The Atmosphere in a Catholic School: animated by love
In 2025, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Vatican II’s Declaration on Christian Education, Gravissimum Educationis. This document represented a major shift in the way the Church understood Catholic education, a vision which has been set out in 1929 by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical, “On Christian Education”. This encyclical was very much part of the ‘fortress church’ era, with the world seen as a corrupt place and Catholic schools seen as protective enclaves for the education of Catholic children, with a firm focus on the next life.
In 1965, Vatican II turned to the world in love, looking to enter into dialogue with the world and understand “the joys and hopes and the sorrows and anxieties of people today, especially of those who are poor and afflicted” (Gaudium et Spes, 1). The document on education followed a similar approach, extending a welcome to Catholic schools to children who were not Catholic and those children who were materially, emotionally or spiritually poor.
When it came to defining the purpose of a Catholic school, the emphasis was not so much on teaching the faith to Catholic children (although that remained important), but first and foremost “to create for the school community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and love” (#).
In my new book, God’s Story: the vision, values and mission of a Catholic school in the 21st century, I go into this in some detail. Here’s an extract from the book in which I suggest ten ways in which we can create and sustain such an atmosphere:
Top tips for creating and sustaining a Gospel atmosphere
Some educators prefer to use terms like culture or ethos, instead of atmosphere. Culture is certainly more popular in the leadership schools and comes with the notion of intentionality, something to be worked on with specific approaches and policies. I’d say that atmosphere is exactly the same. An atmosphere doesn’t just happen, it is the result of working to form the underlying assumptions of everybody in the community, the multiple layering of relationships and stories, policies and rituals over time.
Stories are foundational to any community, re-telling the key moments, reinforcing what is important. Rituals sustain the story in dramatic and memorable ways that allow people to participate. We must always come back, however, to the point that in a Catholic school, this is more than a human endeavour. It’s about inviting God into our dining hall and classrooms and playgrounds. There are practical steps we can take to make this happen:
This may sound old school, but I learned in my first headship that you need to start with a good, positive behaviour policy. Clear boundaries, expectations and consequences unpinned by a Catholic anthropology of the human being made in the image of God.
Give the pupils a way back if they have let themselves down or behaved in a harmful way. At the heart of love is forgiveness. This is not always easy and as a last resort most schools will consider the use of exclusion for the benefit of the school community, but not before you’ve gone the extra mile to restore and heal relationships. Investment in outstanding pastoral care will help to make this possible.
Invest in the chaplaincy capacity of the school. A good chaplain, and chaplaincy team, should be seen as essential and at the heart of the loving atmosphere of the school. Creative liturgies, co-created and led by the pupils, are so important for the atmosphere in our schools.
Invest in the extra-curricular life of the school. So much relationship building, so much of the atmosphere we treasure, takes place outside of lesson and school time, off site. With the important footnote that the opportunities are open to all, especially the most disadvantaged.
A preferential love for those pupils who need more support, attention and encouragement. Life is not a level playing field. Some young people have multiple disadvantages stacked against them from an early age. Equity insists that the playing field is tilted in their favour.
Making a clear link between excellent teaching and learning and the Catholic mission. Part of our loving commitment to our pupils and indeed to the world, is to educate and form young people to the highest academic standards, inspired by Gospel values, who will make a difference in the world. We should talk more about what a loving classroom looks like.
Work on the underlying assumptions with formation programmes and informal learning. Leadership should not be afraid to challenge any adult behaviour which is less than loving. I don’t mean abusive behaviour - that will be dealt with promptly under the safeguarding policy - but behaviour that is incongruent with the espoused values like sarcasm, raised voices, indifference.
Making a clear link between the loving atmosphere in the school and a commitment to solidarity and justice in the wider community, building the civilization of love according to God’s vision for humanity.
Communicate and overcommunicate the Gospel values and principles of Catholic Social Teaching which explain this loving environment. In scriptural terms, we can call it the Kingdom of God, a different way to live together. Celebrate it when you see it. Tell the story being written today.
Finally, most importantly, make time for encounter, especially encounter with the living God, in celebrations of the word, liturgy, meditation, retreats, social outreach. In my experience, pupils of whatever religious background, or none, love a peaceful atmosphere and a chance to reflect and be still.
For reflection and discussion
This is only my list, based on my own experience. With your colleagues, why don’t you use these ten suggestions as a starting point and discuss what else you would add to make your school a more loving atmosphere.
Are there any barriers to a loving atmosphere in the school? It’s a tough question to deal with, but school growth requires transparency, honesty and courage. It may be a practice or policy that has gone unquestioned for many years, but if it’s blocking a loving environment then it needs to change.