School of Education

Find out about the work of The St Andrews Foundation

Based in the School of Education, the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education (SAF) is an international hub of research and scholarship dedicated to Catholic education. Through its collaborative partnership with the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, SAF ensures the provision of high-quality education for pre-service and qualified teachers by offering a diverse range of courses leading to the Catholic Teacher’s Certificate.

The SAF leadership team comprises Professor Margery McMahon (Director), Clare Fodey (Deputy Director), and Fr Charles Coyle (Director of Spiritual and Pastoral Formation).
Throughout the academic year, students and staff actively engage in various initiatives that align with faith formation and teacher education, including the Theology Thursdays seminar series, the annual Cardinal Winning lecture, pilgrimages, and study visits.

In the summer of 2025, groups of students and staff will embark on an enriching summer school in Salamanca, hosted at the Royal Scots College. They will also have the opportunity to conduct field visits to schools in Kenya and Malawi and culminate their experience with a pilgrimage to Rome.

SAF members actively participate in prominent organisations dedicated to Catholic education, such as the World Union of Catholic Teachers (WUCT) and Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education (G.R.A.C.E). In June 2025, a group of students, staff, teachers, and headteachers representing the St Andrew’s Foundation will present papers on various aspects of Catholic teacher education and facilitate roundtables on mission and partnership at the G.R.A.C.E Colloquium.