At St Edmund's we have been using the Caritas scheme of work to explain the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to our children.  Catholic Social Teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It applies Gospel values like love, peace, justice, and service to social problems.  

The scheme divides the principles into six areas, which include dignity, solidarity, the common good, and caring for creation.  These are explained to the children and then we try to capture how we, as Christians, can live out these principals at St Edmund's School.  These range from being an Eco-Rep to a Mini-Vinnie, from raising money for a specific charity to closing the doors to save heat, from being kind to our friends and speaking respectfully to looking after the plant around the school. The children understand that we behave in these ways because God has asked us to and we want to respond to his call.  

• Dignity: God wants us to know how important it is that we treat others with dignity. God wants us to do this because we are all made in the image and likeness of Him.
• Community and Participation: God tells us how we are made to live in community with one another and that we should be active members of the world in which we live.
• Creation: God calls us to look after the planet – to be Stewards of Creation.
• Solidarity and Peace:   God asks us to be peacemakers, to try to make the world more peaceful, to help people in need and to help people to stop arguing.
• Option for the Poor: This means allowing someone to have first choice. It means giving the poor the best that is available.  God calls us to look for those in need and to work hard to support them as best we can.
• Dignity of Workers:​ God wants everyone to feel loved and respected and this means everyone should feel loved and respected at their job too!