Racial Justice, Equality and Diversity (RJED)

Mission, Catholic Identity and Purpose

At Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary School, our commitment to Racial Justice, Equality and Diversity (RJED) flows directly from our mission:

“To show love, promote learning and believe in God our Father.”

Our Catholic identity shapes every aspect of school life. Rooted in the Gospel and the teachings of the Church, we believe that:

Every person is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27).
Every child has inherent dignity, worth and purpose.
Diversity is a gift from God and enriches our community.
Racism in any form contradicts the Gospel and must be actively challenged.

As the Westminster Education Service states:

“Racism and racial discrimination refuse basic justice and human dignity to all adults and pupils who are made in the image of God.”

Our RJED Policy ensures that our school community lives out Christ’s command:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Scriptural and Catholic Foundations

Key Scripture

“Act justly, love kindly and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
“There is only one race: the human race.” (RJED Introduction)
“The Spirit of the Lord… has sent me to set the oppressed free.” (Luke 4:18)
“Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Catholic Social Teaching Principles

Our RJED work is rooted in CST:

Dignity of the Human Person
Solidarity
The Common Good
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Peace
Care for Creation
Dignity of Work & Participation

Our Catholic Charism and RJED

Blessed Dominic’s charism shapes our approach to RJED:

Kindness, Respect, Inclusive, Forgiveness, Honesty, Resilience
Daily prayer, worship and reflection
Service and social justice
Pupil leadership and voice
A strong sense of community where everyone is valued

Our charism calls us to challenge injustice, celebrate diversity, and ensure every child feels seen, heard and loved.

Curriculum and Teaching

We ensure that:

The curriculum reflects diverse voices, histories and cultures.
RE, PSHE, History, English and Art include representative content.
Catholic Social Teaching is embedded across subjects.
Pupils learn about justice, dignity, equality and solidarity.
Pupil voice is central through Debate Team, Pupil Parliament and RJED Ambassadors.

Examples of RJED in our curriculum and Catholic life

Blessed Dominic actively lives out RJED through:

Marking Racial Justice Sunday

Pupils created prayer cards celebrating unity, dignity and God’s love for all people.

This included Scripture, personal prayers and artwork reflecting diversity.

Hosting our local MP, Mr Pinto‑Duschinsky, at International Evening

Pupils shared their cultural heritage, asked questions about justice and leadership,

and celebrated the dignity and diversity of our school community.

Cultural representations of Mary during the Month of May

Children explored and created images of Mary from different cultures, recognising that the Mother of God is honoured by people of every nation and ethnicity.

These experiences deepen pupils’ understanding of CST, identity, belonging and global Church community.