‘Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.’ St Catherine of Siena
Catholic education is an integral and essential part of the Church’s mission; to make the person of Jesus Christ known and loved, and to place Him and the teaching of the Catholic Church at the centre of people’s lives. Catholic schools support Catholic parents in their responsibility for the academic, physical, spiritual, moral and religious education of their children, in accordance with the teachings of the Church.
We have a wide range of Christ-centred, nurturing and successful schools in our Diocese. They include:
Sixty-three state-funded schools, comprising fifty-two primary schools and eleven secondary schools.
Of these, twenty-four primary schools and five secondary schools are voluntary aided (VA) and maintained through local authorities. A further seventeen primary schools and four secondary schools are academies under the Xavier Catholic Education Trust with eleven primary schools and two secondary school academies under the Bosco Catholic Education Trust.
Our Diocese includes twelve independent schools and one independent non-maintained specialist school.
The knowledge, dedication and commitment of approximately 4,500 teachers and support staff deliver Catholic education to more than 38,000 children across our Diocese. Our schools are ably supported in their work and mission by 700 school governors and many more volunteers, parents and carers.
Staff from our Catholic schools who are retiring or stepping down after faithful service in a variety of roles gathered at Arundel Cathedral
Community organising charity Citizens UK includes more than 50 Catholic member institutions, including schools and parishes.
This year's Leavers' Mass was particularly poignant as the school will no longer be designated as a Catholic school from September.
Schools from around the diocese gathered, with pupils being awarded their Faith in Action pins, and Oscar Romero Awards.
The theme this Jubilee Year was "Pilgrims of Hope", with readings highlighting the importance of proclaiming "the good news to the poor".
Participants have been meeting and praying together, discerning what it means to be a leader in a Catholic school or Trust.
A Mass followed messages and videos of thanks from pupils for Fr Chris' service to their school.
The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton was delighted to host the termly meeting of the Schools Commissioners and the CES.
Our address is:
The Education Service
The St Philip Howard Centre
4 Southgate Drive
Crawley
West Sussex RH10 6RP