Peace and Justice Society: Empowering Leaders of Tomorrow
At St Edmund’s, our Peace and Justice Society is a pupil leadership team formed of Year 5 children who guide the school in living out our mission: “Through Christ we learn.” They are confident, independent leaders who put faith into action through prayer, service, and justice.
Leading Worship
Each week, the Peace and Justice Society lead our Monday Celebration of the Word Assembly, using the structured steps of Collective Worship:
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We Gather – Creating a prayerful space with liturgical colours, music, and our school Mission Prayer.
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We Listen – Sharing the Sunday Gospel and inviting reflection on its meaning for our lives.
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We Respond – Leading prayer, song, and moments of silence, or suggesting acts of kindness and service.
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We Go Forth – Inspiring the school to live out the Gospel in daily life through weekly missions and challenges.
In addition to assemblies, the team visits classrooms to guide weekly Collective Worship so that every child engages actively in prayer and reflection.
Duties of the Peace and Justice Society
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Plan and lead Monday Gospel assemblies.
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Guide weekly Collective Worship sessions in classrooms.
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Promote justice, inclusivity, and compassion across the school.
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Organise charitable initiatives at local, national, and global levels.
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Collaborate with our parish, community, and the Diocese of Westminster.
Our Pledge
The Peace and Justice Society promises to:
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Pray regularly for justice and peace.
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Stand with the poor and vulnerable.
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Respect and celebrate diversity.
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Care for God’s Creation.
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Promote human dignity.
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Inspire others to live with charity, justice, and peace.
Why It Matters
The Peace and Justice Society is more than a leadership group – it is a way for pupils to live the Gospel. By leading worship, service, and charity, they remind us all that peace and justice are not only values to learn about but a way of life to be lived daily.
Caritas Ambassadors: Living the Gospel in Service
The Caritas Ambassadors are student leaders dedicated to making faith tangible through social action. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, they take on projects to address social justice needs both locally and globally, encouraging the school community to act with compassion and generosity.
Our Duties Are:
- Learn and share Catholic Social Teaching with the school community.
- Identify social justice needs and lead projects to address them.
- Raise awareness about local and global challenges.
- Organise and inspire charitable initiatives.
- Reflect on faith and action through prayer and worship.
- Foster inclusivity and respect in all aspects of school life.
Through their work, the Caritas Ambassadors demonstrate how faith and action come together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Caritas Ambassadors’ Inspiring Visit to Westminster Cathedral
At St. Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, prayer and service are central to our ethos, and this was beautifully reflected during the recent Caritas Ambassadors Festival at Westminster Cathedral. Our Caritas Ambassadors had the privilege of participating in this special event, which brought together students from across the Diocese to celebrate their faith and service.
The festival, held on Tuesday, 21st May, was led by Bishop Paul McAleenan, the Bishop for Caritas, and included a moving liturgy in the magnificent setting of Westminster Cathedral. The service was a time of prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving, recognising the incredible work of Caritas Ambassadors in promoting justice, compassion, and faith in action.
A Celebration of Prayer and Service
The day was a powerful reminder of how prayer inspires acts of service and leadership in our ambassadors:
- Prayerful Liturgy: The liturgy celebrated the achievements of our ambassadors and their commitment to living out the Gospel values.
- Faith in Action: The event highlighted the importance of prayer in driving acts of kindness and service within the school and wider community.
- Spiritual Growth: The sacred setting of Westminster Cathedral provided a profound opportunity for our ambassadors to reflect on their faith and mission.
A Day to Remember
In addition to the liturgy, our ambassadors had the chance to explore the awe-inspiring Cathedral, learning about its rich history and spiritual significance. The visit strengthened their understanding of Catholic tradition and deepened their connection to the wider Church community.
Living Our Prayer Ethos
At St. Edmund’s, events like this reaffirm our commitment to nurturing faith-filled leaders who embody prayer and service in their daily lives. We are immensely proud of our Caritas Ambassadors for their dedication and representation of our school’s values.
Let us continue to pray for our ambassadors as they take their experiences from this inspiring day into their ongoing work of faith in action.
Please find the link to Caritas Ambassadors website below:
Pupil Leadership at St Edmund’s
At St Edmund’s, pupil leadership is an essential part of our mission “Through Christ we learn.” Leadership opportunities give our children a voice, empower them to live out Catholic Social Teaching (CST), and prepare them to be responsible disciples who make a difference locally, nationally, and globally.
Caritas Ambassadors: Faith in Action
Our Caritas Ambassadors lead on Catholic Social Teaching across the school. They shape assemblies, support charity events, and design and deliver their own fundraising projects.
This year, they planned and ran a Caritas community fundraising project by:
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Reflecting on CST principles (Dignity of the Human Person, Option for the Poor).
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Researching local needs and choosing a cause to support.
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Organising and promoting the event — making posters, speaking in assemblies, and motivating peers.
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Raising funds for 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. Their leadership is a shining example of pupils as agents of change.
Peace and Justice Society: Leaders of Worship and Service
Our Peace and Justice Society, made up of Year 5 pupils, leads the school in prayer, worship, and action:
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Every Monday, they guide the Celebration of the Word assembly, following the steps of Collective Worship (Gather – Listen – Respond – Go Forth).
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They introduce the Word of the Week and a Weekly Mission to inspire Gospel living.
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They visit classes weekly to lead Collective Worship, ensuring every child is engaged in reflection and prayer.
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They promote justice, inclusivity, and compassion by linking worship with practical action.
This group ensures that CST values are not only taught but lived daily in worship and service.
Other Pupil Leadership Roles
CST is lived through a wide range of ambassador roles across the school, with each linked to a principle of Catholic Social Teaching:
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Prime Ministers / Head Boy & Girl – lead pupil voice (Human Dignity, Common Good).
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School Council (MPs) – promote fairness and representation (Solidarity).
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Digital Ambassadors – encourage safe, responsible use of technology (Dignity of the Person).
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Equality & Inclusion Ambassadors – champion justice and respect (Option for the Poor, Solidarity).
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Environmental Ambassadors – lead Laudato Si’ projects (Care for Creation).
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Sports & Play Ambassadors – promote teamwork, fairness, and participation (Participation).
Reflection in Prayer and Worship
All pupil leaders contribute to the Catholic life of the school by ensuring CST themes are revisited in Celebration of the Word assemblies and class worship. Pupils are challenged with open-ended theological questions such as:
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How does God call us to live justly?
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What does it mean to see Christ in the poor?
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How can we use our talents to serve others?
Through this integrated approach, leadership and Catholic Social Teaching go hand in hand. Our pupils grow as compassionate leaders, courageous advocates, and disciples of Christ in action.
“Care for Our Common Home — Laudato Si’ in Action”
Laudato Si’ – Caring for Our Common Home
On 18 June 2015, Pope Francis published his encyclical Laudato Si’. An encyclical is a letter written by the Pope to the whole Church. In this letter, Pope Francis reflects on the damage being done to our planet and calls on “every person living on this planet” to take responsibility for protecting creation — our common home.
Laudato Si’ addresses urgent issues such as:
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Pollution and climate change
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Scarcity of clean water
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Loss of biodiversity
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Decline in the quality of human life
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Over-consumption and waste
Pope Francis reminds us that “How we live matters”. Creation is God’s gift, entrusted to us not only for today but for future generations. Caring for our world is a sign of faith, hope, and love.
Eco Warriors at St Edmund’s
At St Edmund’s, every class elects an Eco Warrior who represents their peers in leading sustainability across the school. These pupils meet regularly to plan initiatives, share ideas, and lead by example in protecting our environment.
The six areas our Eco Warriors address are:
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Energy – switching off lights and devices, encouraging responsible use.
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Water – avoiding waste and raising awareness of water scarcity.
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Waste – reducing, reusing, and recycling where possible.
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Litter – leading litter picks to keep our school and community clean.
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School Grounds – planting, gardening, and creating green spaces.
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Transport – promoting sustainable travel through initiatives such as “Walk to School Week” and cycling challenges.
Living Laudato Si’ in Action
Our Eco Warriors and wider pupil body bring Laudato Si’ to life through projects and experiences such as:
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Recycling at home and school – pupils educate families about recycling and reducing waste.
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Litter picking – around the school grounds and local community.
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Energy saving campaigns – “switch off” reminders in every classroom.
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Travel projects – pupils take part in “Feet First” and active travel challenges, walking, scooting, or biking to school whenever possible.
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Forest School learning – helping children connect with nature and understand the beauty of creation.
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Partnership with Local Trust – exploring local waterways and their importance to God’s creation.
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Future-focused projects – working with organisations such as REACT Engineering to imagine a school for the future that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Theological Foundation
As part of our Catholic mission, we link our Eco work directly to Catholic Social Teaching – Care for Creation. Our Environmental Ambassadors and Peace and Justice Society lead prayers, assemblies, and class discussions that highlight the theological importance of caring for our world.
Every season of the Liturgical Year reminds us of God’s gift of creation: green cloths in Ordinary Time symbolise growth, while our Laudato Si’ projects put these symbols into action.
Wider Links
We are also connected to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, a global Catholic initiative encouraging schools, parishes, and families to live more sustainably.
As Pope Francis reminds us:
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.”
At St Edmund’s, this vocation is lived joyfully every day through prayer, action, and leadership.