Catholic Social Teaching

Rooted in Love: Living Out Catholic Social Teaching

At St Cath's, we believe that education is more than academic success—it’s about forming compassionate, responsible citizens who live out Gospel values in everyday life. Through our Rooted in Love scheme of work, we explicitly teach the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST), helping children understand the dignity of every person, the importance of community, and our shared responsibility for God’s creation.

Our approach nurtures pupils to think deeply, act justly, and love generously. From classroom discussions to whole-school projects, CST is woven into the fabric of our curriculum, inspiring children to make a positive difference in the world. Together, we grow in faith, hope, and love—rooted in Christ and committed to building a fairer, kinder society.

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is the Church’s wisdom about how we live together in God’s world. It is rooted in Scripture and tradition and calls us to act with justice, compassion, and love in all areas of life. CST helps us understand that every person is made in the image of God and that we are called to build a society that reflects dignity, fairness, and care for creation.

The key principles of Catholic Social Teaching include:

• Human Dignity – Every person is precious and worthy of respect.
• Community and Participation – We are called to work together for the common good.
• Care for Creation – We have a responsibility to protect the earth, our common home.
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable – We must stand with those in greatest need.
• Solidarity – We are one human family, regardless of differences.
• Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers – Work is a way to participate in God’s creation.

At St Cath's, these principles are at the heart of our curriculum through the Rooted in Love scheme of work. We teach children not only to understand these values but to live them out in their daily lives—making a positive difference in our school, local community, and the wider world.

Each half-term we focus on a different aspect of CST and children are set a 'Home Learning' challenge, enabling them to put their faith into action.

Below are some examples of this.

Home Learning Challenge Autumn 2: