Here at St Thomas' Catholic Social Teaching runs through the heart of everything we do. It is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live our faith in the world.

The Oscar Romero Award has been used at St.Thomas' to help us realise and live the unique calling of a Catholic school to become an evangelising community by empowering young people and staff to become true agents of the change they want to see in the world by putting their faith into action. In June 2023 we were proud to receive the Particpator level of this award and are now working towards achieving the next level.

Throughout the school we use the CAFOD CST resources. Here are some images you will be able to see around the school that show the principles we live throughout our daily lives. We look at these principles in our RE lessons, in assemblies and in our clubs. 

We are called to uphold the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Human Dignity – Everyone is Special

St Paul tells us that each person is a work of art, created by God and chosen for a unique purpose. Ephesians 2:10

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School we recognise the human dignity of others by:

• being respectful
• treating people equally
• raising awareness of civil rights
• preferential option for the vulnerable

The Common Good– Taking Part in our Communities

"You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person.  You are handing over to them what is theirs." St Ambrose (340-397 AD)

At St. Thomas' Catholic Primary School we show we are part of a community by:

• working together
• working for the common good
• participating and engaging
• being active members of our community

Participation – The dignity of Work

Do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour. (James 3:17) 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School we recognise the dignity of work by:

• respecting all workers
• contributing to society
• making responsible economic choices
• supporting wellbeing and workers' rights

sharing our talents with others

Subsidiarity– All people Should have a Say

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right- Psalm 106:3

Fear not for I am with you. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School we acknowledge our rights and responsibilities by:

• recognising our duties as members of a community
• standing up for what is right
• following our school rules

Stewardship – Caring for God’s Creation and Gifts

The ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion…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. Pope Francis - Laudato Si

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School we show we care for creation by:

• taking responsibility for our environment
• making environmentally responsible choices
• having awe and wonder for the natural world

Solidarity – We are One Big Family

Blessed Pope Paul VI taught that "If you want peace, work for justice". The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers.

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School  we show solidarity by:

• raising awareness of social justice
• writing to our local leaders
• praying for others
• making connections
• making socially responsible choices

Option for the poor – Some People need Extra Help

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-40

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School we show a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable by:

• fundraising for charitable causes
• raising awareness
• treating others with dignity and respect
• thinking of the needs of others

Distributive Justice – Being Fair

...we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone.’ Pope Francis, Laudato Si’

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School we recognise the need to share the world's resources fairly by:

• celebrating Fair Trade Fortnight
• becoming a Fair aware school
• by sharing our belongs

Promoting Peace – We can be God’s instruments of Peace

“Our common bonds of humanity demand that we live in harmony and that we promote what is good for one another. These ethical implications are the reason why solidarity is a basic key to peace.” St John Paul II

At St.Thomas' Catholic Primary School  we show we are people of peace by:

• treating each other kindly
• turning away from conflict
• creating bonds between people

CAFOD CST Workshops

We welcomed two members from CAFOD into school this week (Monday 13th November 2023) to share an assembly with the whole school about Catholic Social Teaching and the work that CAFOD does around the world. 

Each class also had a wonderful workshop that looked at some of the Catholic Social Teaching principles. A thoroughly enjoyable day!