‍

Pupils and school leaders from four Arundel & Brighton diocesan schools explored the positive impact of the Oscar Romero Award  within their school communities on Friday 5 June, in a meeting attended by Board members from the Oscar Romero Award Trust (ORAT) and Sr Eileen McLoughlin (SSHJM) from The Archbishop Romero Trust, held at the diocesan central office, The St Philip Howard Centre, Crawley.

31 schools from across the Diocese are registered for the award, which is supported by both Catholic Education Trusts, Xavier (Surrey) and Bosco (Sussex), with the significant impact of the award regularly cited in Catholic School Inspection (CSI) reports.

Archbishop Oscar Romero (b.1917) lived in El Salvador, South America, at a time of significant political and social upheaval. He was devoted to Our Lady, a vocal advocate for justice and the poor, and was committed to teaching and sharing the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Martyred on 24 March 1980, he was beatified in 2015 and canonised by Pope Francis on 14 October 2018.

The award programme - which has 3 levels: Participator, Developer and Innovator - centres on CST and builds on St Oscar’s work and mission, encouraging schools to recognise and celebrate the work they already do to promote CST, and offering a framework to embed its values into the culture and ethos of their school through strategic planning, curriculum development, and practical activities. To date, 15 diocesan schools have achieved Participator Level, with 1 school, St Joseph’s Specialist Trust in Cranleigh, achieving Developer level, and due to be assessed shortly for the Innovator award.

In a presentation to ORAT, Darcy, Teddy and Flo, accompanied by Head Helen Connor, from St Robert Southwell, Horsham, explored the importance of Mission Week at their school, a new initiative that started as a result of the award.

‍

“CST teaches us that everyone is important. The award has helps us to think about our actions and helps us to make good choices. It has also helped us to become leaders; we understand that we don’t have to wait until we are adults to make a difference.”

‍

Year 6 pupils, Barney and Marian from St Cuthbert’s, Englefield Green visited the St Philip Howard Centre with Deputy Head, Becky Gray.

‍

“We initially found out about the award from the diocesan Youth Officer, Lizzie Wakeling. Our children know CST principles ‘inside out’ and are very knowledgeable in terms of talking about and using them.  I am excited about the journey we have been on, and where it will go next.”

‍

The morning included a valuable opportunity for Sr Eileen and members of the ORAT Board to ask questions, with Mattie and Noah from St Joseph’s, Guildford asked to share their favourite CST principle. “Mine is Participation” said Mattie, “we have rights, but we also have responsibilities, which are important for everyday life, such as making sure people feel included and happy and have opportunities to be heard and seem.” “Mine is Human Dignity” Noah added, “it is important that everyone is included so that we can have an amazing school community.” Deputy Head, Sue Hua focused on CST in her recent Masters dissertation and spoke about her research to the Board.

St Joseph’s Specialist Trust, Cranleigh, are two years into the award and the only school in the Diocese to date, to achieve Developer Level. Reflecting on the opportunities offered by the programme, David Purcell, Leader of Catholic Life at the school said:

‍

“Our students are aged between 5 and 19 and have autism or complex needs. We live and breathe the preferential option for the poor because the children at St Joseph’s are vulnerable; the award offers us an important opportunity to celebrate the work they are doing.  

“All our students are given opportunity to serve, embedding human dignity. The award enables our children to walk in solidarity with those whose needs are most profound. It has enabled us to really celebrate, nurture and develop what our very special young people can do.”

‍

Kath Hitchings, Head of Creativity at the school added:

‍

“We see this award as ‘Christ in our lives, no limits’. The wonder of this award is that it enables us to demonstrate and articulate what we are doing. Our staff are passionate, as we aspire to be more our children can come alive creatively and to be ambitious about what they can do in the future; human dignity and human voice – having opportunities where your voice matters – is so important.”

‍

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Julie Oldroyd, Director of the Diocesan Education Service and Trustee of the Oscar Romero Award Trust said:

‍

“I was delighted by the presentations from the four diocesan schools, which made a significant impact on my fellow Trustees. The Award is clearly making a real difference, empowering young people to become confident leaders in their schools and active citizens in their communities, guided by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.”