The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes it clear that parents are the prime educators of their children, working in partnership with the Catholic school to ensure the spiritual development of their child. The Church’s purpose in establishing schools is not to take the responsibility out of parents’ hands but to assist them in fulfilling it.

As those first responsible for their children, parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to their own convictions. This right is fundamental. As far as possible parents have the duty of choosing schools that will best help them in their task as Christian educators.’
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2229)

Catholic education, then, is a great deal more than schooling. It is a lifelong process of human growth and development which begins in the home, continues in the school and matures through involvement with the Christian community in the parish. These three dimensions of home, school and parish must work together in St Bartholomew’s if the Catholic education we offer is to truly attain its goal of contributing to the formation of happy, balanced, loving individuals in the image and likeness of Christ.