Our school has decided to pursue the CAFOD Live Simply award. This is an opportunity for us to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us.” You can find out more about this by clicking on the image below.

Intro Lite English (youtube.com)

We are delighted to have achieved the CAFOD Live Simply award in recognition of our
school’s commitment to living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poorest
communities. Through the Living Simply initiative, our school continues to make a positive
impact on our global family, our local community and our school community, as we live out
the teachings of Laudato Si’ and Catholic Social Teaching.
Please find below our certificate for this award, along with a photo of the pupils who spoke
with the CAFOD assessors to share the wonderful work our school carried out to achieve
this special recognition.

Loving God,
You made this beautiful world that we all share.
Help us to live simply,
and be thankful for all that you have given us.
Help us to look after our earth,
so that everyone may enjoy it.
Help us to share with others,
so that everyone has what they need.
Amen.

CAFOD stands for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. Find out more about CAFOD’s LiveSimply award for schools here:

An introduction to LiveSimply for schools | CAFOD (youtube.com)

This animation helps explain why LiveSimply is important, and the impact it can have on our school, our neighbours and our global community.



Discerning Disciples is the religious education curriculum for Catholic primary schools in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. It has been developed in full accordance with the Religious Education Directory (RED), the curriculum directory issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which sets out what pupils in Catholic schools should know, understand, and be able to do in religious education.

The curriculum supports the shared mission of our diocesan family of schools: forming Christ-centred pilgrims of hope with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice.

Discerning Disciples is organised into the six ‘branches’ of the RED, which align with the Catholic Church’s liturgical year:

Across these branches, pupils encounter Sacred Scripture, deepen their knowledge and understanding of Catholic faith and teaching, study prayer, liturgy, and the sacraments, and consider how faith is lived in the world. Through Dialogue and Encounter, they also learn about other faiths and religions, and develop the knowledge, understanding, and dispositions needed for respectful dialogue.

At the heart of Discerning Disciples are the RED’s three ways of knowing: understand, discern and respond. Pupils are therefore encouraged not simply to acquire religious knowledge, but to think deeply about what they learn, make connections, consider different perspectives and make thoughtful judgements. In doing so, religious education helps pupils to grow in knowledge, wisdom and understanding and to reflect on how what they learn might shape the way they live.


Catholic Social Teaching is based on the belief that God has a plan for creation, a plan to build his kingdom of peace, love and justice. God has a special plan for us, whoever we are. Our part is not just limited to spiritual acts. It involves every aspect of our lives, from the things we pray about, to how we live as a responsible global citizen.

At St Michael’s, we share Catholic Social Teaching with our children through all that we do: the curriculum, special events and our ordinary actions in school. It underpins the essence of our daily school life. As members of the Catholic Church, we are all called upon to preserve the dignity of all human beings, to care for creation, and to reach out to our sisters and brothers in need. Pope Francis emphasises that it is our duty to work together to bring about a more just and peaceful world: to put love into action. It is vital that our children can articulate the connection between Jesus’ teaching and doing good deeds.

We use CAFOD’s Catholic Social Teaching resources and their animal mascots to support the children’s understanding of the key principles. The animal mascots are used in EYFS, KS1 and Lower KS2. The keys are introduced in Upper KS2.

Please see below an explanation of 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 Michael’s 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 Michael’s 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) You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40)

At St Michael’s 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)

At St Michael’s 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

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 Michael’s 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 us that if you want peace, work for justice. The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers.

At St Michael’s we show solidarity by:

  • raising awareness of social justice
  • praying for others
  • making connections
  • making socially responsible choices

Option For the Poor – Some People Need Extra Help

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 Michael’s 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

The earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone. (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’)

At St Michael’s we recognise the need to share the world’s resources fairly by:

  • celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight
  • by sharing our belongings

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 Michael’s we show we are people of peace by:

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

Catholic Social Teaching – CAFOD Video

Please click on the link below for a video introducing young people to Catholic Social Teaching:

Catholic Social Teaching in 3 minutes | CAFOD – YouTube





At St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, pupils are taught the importance of developing a virtuous life. The Catechism describes a virtue as “an interior disposition, a positive habit, a passion that has been placed at the service of the good.” Cardinal Vincent Nichols explained, “It’s those habits of mind and action which genuinely serve the common good.”

 

The values and virtues we teach and practise at St Michael’s are as follows:
Grateful and Generous
Attentive and Discerning
Compassionate and Loving
Fath-filled and Hopeful
Eloquent and Truthful
Learned and Wise
Curious and Active
Intentional and Prophetic
Every half term, our school focuses on one pair of these complementary values and virtues. Pupils spend time reflecting on the meaning of them; how they see them in action in their lives and in the lives of others and how they can work to encapsulate these values and virtues in their lives.


Here are some of the beautiful RE displays we have in our school:



CAFOD:

CAFOD – Kid’s Zone comprises of fun global activities for children.

Kidz Zone (cafod.org.uk)

Bible Society:

Bible Society is a website whose aim is to make the Bible accessible to all families around the world.

Bible Society – We offer the Bible to the World

The God Who Speaks:

The God Who Speaks is a website linked closely with the Bible Society which aims to help children understand the word of God.

The God Who Speaks

Pray As You Go:

Pray As You Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time.

Pray as you go – Pray as you go (pray-as-you-go.org)