  • Monday: Whole-school Celebration of the Word assembly led by the Peace and Justice team.

  • Tuesday: Hymn practice / choir worship linked to the liturgical year.

  • Wednesday: Pupil-led Celebration of the Word in classrooms, planned and delivered by children.

  • Thursday: Class-led Celebration of the Word assembly (rotation), with parents often invited.

  • Friday: Whole-school SPIRIT Celebration Assembly, linking Gospel values, CST principles, and our school mission.

Daily classroom prayer is also offered at the start of the day, before lunch, and at home time, with seasonal prayers (Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Angelus) embedded across the Liturgical Year.

St Edmund’s Christian Choir

 

Our St Edmund’s Christian Choir is open to children in Years 4–6, with auditions held in the summer term of Year 3. The choir meets every Friday after school (3:45–4:45pm) for rehearsals filled with joy, teamwork, and worship.

Led by Mrs Sanchez, our choir rehearses hymns, prepares music for upcoming liturgical celebrations, submits entries for national competitions, and most importantly, celebrates the gift of music together.

 

Performances and Witness

 

Throughout the school year, the choir shares their voices at a variety of events, including:

  • The Young Voices Concert at London’s O2 Arena.

  • The Barnardo’s Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

  • School events such as curriculum evenings, fairs, and playground performances.

  • Church liturgies and parish celebrations.

  • Community events such as local Christmas markets.

In every performance, the choir witnesses to our mission “Through Christ we learn”, using music as a way to praise God and inspire others.

 

 

Marking the Liturgical Calendar and Special Events

 

All Souls Day

Every year, the whole school attends Mass at St Edmund’s Parish Church to mark All Souls Day. Together, we remember and pray for those who have died, especially our loved ones.

Remembrance Day

On Remembrance Day, we honour all who gave their lives in the service of others. As a community, we:

  • Hold a silence across the school at 11:00am.

  • Reflect on the sacrifice of Christ, who laid down his life so that we may have eternal life.

  • Create artwork and crafts in each class linked to themes of sacrifice, peace, and hope.

  • Gather in the school hall for a whole-school Celebration of the Word, where prayers are offered for peace.

  • End with a moving balloon release, where pupils write personal messages of thanksgiving and remembrance. Balloons rise to the sky as a sign of hope and prayer for those who have gone before us.

 

Prayer for Peace:

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict, and ask that God may give us peace:
For the service men and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered by and known to God;
May God give peace.
God give peace. Amen.

 

Christ the King

On the final Sunday of Ordinary Time, before Advent begins, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. This feast reminds us that Jesus is not a ruler of power and domination, but a shepherd-king who knows us personally and protects us in love.

Each year, St Edmund’s pupils and staff attend a special parish Mass for Christ the King Sunday, giving thanks that Christ is the true King and Lord of the Universe.

The Nativity

 

Our annual Nativity performance brings the true message of Christmas to life for our pupils, parents, families, and friends.

Each year, Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 delight their audiences with a retelling of the story of the very first Christmas through scripture, verse, song, and dance.

The performance reminds us that Christmas is not only a time of joy and celebration but also a time to reflect on the humble birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

We are always proud of the children’s faith, talent, and courage as they perform so beautifully and share the message of hope and peace that lies at the heart of our Catholic mission.

 

CAFOD Assembly 20/10/2025

 Learning About the Power of Water 

 

At St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, we were delighted to welcome a CAFOD volunteer who delivered a thought-provoking assembly about the importance of clean water and the lives of families in Ethiopia.

CAFOD – the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development – is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It works alongside communities around the world to fight poverty, protect our planet, and enable everyone to live with dignity and hope.

 

What the children learnt

During the session, pupils explored CAFOD’s six main areas of work:

  1. Responding in emergencies – bringing aid and relief where it’s most needed.

  2. Tackling the climate crisis – protecting our common home.

  3. Supporting women and girls – empowering equal opportunities.

  4. Defending human rights – standing up for justice and fairness.

  5. Working for peace – promoting dialogue and reconciliation.

  6. Standing with communities to overcome poverty – helping people to build brighter futures.

 

Through stories and visuals from Ethiopia, children learnt just how valuable clean water is for life, health, and education. They discovered how CAFOD projects help families in remote areas to build water tanks, reducing illness and freeing children to attend school.

 

Faith in action

 

The assembly linked beautifully with our school’s mission to “Love God, Love One Another, and Love Learning.”
Pupils reflected on the Gospel message of compassion and global responsibility:

“Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” – John 7:38

Our children left inspired to continue their fundraising efforts and to care more deeply for the world around them — living out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly Human Dignity, Solidarity, and Care for Creation.

 

A joyful and reflective morning

It was a joyful experience filled with curiosity, empathy, and gratitude. Staff and pupils alike were moved by the reminder that small actions here can create lasting change across the world.

The Season of Advent

 

The season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on December 24th. It has a twofold character:

  • We prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

  • We also look ahead in hope and expectation for Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time.

For these reasons, Advent is a season of devout and joyful expectation.

At St Edmund’s, we mark Advent through:

  • Purple cloths on prayer tables, symbolising waiting, preparation, and importance.

  • Advent wreaths in every classroom and in our entrance, with weekly candle lighting and prayer.

  • Daily prayer and reflection, helping children prepare their hearts for Christ.

  • Advent liturgies and assemblies, reminding us that Jesus is the light who comes into the world.

  • Acts of charity, such as food bank collections and fundraising for families in need, linking Advent preparation with Catholic Social Teaching.

  • Nativity celebrations: EYFS and KS1 present a Nativity drama in school, while KS2 lead a Carol Service in the parish church, with families invited to join.

Through these traditions, pupils learn that Advent is not simply a countdown to Christmas but a sacred time of watching, waiting, and preparing for the coming of Christ.