WESTMINSTER DIOCESE
EDUCATION SERVICE
Registered Charity Number
233699
To: Chairmen of Governing Bodies of Roman
Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Westminster
Cc: Headteachers
10 January 2001
WDES Staffing.
We
are sorry to report that David Squires continues to be indisposed and may be
absent for some time. A consultant has
been appointed specifically to make progress on schemes for which an allocation
has been announced and for which approval to proceed is required. He will also work with the Finance
Department to finalise accounts on schemes which have been completed or which
are nearing completion.
Regrettably,
the consultant cannot offer time at this stage to respond to queries from
schools, however urgent they may be.
You are therefore urged to contact your technical consultants for
advice, where necessary. The six major
consultancies (DHP, Abbott, Wilby & Burnett, Johnson & Partners,
Barker & Associates, J.R. Davies) have been advised of the position and
have generously agreed to assist where possible.
If
you need to contact the Diocese on property issues, please try either John Lee
in the Finance Department or Ian Beck in the Department of Schools. Contact by e-mail or fax is preferable to
telephone, since both officers are heavily committed for the next few weeks and
may not be able to respond to the immediacy of the telephone.
(Contact Ian
Beck on Ibeck@westminsterdiocese.org.uk
or John Lee on Jlee@westminsterdiocese.org.uk
) Messages may be left with Marlis
Mangatal on 020 7798 9005)
These
procedures apply primarily to all parishes.
They do not replace local authority child protection procedures, which
are binding on the investigating authorities (police and social services) who
may be notified of any allegations or concerns. In most circumstances, schools should continue to follow the
guidance of the Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC) which is a statutory
body set up within each local authority area.
(The Diocesan Child
Protection co-ordinator is Fr Sean Carroll who may be contacted on 020 8838
6401.)
Statement on Comic Relief
and Red Nose Day.
The
Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has issued the following statement in
response to concerns raised last year about the use of funds raised by Comic
Relief:
“Through ‘Red Nose Day’, Comic Relief has
introduced a new mode of charitable giving which expresses the solidarity of
our national and Catholic community with those in great need throughout the
world. Comic Relief’s funding goes
overwhelmingly to support work of which the Catholic community can
wholeheartedly approve.
It
has been alleged that Comic Relief funds are used to support and promote
abortion services. The Bishops’
Conference has sought and received from Comic Relief firm assurances that they
do not fund, and have never funded, abortion services or the promotion of
abortions. After careful examination of
Comic Relief’s records, the Bishops’ Conference is fully satisfied with these
assurances.
There
are, however, a few projects supported by Comic Relief, such as those with a
family planning component, less than three percent of its funding, which may
cause concern to Catholics. The
Bishops’ Conference has been assured that donations to Red Nose Day may be
earmarked for the relief of poverty, or other such broad areas of Comic
Relief’s work as the donors wish to specify.
Comic Relief has undertaken to respect such instructions and has opened
a special bank account for this purpose.
Catholics
may direct donations to CAFOD or other Catholic charities. However, any funds raised under the auspices
of Red Nose Day itself, or by making use of its publicity materials, may not
legally be diverted elsewhere than Comic Relief.”
(A fuller written statement
is available on request from Greeny Longville on 020 7798 9005)
Section
23 Inspections. *
A
revised inspection handbook will be issued in draft form very shortly. Comments will be invited from interested
parties before it is finalised. Until
the new handbook is finalised, agreed by the Education Board and issued, the
existing handbooks dated April 1998 remain in force. Some new materials, for example a self-audit
pro forma and a new reporting format have been piloted but these remain
optional until final approval for their use has been given by the Education
Board, following consultation.
(Enquiries
to Ian Beck on 020 7798 9005)
Along with the revised draft inspection handbook, a revised
draft Framework for Religious Education will also be issued. Comments will be
invited from interested parties before it is presented to the Education Board
for their consideration and approval.
The current version of The Framework for Religious Education may be
viewed at www.westminsterdiocese.org.uk/framework.html
(Enquiries to Anthony Clark
on 020 7798 9006)
Training
for Prospective Section 23 Inspectors.
A
3-day training course for prospective section 23 inspectors has been arranged
for Tuesday 8-Thursday 10 May 2001. It
is being organised jointly by the Dioceses of Westminster, Brentwood, East
Anglia and Northampton and will be held at the All Saints Pastoral Centre, London
Colney.
(Further
written particulars are available from Marlis Mangatal on 020 7798 9005)
Senior Appointments. *
As
a consequence of the retirement of Joan Leith, new arrangements have been made
to ensure that the Diocese is represented at senior appointments.
The
Director of the Department of Schools should be notified in writing as soon as
any of the following vacancies arise
Ø
Headteacher
Ø
Deputy
headteacher
Ø
Head
of RE or RE co-ordinator
Ø
All
RE teachers at secondary level
Ø
Chaplain.
Reference
should be made to The Appointment of
Staff in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Westminster, (May 2000) which
provides detailed written guidance.
Additional written guidance is issued where the vacancy is for a
headteacher.
Under
normal circumstances and whenever possible, the Director will attend in person
where the appointment is to the head or deputy headship of a secondary
school. For all other appointments, the
area RE adviser or one of the Education Officers will represent him. For all appointments other than secondary
head or deputy headship, schools are requested to contact the RE adviser as
early as possible to negotiate mutually convenient dates.
(Further
enquiries to Ian Beck on 020 7798 9005)
Study day on Religious Education 16-19 *
The
study day on RE 16-19 for heads of RE and RE teachers is on Tuesday 23 January
at All Saints, London Colney. The day looks at the new arrangements for 16-19
and their implications for the delivery of RE. The study day will complement
the day on 16-19 provision being organised for headteachers a day later on
Wednesday 24 January at the Russell Hotel by the CES. Application forms have
already been sent out and the closing day is Tuesday 16 January 2001.
(For further information
contact Anthony Clark/Margaret Sheldon on 020 7798 9006.)
Primary Headteachers’
Conference
A
further mailing will be made to all participants later in January, giving
details of travel, and the final programme.
The conference is takes place from 7-9 March 2001 at the Sandbanks
Hotel, Poole, Dorset. The conference is
now full.
(For further information
contact Anthony Clark/Margaret Sheldon on 020 7798 9006.)
The
closing date for applications for this conference, which is being held on
Monday 5 Feb and Tuesday 6 Feb at All Saints, London Colney is Friday 19
January. Applications forms and a draft timetable were sent out before
Christmas. The final timetable and a
copy of the book to be used is being sent out shortly for applications already
received.
(For further information
contact Anthony Clark/Margaret Sheldon on 020 7798 9006.)
Application
forms and a timetable for this conference, which is being held on Thursday 1
March 2001 at All Saints, London Colney, have been sent out. The closing date for applications is Friday
16 February.
(For further information
contact Anthony Clark/Margaret Sheldon on 020 7798 9006.)
RE ICT Competition
The competition for RE and ICT
in secondary schools, REdotCOMp, is being launched at the BETT Exhibition,
Olympia. Those interested are invited
to attend on Wednesday 10 January 2001 15.45 hrs Stand F40, Granada Learning,
where more can be learned about the competition and light refreshments
enjoyed. For further details visit the
website www.culham.ac.uk/redotcomp or contact Nicky Challenger, Culham College
Institute Tel:01235 520458.
(Enquiries to Anthony Clark on 020 7798 9006)
Schoolmanager.net
together with The Stationery Office have produced a 24-page booklet outlining
suggested Internet policies for a school. It is entitled ‘e-Policy
Guidelines for Education’. The booklet is available via electronic mail to
any school who signs up (free) to www.schoolmanager.net
or can be ordered from The Stationery Office at www.clicktso.com.
(Enquiries
to Anthony Clark on 020 7798 9006)
CCRS Study Day - New Testament
The
next CCRS study day is on Saturday 20 January 2001 at Vaughan House. The topic
is the New Testament, and the day will begin at 10am. Fr Mark Langham is the
main speaker. Prior registration is preferable, but registrations - from 9.30
a.m. - are welcome on the day. The
module fee is £15 (£6.50 study day only). Poster enclosed.
(For further information
contact Moira Wilson on 020 7798 9006.)
Fairtrade Fortnight
National Fairtrade Fortnight is 5 - 18 March 2001. It is supported by, among others, CAFOD, Oxfam, and the WI, and is important for highlighting the needs of the poorer trading nations. There is a free Action Display Pack available.
(Contact
www.fairtrade.org.uk or 020 7242 9632.)
Visit
to Cambridge University for sixth-formers.
The
diocese, together with the Archdiocese of Southwark, has arranged a visit to
Cambridge University for pupils in the lower sixth who are looking at
universities to apply to in the Autumn term.
The trip will take place 20–21 June 2001 and will include the
opportunity to stay overnight in one of the Colleges and to talk to an
admissions tutor and subject specialists.
Places are limited, so schools and colleges who have pupils wishing to
take part are asked to let us have numbers as soon as you can. Schools and colleges wishing to send a
number of pupils are encouraged to also send a member of staff. To book places (ideally by the end of
January) please contact Paul Barber pbarber@westminsterdiocese.org.uk.
(Further details from Paul
Barber on 020 7798 9005)
End.