This Sunday, 13 September, Catholic schools and parishes across the country mark Education Sunday. We also welcome our new Chief Executive Officer, Rob Pritchard.

Every school day, across Wakefield, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire and the East Riding, thousands of children and staff journey through the gates of our schools. They come from many different communities, backgrounds and traditions, and as part of a Catholic school community, every individual is cherished, valued and known by name as a child of God.

The national theme for Education Sunday this year is taken from the Gospel of the day. In Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 18:21 to 35), Peter asks: “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answers: “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”

This year’s national message has been written by Bishop Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds and Chairman of the Catholic Education Service. He asks Catholic schools to reflect on forgiveness, reconciliation and peace, and on how we build communities where people live well together.

Jesus’ profound response challenges Peter’s quantitative view of the obligation to forgive. To ration our forgiveness and our mercy towards others is to fail to embody God’s own love, which has shown unlimited mercy towards humanity.

These teachings are precisely the ethos and the virtue-led foundations on which our schools are built, and they guide our Trust and school communities to live well together.

In our schools, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace are seen in learning about and actively celebrating different cultures and faiths. They are in leading with love and compassion for others, in providing environments where friendships can grow, and in providing exemplary pastoral care and wellbeing practices that support pupils and staff alike through their challenges. They are in the inclusive, compassionate and thriving schools we work so hard for every day, shaped by Catholic virtues and the teaching of the Gospel.

This year is also the Jubilee Year of St Francis of Assisi, proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV to mark eight hundred years since the saint’s death. Bishop Marcus asks us to be inspired by him: to work for peace, to live simply, to be of service to the poor, and to be trustworthy stewards of God’s creation.

Education is the largest charitable activity the Church undertakes in this country. There are more than 2,100 Catholic schools and colleges in England and Wales, and The Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust is proud to be part of that.

Welcoming our new Chief Executive Officer

Education Sunday looks forward as well as back, and this year our Trust community has more reason than usual to do so, as we welcome Rob Pritchard as our new Chief Executive Officer.

Rob brings nearly four decades of experience in education: as a secondary headteacher, as a Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, and as a chief executive in large multi academy trusts. A dedicated servant of Catholic education, he describes it as a particular honour to lead our Trust as we begin this new chapter together.

For Education Sunday, Rob has written to our families and parish communities.

Read the letter from our Chief Executive

The Bishop’s Education Sunday message

The Bishop’s words will be read in Catholic schools and parishes across the country this Sunday. You can read his message in full below, along with the national resources for schools.

Read the Bishop’s message (PDF)

Education Sunday 2026, including the resources for schools

The readings for Education Sunday

First reading: Ecclesiasticus 27:30 to 28:7. Psalm 103. Second reading: Romans 14:7 to 9. Gospel: Matthew 18:21 to 35.

Giving thanks on Education Sunday

Education Sunday is a day of thanks. We give thanks for our teachers and for the staff who support them, for our pupils and their families, and for the governors, volunteers and parish communities who give their time to our schools. We pray for the year ahead, and that our schools continue to be places where every member is known, valued and encouraged to flourish.

A prayer for Education Sunday

Lord of wisdom and truth,
You are the source of all knowledge and understanding.
Bless all who teach, that they may guide with patience, creativity and compassion.
Bless all who learn, that they may grow not only in skill and knowledge, but also in kindness, integrity and courage.
We pray for parents and carers, that they may encourage and support with love.
We pray for school leaders and policymakers, that they may make decisions rooted in justice, equality and hope for every child.
In times of challenge, grant perseverance.
In moments of success, grant humility.
In all things, may our learning draw us closer to You and equip us to serve others with joy.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Our Trust Prayers