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Development Plan and Vision

Introduction

‘Education in a Catholic school is offered as a service to enable all to develop their talents to the full and fulfil their unique role in creation’ - Catholic Education Service.

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Catholic schools are an integral part of the mission of the Catholic Church; to make known the message of God’s love for humanity and the world as revealed to us in the life, words and example of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the message of Jesus Christ is at the heart of everything that happens in a Catholic school.

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The mission of the Oscar Romero Award Trust is to work with education institutions through effective partnerships to transform the hearts and minds of the school community to promote justice and uphold human dignity, and that Catholic and other Christian education institutions will be inspired by the example of St. Oscar Romero to promote Catholic Social Teaching.

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The aim of the Award is twofold:

  1. To recognise and celebrate all that a school does as a Christian community that enables individuals in their community and beyond to live life to the full

  2. To challenge the school community to continue finding ways of being ‘good news’ to all in their community and beyond 

 

This document sets out the vision and strategy of the Oscar Romero Award Trust as it begins to attract schools from across the country. 

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Between 2023 and 2027, the Oscar Romero Award Trust will:

  1. Promote a framework that will enable schools to reflect and promote Catholic Social Teaching

  2. Develop meaningful partnership with like-minded organisations to ensure its growth and development in promoting evangelisation in schools.

 

To fulfil this mission, the Romero Award Trust will pursue the following five goals:

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1. Build stronger relationships between Catholic schools, the Church; schools of other Christian denominations; and organisations that promote Catholic Social Teaching. 

We will do this by…

  • Developing strategic partnerships with national organisations that support the poorest and marginalised people.

  • Expanding the Award’s reach to schools in Dioceses across the British Isles.

  • Encouraging improved cooperation between schools and local parishes.

  • Encouraging parishes to recognise and celebrate the work schools do to promote social justice.

  • Supporting schools in their preparation for successful Section 48 Inspection, Catholic Schools Inspection or SIAMS Inspection.

 

2. Strengthen programmes within Catholic schools that promote Catholic Social Teaching.

We will do this by…

  • Reviewing and improving the framework in order to encourage school communities to be involved in promoting Catholic Social Teaching.
  • Providing the framework that will help schools evaluate their commitment to Catholic Social Teaching.
  • Creating opportunities for mutual learning and sharing of best practice between schools on Catholic Social Teaching.
  • Measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of the Award

 

3. Deepen the identity of schools in their commitment to their faith.

We will do this by…

  • Being an effective tool of the mission of evangelisation of the Church in Catholic schools.

  • Increasing school’s understanding of Gospel values of justice, love and peace.

  • Creating opportunities for mutual learning and transformation at all levels of the school.

  • Enabling opportunities to reflect and act on Catholic Social Teaching.

  • Increasing the school’s contribution and commitment to solidarity with the poor.

 

4. Develop organisational agility and competence within the Trust.

We will do this by…

  • Developing partnerships with like-minded organisations to increase the Trust’s resilience and reach.

  • Developing management and organisational capacity to ensure growth of the Trust.

  • Building a culture of continuous improvement and learning which will increase the effectiveness of the Trust.

  • Ensuring that systems are responsive to the needs of the stakeholders

  • Recruiting and training of Validators for the Trust to meet the need.

 

5. Ensure sustainability through stewardship of resources.  

We will do this by…

  • Ensuring the Oscar Romero Award’s growth is accompanied by a corresponding increase in organisational capacity.

  • Raising sufficient funds to sustain the charity.

  • Refining processes and procedures to ensure the resources are used in the most effective and sustainable way.

  • Creating a viable budget so that the charity can meet its operational obligations.

  • Developing succession planning for Trust Board to have the skills needed as the Award grows.

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