Education

A dinner lady who has lovingly served up one million meals over four decades at a Coventry primary school has been given an emotional retirement send off by pupils. Coventry great grandmother Sheila Rendall has retired after 39 years at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, part of the Romero Catholic Academy, where she is estimated to have cooked around one million meals. Sheila joined the schoo... Read More

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Battersea will be hosting a discussion entitled: 'Unity and Hope, where can Pope Leo lead the church?' on Thursday, March 5 from 7pm to 8:30pm GMT. Speakers will be Christopher Lamb, CNN's Vatican correspondent and Rev Erin Clark, an American writer based in London who is the parish priest of St Mary's CoE church, Battersea. The event will be chaired by F... Read More

A reception to honour the Catholic Church's contribution to education in England and Wales took place in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, 10 February. More than 30 MPs and Peers from across the political spectrum attended the event, including Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education; former Conservative Education Secretaries Damian Hinds MP and Sir Gavin Williamson MP; Munira W... Read More

Rev Dr Merlin Rengith Ambrose DCL writes: The Commission for Canon Law in the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) celebrated the successful conclusion of its one-year international 'Diploma in Canon Law for the Laity for a Synodal Church' with a convocation ceremony in Bangalore on February 8, 2026 in which all the participants were awarded a diploma in Canon Law by Most Rev Dr S Anton... Read More

Samantha Giles, best known for her long-running role as Bernice Blackstock in ITV's Emmerdale, recently visited St Alban's Catholic Primary School, Wallasey, to read extracts from her children's books to the school's Key Stage 2 pupils. She visited all classes from Year 3 to Year 6, revealing what it is like to be an author before immersing them in the world of Rosemary, her protagonist in the '... Read More

The Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology warmly invites you to our upcoming Postgraduate Open Afternoon - an excellent opportunity to discover how postgraduate study in theology, spirituality, and pastoral care can enrich your life, faith, and career. Come and join us for this engaging online event on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, starting at 3pm (UK time). Whether you're considering advancing you... Read More

The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, has written to headteachers across the Diocese of Westminster to commend their schools' exceptional achievements and encourage the continued sharing of effective practice. In her letter, the Secretary of State praised the strong outcomes achieved by disadvantaged pupils during the 2024/25 academic year, noting that many schools' perf... Read More

Step inside a Norfolk church and you'll find yourself surrounded by wonders - medieval carvings, stone angels, vibrant stained glass and grotesque gargoyles. These aren't museum exhibits behind glass; they're living treasures in buildings that have stood for centuries, often just a short walk from our schools. As part of the celebrations to mark the Trust's 50th Anniversary we are launching the No... Read More

St John Plessington Catholic College, Bebington, on Merseyside, recently honoured students' achievements, both academically and personally, at its annual awards ceremony. The school was joined by special guest speaker and former St John Plessington student turned staff member, Mollie Dawson. Introduced by headteacher, Mr Peadar McLoughlin, as a "remarkable individual" and "true inspiration to many... Read More

Today, Ed Miliband MP, the Energy and Net Zero Secretary, visited children from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Primary School in Doncaster to hear about an exciting project. Inspired by Catholic social teaching, students have set up a 'Care for Creation' group to protect the local environment and beyond. Over the last two years, they have demonstrated their commitment to environmental steward... Read More

A Catholic charity worker has recently become an author of a children's book, which explores how communities flourish. Mum of one Elaine McGinlay has worked for the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund for 12 years and is their Education Officer. She has written a children's book drawing on more than a decade of work in development education. Elaine was inspired to write the book - The Wisd... Read More

Priest and author, Fr Sean Smith who ministers at Knock Shrine, writes: Recent statements by the Ministries of Education, on both sides of the Irish border, have left a solemn warning that the end of religious education in Catholic schools could be around the corner. This calls for a serious, positive, and radical response. I dare to propose a national plan of action in this article: Restore paren... Read More

This is a very special time for all those interested in Saint John Henry Newman. On the 1st of November 2025, Newman was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. This means that his writings have a special role in building up the whole people of God. I personally have been shaped profoundly by Newman's thought. Initially I was sceptical about the Christian faith. When first presented with the gospel, I ... Read More

As the number of people joining the Catholic Church in England and Wales continues to rise, the Archdiocese of Southwark is launching a landmark apologetics project to provide evidence-based answers to the burning questions of both new and practicing Catholics. The project, named 'Ambassadors for Christ', is the first of its kind in a Catholic diocese in England and Wales, and is designed to equip... Read More