Faith for Catholic Teachers

Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.

Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Catholic Educators, 2008

(Photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash)

Image of a teacher reading with a young child

The work of teachers in helping pupils to encounter Christ and to develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith is deeply valued by both parents and our Diocese as a whole. As such teachers – both Catholic and non-Catholic – are encouraged to deepen their understanding and appreciation of our Catholic faith.

There are two principal programmes for teachers:

Foundations in Faith: This is the Diocesan programme for study leading to an award of the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS). CCRS is a qualification awarded by the Board of Religious Studies on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Over a two-year course, eight modules are studied which give participants both a firm grounding in Catholic theology and also an introduction to the practical application of Catholic teaching in educational and wider settings. Core modules include: the Old and New Testaments; Jesus Christ, our teacher and Saviour; the Catholic Church as God’s Community of Faith; the Sacraments; and Catholic moral teaching. Further modules are selected by students and may include Catholic social teaching; Lay Chaplaincy in Schools; Liturgy, Catholic Schools and Religious Education; Family Life Ministry; and Youth Ministry. Assessment is by short written essay. CCRS is a qualification valued by Catholic schools across the country, and offers an opportunity for personal spiritual growth alongside professional development. For more information, please contact jessica.wilkinson@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

Catholic Foundations Stones: An introduction to the essentials of Catholic faith with particular focus on information helpful to staff in Catholic schools, and designed to be easy to present over twelve sessions. The Diocese encourages Catholic schools to offer this resource to all their teaching staff, particularly those teaching religious education, and those in pastoral roles.

For further information about either of these programmes, or to register interest in attending a course, please contact jessica.wilkinson@dioceseofleeds.org.uk