Biography
A graduate of Glasgow University, Raymond has worked in Catholic settings in England since 1990, mostly in state secondary education, as a teacher of English, head of department, headteacher, National Leader of Education, General Secretary of the Catholic Independent Schools Conference, and CEO of two multi academy trusts in the dioceses of Plymouth and Westminster.
He is currently CEO of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) the agency of the bishops’ conference which convenes the Catholic charities and diocesan Caritas agencies tackling poverty and exclusion, providing formation and training for the network in Catholic Social Teaching. CSAN raises a prophetic voice in the public square advocating for compassion and justice.
Raymond has written a number of books on education and Catholic life, including How to Survive in Leadership in a Catholic School, Gospel Values for Catholic Schools and Formation of the Heart: the why and how of being a Catholic today (all from Redemptorist Publications). His most recent book is Catholic Social Teaching: an introduction, published in September 2023, also from Redemptorist Publications. He works one day a week on freelance projects, mostly with Catholic schools.
He was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List for services to education. In 2024, he was made an Honorary Professor of St Mary’s University in Twickenham. He lives in Somerset with his wife Janet, who is an artist and maker. They have three sons.
X (Twitter): @friel_raymond
Visit Raymond's website.