Catholic Education Studies is a brand-new course and is hosted by the Centre for Catholic Education, Research and Religious Literacy, as part of its outreach programme in developing a better understanding of Catholic education and how this relates to the wider project of promoting faith literacy.
It offers an exciting opportunity to explore the key ideas in the field of Catholic education studies. Over the past four decades there has been a blossoming of research and scholarship around Catholic education. Across the globe the Catholic church is the biggest provider of education and in the UK alone 10% of all children are educated at Catholic schools.
The course assumes little or no knowledge of this area of scholarship and will explore topics at an introductory level.
It will seek to explore historical and socio-cultural paths and theological ideas which underpin the distinctive characteristics of a Catholic education. This will be used to inform contemporary debates and concerns over faith schools and the tacit link with possible indoctrination.
Dates and times
In this introductory year, we are offering two date options.
The Thursday evening course will run, between 7-8.30pm, over eight sessions on:
- Thursday 18th April 2024
- Thursday 25th April 2024
- Thursday 2th May 2024
- Thursday 9th May 2024
- Thursday 16th May 2024
- Thursday 23rd May 2024
- Thursday 6th June 2024
- Thursday 13th June 2024.
Alternatively, a weekday course will run over two full-day sessions from 9.30am-4.30pm on:
- Friday 3rd May 2024
- Friday 10th May 2024.
Location
This course will take place on our main campus, Twickenham. While the face-to face taught sessions are preferable the course will also be delivered online.
Price
The full course cost is £175.
St Mary's University staff and students can receive a 10% discount. Please use the booking link on the discounted short courses page (St Mary's login required).
Content
The course will introduce topics that address the central themes in Catholic education studies, exploring the diversity which exists around describing and justifying a Catholic education.
Students will benefit from a salient treatment of the essentials of the field, bringing a coherence and practical relevance to their learning. This is not intended as a ‘heavy’ course although our exploration will incorporate sprinklings of theological, historical, societal, philosophical, educational, and contemporary teachings, and issues concerning Catholic education.
There will be time for questions and reflection and the course will cover a wide range of areas:
- key features of the history of Catholic education in the UK
- vatican II’s teaching on Catholic education
- official church teaching on Catholic education
- philosophies of Catholic education
- theologies of Catholic education
- social justice and Catholic education
- the idea of a Catholic curriculum
- the ‘faith school debate’.
There will also be an open session that is question led.
Requirements
This course is designed for anyone who wishes to improve their faith literacy, particularly in relation to Catholic education.
However, it is recommended that learners should have achieved a level of education equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A*- C prior to commencing the course. Exemptions may be made for adult returners with relevant experience.
Award
Successful students will receive a certificate of attendance.
Select a course
Please select which course you would like to book on to:
For more information about this course please contact the Short Courses team: