In an address at a conference on the theme of ‘Education and Young People’ held at Heythrop College on 3rd June, Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols said that children should be taught Christian values in schools.

In his address he said that Catholic schools have a crucial role to play in cultivating virtues such as honesty, justice and compassion: Using the words of St Paul, he talked of the ‘supreme advantage of knowing Christ saying: “such a supreme advantage of knowing Christ, gives rise to a way of life which we believe fosters true virtue, true, steady life- building habits of mind and action. That’s what virtue is. It’s those habits of mind and action which genuinely serve the common good.; like honesty and justice and compassion and courage and prudence and temperance; that ability to moderate and use all things with good judgment.”

During visits to each of the four schools earlier this session, review teams observed lessons at various stages, and talked to Headteachers, teachers and children.They were impressed by children who were motivated and enthusiastic and demonstrated secure values and beliefs while also showing respect for others.

They were also impressed by teachers who were models of professionalism and of faith and by Headteachers who gave priority to the importance of pupils enjoying stimulating learning experiences through religious education and in other activities, such as prayer and reflection, inspired by faith.

Councillor Jonathan Findlay, Glasgow City Council's Executive Member for Education, said: "Glasgow City Council is committed to helping all our children do well in school. One element of this is to ensure that children have a clear understanding of their own and others' belief systems.

"We are delighted that this report is being shared across Scotland to highlight the very effective practice in Glasgow primary schools."

Michael McGrath, Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, said: "This report provides good news about the quality of religious education in these schools and offers encouragement to all teachers who wish to provide rich learning experiences for young people.It points the way ahead, as schools continue to build the curriculum, to encourage Catholic schools to place religious education at the heart of the learning experience."

He continued: "I thank Glasgow City Council for their support of this project and for their willingness to work with us to promote the most effective practice in the teaching of religious education."

Notes:
The four schools included in the report are:
· St Bartholomew's Primary;  · St Catherines' Barmulloch;  · St Clare's Primary;  · Our Lady of the Rosary Primary

This is Our Faith is being developed to provide teachers with supplementary guidance on the teaching of Catholic religious education.  This guidance should be used by teachers and schools to shape the learning of children and young people in this key area of the curriculum through all the stages of primary education and up to S3 in secondary school.  

The version published on 18th May 2009 contains two sections.  It is published by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) on behalf of the Catholic Education Commission and is currently provisional. 

As the Scottish Government launched its new curriculum framework, Curriculum for Excellence, covering all areas of the curriculum for children and young people from P1 to S3, the Catholic Education Commission published the first part of its new guidance on the teaching of Religious Education in Catholic schools in Scotland.

Details of Religious Education in Catholic schools can be found here.

A survey of 2,060 people showed 55% believe in heaven, while 53% believe in life after death and 70% believe in the human soul.

The study was carried out between October and November last year for the public theology think tank Theos.

The Catholic Education Commission launched a report on Chaplaincy in Catholic Secondary Schools in Scotland at a seminar held in St Andrew's High School Coatbridge on Friday 27th March.

The seminar was very well attended by almost 100 representatives of secondary schools from across the country.  These included senior staff, R.E. teachers, priest Chaplains and religious and laypeople who contribute to Chaplaincy work in schools. 

The keynote speaker was Tony Finn, Chief Executive of the GTCS (General Teaching Council of Scotland) who had chaired the working group which produced the report.  From the CEC, Bishop Joseph Devine (President) and James McVittie (Chair) also attended the event.  The seminar was organised by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES).

Copies of the report have been provided to every Catholic secondary school and to every parish.  It is hoped that its publication will mark the start of ongoing discussions about supporting Chaplaincy work in schools.

To obtain a copy of the CEC report, please email SCES.

"A Catholic school is not an isolated enterprise, living and functioning in a world of its own, concerned only about its own well-being", emphasised the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, Chairman, the Catholic Education Service of England and Wales, in London on Tuesday 31 March, as reported by Peter Jennings in Independent Catholic News

"Like the Catholic Church, it is not only knitted into our wider society but it also has a sense of mission to that wider society. So here there is no place for narrowly defined leadership," said the Archbishop of Birmingham, at the start of his lecture, 'Leading a Catholic School', given at the Commonwealth Club.

"In a Catholic school, the true development of the person, pupils and staff, takes precedence over all other things. We insist that it is more important than the public recognition of the success of the school; than the demands of political pressure; than the requirements of the economy, significant though these things are.

"From the first moment that any person sets foot in a Catholic school he or she ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one that has its own unique characteristics."

Archbishop Nichols was addressing a distinguished audience of academics,school governors and head teachers, at the 'Visions for Leadership' Conference, organised by the Catholic Education Service of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.