The Catholic Church in Scotland encourages schools, parishes and other agencies to work closely together during one particular week each year in order to celebrate the distinctive purpose of Catholic education. The purpose of Catholic Education Week is to highlight the significance of education, not only for young people but for society as a whole. Pupils, parents, teachers and others are asked to reflect on their own roles in the education process – at home, in school, in the local parish and in other educational settings.

The Scottish Catholic Education Service provides support materials for schools and parishes to assist them in their own plans to draw attention to the added value which Catholic schools bring across Scotland.  In St Bartholomew’s, we have special liturgical celebrations within the school and organise wider school activities to celebrate our Catholic faith.  Class teachers plan lessons to help pupils explore the Catholic Education Week theme for that particular year.  The most important event of the week, however, is the Education Sunday Mass when a large number of pupils and staff from our school community make the effort to attend the main Sunday Mass at St Bartholomew’s Church.  Pupils play a lead role in welcoming people at the door, doing the readings and bidding prayers and leading the music.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the school and parish communities to gather together to give thanks to God for the gift of Catholic education.