For 13 years a free breakfast club in a Merseyside Catholic school has been helping tackle child poverty, improve concentration and – since the pandemic – boost attendance. 

Two thirds of pupils at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, in Seaforth, Archdiocese of Liverpool, are eligible for Free School Meals and the Pupil Premium, more than double the national average. 

Each day every pupil from Reception to Year 6 are offered fruit, cereal, toast, baked beans and a bagel from 8am, as well as occasional porridge, and hot chocolate milk on cold days. This is supported through local partnerships with Magic Breakfast and Tesco arranged by Deanne Arden, the school’s Business Manager.  

She said: “We are in an area of high deprivation. They might arrive in school hungry, but they're not hungry for the rest of the morning, having health food at the start of the day. It helps them concentrate, but it also helps to get the children in school.”

This has helped improve attendance since the pandemic, particularly from pupils with anxiety or emotional school avoidance behaviour, who appreciate the calming, social environment before classes and schoolwork begin.   

Parents are grateful to drop off their child early so they can then make sure their older children get to secondary school on time. After hours Our Lady Star of the Sea also offers wraparound childcare to support parents.   

Headteacher Claire Roberts said: ”With the cost of living crisis, we know how hard it is for our working families, so the free breakfast club gives our parents the flexibility to go to work and to not worry about the costs of childcare.”

Further initiatives to relieve child poverty include a second-hand uniform service, while parents donate non-uniform clothes their children have outgrown which are then made available to others in need. 

Pupils also receive vouchers from the parish branch of the St Vincent de Paul charity, with donations providing vouchers, toys and pyjamas for pupils, in addition to Free School Meal vouchers designed to provide food during school holidays.

Our Lady Star of the Sea has also received the national School of Sanctuary award for welcoming refugee and asylum seeker children.   

Miss Arden said: “When we've had new people start and new arrivals new to the country, we've given them the uniform that we have here. If children come in not wearing a coat, we will give them a coat that's been donated to us.”

Find out more about Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Liverpool 

Catholic schools across the country are working with Metro Mayors, regional government and local authorities on social justice issues like child poverty and youth mental health.  

This is due to Catholic Social Teaching, which is based on the encyclicals of current and former Popes, and principles such as solidarity and subsidiarity, to provide a framework for contemporary practical application. 

A £1 bus fare cap for under-21s – campaigned for by St Thomas More Catholic Sixth Form students – was extended in November by the new Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuiness (pictured, centre, with St Thomas More representatives), potentially until 2028, as part of a package of measures she launched to tackle child poverty. 

Students from the sixth form, which is in North Shields, Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, had previously persuaded a former North of Tyne Mayor to introduce the fare cap in 2023.

At Runnymede St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, in Liverpool Archdiocese, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram saw how artificial intelligence (AI) has used data to identify gaps in pupils’ learning and tailor support accordingly.  

In October the Mayor announced a pilot of the AI service for all schools in the region, delivered by education technology company CENTURY, during an event at Runnymede St Edward’s, with pupils interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.   

In Bristol, St Bede’s Catholic College headteacher, Robert King, worked with Mayor Dan Norris and the West of England Combined Authority to introduce a new bus service. This was to partly replace one cut by operator First Bus, a decision which had been negatively affecting students and local residents.  

School-based mental health counselling for all Year 9s was launched in October by Brighton and Hove Council, a city-wide pilot initiative introduced after successful representations from Cardinal Newman Catholic School. 

The Arundel and Brighton Diocese-based secondary had previously worked with local NHS services for nearly a decade to help support students experiencing mental health issues.

Find out more about Catholic Social Teaching in schools

St Filumena’s Catholic Primary School, in Stoke-on-Trent, has scooped the accolade of Primary School of the Year in the West Midlands 2025, in the new Sunday Times Parent Power schools guide.

Edward Howard, Executive Principal at the Birmingham Archdiocese-based school, said the announcement was a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone connected to the school.

He said: “We are absolutely thrilled, this is fantastic news for the St Filumena’s family. To be named Primary School of the Year in the West Midlands is a huge achievement. Everyone at St Filumena's believes that education involves more than just delivering the National Curriculum. We equip our pupils with the skills and attitudes they need to become confident, independent and successful learners based on our Catholic values. 

“Our motto 'I am loved' serves as a constant reminder to all to achieve their true potential as a unique child of God. The school has high expectations of all pupils regardless of ability, creed or gender. We instil our pupils with a sense of personal and collective responsibility, and we place a great emphasis on the personal, social, spiritual and health education of our pupils. 

“The school works to enable everyone to become a responsible, happy and tolerant citizen in order to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in our rapidly changing society.”

Mr Howard explained the school’s curriculum vehicles are learning themes taught alongside the National Curriculum and often go beyond its scope to equip pupils with essential skills necessary for the future, incorporating teamwork, relationships, cultural appreciation, managing time and resources, as well as global awareness and responsibility.

In October, Ofsted judged St Filumena’s to be outstanding in all areas of work, achieving the highest possible recognition, stating: "This school provides an exceptional standard of education because of the clear vision and supportive culture that has been developed. In partnership with the trust, leaders are insistent that every pupil will achieve well.”

Earlier this year St Filumena’s received three letters for academic achievements from the Minister of Schools. The first letter recognised the school as being in the top 1% of primary schools nationally for end of primary school achievement; the second for being in the top 200 schools nationally for the Year 4 multiplication check; and the third for being in the top 1% of primary schools nationally for Year 1 phonics, with 100 percent of pupils in Year 1 at St Filumena’s meeting the expected standard.

St Filumena’s also holds an Artsmark Silver Award; CAFOD’s LiveSimply Award and Excellence in Music Gold Award.

The school is part of the Painsley Catholic Academy group of schools in north Staffordshire.

Cardinal Pole Catholic School, in Hackney, Westminster Archdiocese, has been won the prestigious School of the Year category at the National Schools Awards 2024.

The National Schools Awards celebrate excellence across the education sector. Schools are shortlisted in one of eight categories, with a panel of industry experts selecting the winners. Judges from the National Governance Association and the Confederation of School Trusts use their expertise to recognise schools demonstrating outstanding achievement.

This award recognises schools that have significantly improved pupil outcomes, overcome challenges, or shown exceptional dedication to their communities. Judges agreed that Cardinal Pole Catholic School provides outstanding educational outcomes for their students, making them a deserving winner.

The announcement was made last night during a ceremony at the House of Lords. Baroness Berridge, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System, praised the awards for recognising the “skill, commitment, and hard work it takes to deliver the best possible education.” These values are central to everything we do at Cardinal Pole.

Adam Hall, Executive Headteacher, said: "I would like to personally thank everyone who makes our school such a special place—from our students and their families to our dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to ensure each student has the opportunity to soar. This award is a testament to the collective effort of our community, and we remain focused on continuing to deliver an outstanding education for all our students.”

Alex O’Donoghue, Head of School, said: "Every member of Cardinal Pole—students, staff, and families—has contributed to making our school an outstanding place of learning and growth. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and excited about what lies ahead as we continue to strive for excellence."

Shiphrah, Oyinlola, and Tommy, Head Students, said: "Cardinal Pole is more than a school; it’s a family where everyone is supported to achieve their best. This award celebrates not just our achievements but also the sense of community and care that makes our school so unique. We are proud to represent such an inspiring place."

Find out more about Cardinal Pole Catholic School