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Meeting the Pope in the slums of Rio during World Youth Day Page 19
November 2013
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Students at the Cardinal Pole School in Hackney
The Blessings of Catholic Education By Alex Balzanella
C
atholic education is popular; with regular reports in the media and on occasion complaints in some sections of society about it. Here at the Westminster Record we are proud to say and show more about our schools in the Diocese, especially as the last year has witnessed further improvements in provision and quality of our Catholic education. This month’s edition has a particular emphasis on the recent successes of our schools, illustrating just why Catholic education remains a popular choice throughout London and Hertfordshire.
We have recently witnessed both the opening and growth of Catholic schools. The blessing of St Richard Reynolds Catholic College by Archbishops Vincent Nichols, Peter Smith and George Stack on 19 September was attended by 1,000 people. It will, when at full capacity, provide places for over 1,200 students at primary and secondary level. Holy Family Primary School, West Acton, was also delighted to move into its new school building this September. They are currently providing muchneeded school places in the London Borough of Ealing for 150 pupils.
Diocesan schools have also had a particularly successful year in educational attainment. To name just a few achievements, the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School was ranked in The Times as the highest attaining comprehensive school at A-level in the country; St Anne’s Catholic High
“Catholic education remains a popular choice.” School, Enfield was awarded the PixL Club award for their best ever GCSE results, whilst St Gregory the Great Science College, Harrow achieved their highest ever A-level results this year.
However, Catholic education is not just limited to qualifications. Rosemary Keenan, CEO of the Catholic Children’s Society, spoke about its pastoral benefit: “Our Catholic ethos and Christian values help to ensure that the fulfilment of parents’ and students’ dreams benefits our wider society. We need, however, to recognise that learning does not take place divorced from emotional well-being.” “Catholic education, through its commitment to pastoral care, helps to ensure that the emotional, material and similar barriers to learning are lowered.
It is this pastoral focus which the Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster) seeks to enhance. An unhappy child, be it due to poverty, parental disharmony or any other cause, is unlikely to be ready and able to learn. Children benefit hugely from our shared approach and commitment to this pastoral understanding of education.” In all of this we remember the hard work of Catholic teachers and classroom assistants who are central in representing the Church to our students. Please remember them in your thoughts and prayers over the coming month.