Aspire to
be more
Just over 270 schools in Catholic Dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland are participating in this Award.
"Considering and bringing together these strands has been valuable, both in recognising the variety of ways in which we work and in identifying opportunities for improvement." (All Hallows Catholic School - Portsmouth Diocese)
"Participation in the Oscar Romero Award has enabled the whole school community to further its understanding of CST and to work in practical ways to support its principles and aims." Holy Family Catholic Primary School - Southwark Archdiocese.
Everyone who struggles for justice, everyone who makes just claims in unjust surroundings is working for God’s reign.
The Oscar Romero Award will support your school in realising and living the unique calling of a Catholic school to become an evangelising centre by empowering young people and staff to become true agents of the change they want to see in the world by putting their faith into action.
The Oscar Romero Award will help your school to recognise and celebrate all you do as a Christian community that enables individuals in your community and beyond to live life to the full. It will also challenge your school to continue finding ways of being ‘good news’ to all in your community and beyond.
Discover moreJoin the schools that have decided that commitment to social justice through Catholic Social Teaching Principles is one of the ways to fulfil the aims of Catholic education.
Discover more“We feel strongly that the Oscar Romero Award offers Catholic schools a unique opportunity to reflect in a pragmatic way what it means to live out our mission and ethos in our world today.” St Edward's School
Discover moreHow it works
The school promotes social justice through charitable work or support of charities as well having regard human dignity and justice in its policies and practices. At this level, the school will self-assess to see what they already do – how are they living their mission as a Catholic community? Do they already take part in any social justice awareness or promotion activities?
How it works
The school develops resources and starts embedding Catholic Social Teaching principles in its every-day life. At this level, the school community will be challenged to develop what they already do. The school develops an image that shows and identifies with the Church’s call of ‘preferential option for the poor.’ What impact do these activities have on the school community?
How it works
The school works with others schools to promote Catholic Social Teaching and social justice is embedded in every aspect of the school’s life. At this level, the school community is challenged to become fully alive, working to promote social justice awareness in and beyond the school. The school actively changing the culture of its practice and life so that all its members see it as their duty to challenge inequality wherever they see it.
Participator Level
The biggest impact this process has had on our school so far has been the discussions within governing body meetings and the consultation and adoption of the new Catholic Strategic Plan for our school. This plan was drafted with input from teachers, teaching assistants and governors and it raised awareness across all adults who work within our school of the Catholic Social Teaching we already do, as well as leading to considerations of areas where we could do more.
Award Lead Validator
I have been involved in this project to develop the Oscar Romero Award from the outset and it has been very exciting to see it grow and spread through a number of dioceses.
As a validator it is my role to look at each application and assess it against the descriptors. For the Participator Award this is all done on line however for the Developer and Innovator Level the role involves, not only doing the on line assessment, but following this up with a visit to the school to meet Governors, Staff and Pupils. The role is not one of inspection rather it is a validation of what the school/college is doing in their efforts to promote Catholic Social Teaching.
It is truly inspiring and humbling to read about the diverse ways in which CST is promoted, encouraged and developed across the three strands of the Award. In particular the most enjoyable task for me has been to visit schools/colleges who have reached the Developer Level. The passion with which Governors, Staff and Pupils speak and demonstrate their determination to promote CST and the range of initiatives in which schools are engaged is a joy to see and something to be celebrated through the achievement of the Oscar Romero Award.
Developer Level
Participating in the Oscar Romero Award helped to raise the profile of CST so that it is now an explicit part of our identity at Bishop Challoner. Receiving the participator level helped to energise the passions of our students, who are eager to continue making our world a fairer place for all. Our challenge for the future is to ensure that the good work happening in the school is being extended extensively to the wider community, alleviating poverty, promoting justice and fairness for all. The aim would be for students to lead these initiatives so they can take ownership over these good causes. Applying for this level has helped us to remain focused on the ‘Big picture’, that we need to be following Jesus’ example of mercy, love and respect for others. It has helped us identify where CST is prevalent and strive to further develop the areas where it is lacking, by assessing ourselves against the three strands of the Oscar Romero Award, curriculum, practical and strategic. Our ultimate goal is for Oscar Romero’s message of hope to resonate throughout each school day, ‘Let us not tire of preaching love, it is the force that will overcome the world’
Participator Level
Award Lead Validator
Developer Level
19 May 2023
@RC_Southwark is delighted to announce that the Shrine of St Oscar Romero, located in @StGeorgesCath has been elevated to National Shrine Status by unanimous agreement of the Bishops of England & Wales, following the Spring plenary meeting in Leeds. More: https://t.co/wqoaDRJFm9 https://t.co/1akzvbboQT
01 May 2023
Archbishop John Wilson at the newly elevated National Shrine of St Oscar Romero in England and Wales at St George’s Cathedral- Southwark @RC_Southwark @RomeroTrust St Oscar Romero, pray for us. https://t.co/q7yrIK1VZf
21 Apr 2023
Congratulations to St Gregory's Catholic Primary School in Margate for being the first school in @RC_Southwark @rcaoseducation to achieve Developer Level of the @O_RomeroAward. Thank you for leading the way!
01 Apr 2023
#Eastercards in they style of @O_RomeroAward They are so beautiful and thoughtful…. @rcaoseducation @kcsp_academies @CathEdService https://t.co/dMtN8Abrcx
30 Mar 2023
As we attended Mass for @O_RomeroAward the whole college is studying Catholic Social Teaching this week, including designing our own Romero crosses https://t.co/V9HI8YCBe6
29 Mar 2023
Students from our Year 8 Faith in Action group were honoured to receive the @O_RomeroAward and to meet Archbishop John Wilson at the Oscar Romero Award mass yesterday @StGeorgesCath @RC_Southwark The award is already on display in the college reception, thanks to all involved. https://t.co/Xe7hr5UShE
29 Mar 2023
Abp Wilson was pleased to welcome a number of Diocesan Schools to @StGeorgesCath in order to receive their Participator Level certificate for the Oscar Romero Awards, which helps weave Catholic Social Teaching into the culture & ethos of the school. with thanks to @zurma1305 https://t.co/z1Ss7dLpwi
29 Mar 2023
We are honoured to have been awarded The Oscar Romero Award and we look forward to displaying our certificate. @O_RomeroAward Putting our faith into action. https://t.co/nj6foppkkQ
28 Mar 2023
The @O_RomeroAward Mass for Catholic Schools took place today @StGeorgesCath. We were so proud to be presented with this wonderful award. Also, so delighted that our school choir sang at the Mass. Full story with videos/photos in this week's edition of Contact @RC_Southwark https://t.co/N643CIu3oe
28 Mar 2023
The @O_RomeroAward Mass for Catholic Schools took place today @StGeorgesCath. We were so proud to be presented with this wonderful award. Also, so delighted that our school choir sang at the Mass. Full story with videos/photos in this week's edition of Contact @RC_Southwark https://t.co/N643CIu3oe
28 Mar 2023
The St Stephen’s Stewards were lucky enough go to St George’s Cathedral to celebrate St Oscar Romero’s feast day and were very proud to collect the St Oscar Romero award. https://t.co/HmduBI3dz7
28 Mar 2023
The St Stephen’s Stewards were lucky enough go to St George’s Cathedral to celebrate St Oscar Romero’s feast day and were very proud to collect the St Oscar Romero award. https://t.co/HmduBI3dz7