Education Service
Bulletin
3/03 May 2003
Enclosed are details of the re-appointment process
for all those foundation governors whose term of office ends on 31st
August 2003. This only applies to schools in the trusteeship of the diocese. For
further advice contact Maureen Roe at: maureenroe@rcdow.org.uk
or on 0207 798 9005.
i) New Guideline Document
Attached
to this bulletin is a ‘School Premises Policy and Guideline Document’. It is hoped that the information contained
in this document will help headteachers and governors in understanding and
implementing their responsibilities in this area of management. A draft was sent to a number of heads and
governors who provided helpful comments and Sally Livesey would like to thank
those who contributed to this process.
A copy will be placed on our website so that it is widely available and
we suggest that this is drawn to the attention of all governors with premises
responsibilities.
A
list of all projects which were approved by the diocese and the LEA under the
LCVAP (Locally Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programme) is attached. Please note however, that this is a snapshot
and there may be some changes as the year progresses. In general, the sums of money shown represent the total amount
approved. Individual schools will have received letters from the diocese and/or
from the LEA which give more details such as expected formula funding
contributions. If there are
discrepancies, the letters should be regarded as the correct position.
iii)
Targeted Capital Fund (Major Projects)
Out
of twelve schemes submitted, the diocese was successful with three this
year. These are:
St Joseph’s Primary School, Highgate (Islington
LEA)
St Joseph’s Primary School, Maida Vale
(Westminster LEA)
St Anne’s Secondary School (Enfield LEA)
Many
congratulations to those schools which were successful, but we are aware of and
share the disappointments of those
which did not succeed. Several
schools have expressed a wish to repeat the bids for the next round.
Department for Religious Education
and Inspection
Funding for General Religious Education.*
Schools will have received an update from the Catholic Education Service
on the most recent round of consultation on funding for Post 16 General
Religious Education. John Rourke is now
working on behalf of the CES and closely with the LSC to secure a level of
funding for all courses in the next round of bidding. It is likely that there
will be two levels of funding, the higher level for an accredited course and a
reduced level for courses accredited by a national accrediting body. (This is
similar to the way in which the sixth form colleges are funded). An outline programme for religious
education, drawn up a national working group, is almost in final draft.
School Self Evaluation.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged the self evaluation process.
The evidence of development in the prayer life of the schools that colleagues
brought to the primary heads conference was inspiring. Colleagues in secondary
schools and colleges are underway but, in case there is need for a
reminder, I am enclosing the materials
that were sent out in February. A disk version was included in the mailing.
As we move on in the evaluation process towards spiritual
development, the self evaluation will
link also with the ‘At Your Word Lord’ themes.
In this way, prayer and spiritual development will be taking place at
the heart of our learning communities.
Recent appeal for Secondary School Text books.
Thank you very much for the generous response to Bishop Stack’s
letter on behalf of Bishop Biguzzi from
Sierra Leone. The Xaverian Missionary Congregation are arranging the
collection.
In-service
Training Programme.
Enclosed with the bulletin are reminders about summer term meetings
and in-service days. Please make
application as soon as possible to ensure a place. Thank you .
Advanced Skills Teachers - Religious Education.
This is to encourage headteachers to
consider the opportunity for some Advanced Skills teaching in religious education. It does involve
negotiation with the LEA. We have
several Catholic posts across the country but it would help to have them in the
diocese. I can offer help with the
standards. Please let me know.
Staffing Vacancy within the Department:
The department is advertising for a Secondary
Adviser for Schools and Colleges ( 0.5 ).
The person appointed will assist the Director mainly in supporting and
furthering the Catholic life, Religious Education and inspection in the secondary phase.
Details will be published shortly on the website and in the Tablet.
Independent Admission Appeal Committees
We currently have a small list of people across
the Diocese, who are willing to serve as independent admission appeal committee
members/clerks. We want to update this list and add further names. Please
forward the names of those interested to Maureen Roe at maureeroe@rcdow.org.uk Please indicate whether this is as a member
or clerk.
Continuing Professional Development
Teachers in their
fourth and fifth years of teaching are eligible for a £500 Professional Bursary.
Successful applicants can spend their award on any work-related development
activity they choose. If teachers will have entered their fourth or fifth year
of teaching on or after 1 September 2001,they can telephone the Professional
Bursaries Administration Service on 0845 039 0208 to find out how to
claim their bursary entitlement. Or check out: www.teachernet.gov.uk/Professional_Development/bursaries
The Early Professional Development Pilot programme
The programme is a year
old. Over the last twelve months nearly 3,000 second and third year teachers
have taken advantage of the scheme-which offers them up to £2,100 to spend on
their individual professional development. Do you have a second or third year
teacher in a pilot LEA who is interested in enhancing their professional
development? (Pilot LEAs in the diocese are Kensington and Chelsea and
Hammersmith and Fulham).
Check out: www.teachernet.gov.uk/Professional_Development/opportunities/early_professional_development.
Sabbaticals Scheme for Teachers – ( Teachers who have
taught in challenging circumstances for five years or more can apply for this.)
The Sabbatical Scheme
for Experienced Teachers in Challenging Schools will provide £6000 to cover
teacher supply costs, so that experienced teachers can undertake a significant
period of development.The purpose is to enhance their learning and
effectiveness, and produce subsequent
benefits both for their pupils
and their school. The scheme applies to teachers, advanced skills teachers, and
assistant, deputy or head teachers with five or more years’ experience in
schools where 50 % or more of the pupils are eligible for free school meals.
The sabbatical, which can last up to six weeks, can be taken flexibly: one day
per week during the academic year, three blocks of two weeks and so on. Check
out:www.dfes.gov.uk/teacher/professional_development
or the Sabbaticals
helpline on 020 7925 6777
Professional Development for Teaching Assistants
St Mary’s College,
Strawberry Hill, run a two–year day release course that supports Teaching
Assistants with their professional development. For more information contact
Bev Wight on 020 8240 2308
Teacher Recruitment
Head Teachers will find
enclosed with this bulletin the third edition of the list of potential recruits
for our Catholic schools. Also, for your information: in future, as well as
communicating with schools through this route, I am going to try e-mail schools on a regular basis as and
when potential recruits approach the
Diocese about possible vacancies. - Contact Maureen Roe on
0207 798 9005 or e-mail maureenroe@rcdow.org.uk
Governor Training
Performance Management
Training for Governors, Sat 21st June at The Niland Conference Centre, Bushey,
Hertfordshire –all link/training governors in all our schools across the
Diocese have received details about this course. Details enclosed again for
ease of reference.
For more information
please contact maureenroe@rcdow.org.uk
Two future dates for
your diaries – Governors’ Induction Training:
Saturday November 29th 2003 and Saturday 24th January 2004.
Details to follow.
Aspiring Heads and Aspiring Deputy Heads Courses
The dates for these
important courses are: Aspiring Heads: Tues
Nov 18th – Thurs Nov 20th, 2003;
Aspiring Deputy Heads:
Tues 13th Jan – Thurs 15th Jan 2004.
Please encourage all
those aspiring to these senior leadership roles in our schools to attend these
courses. Flyers and more details to follow.
Special good wishes to Blessed John Roche School
in Tower Hamlets which has just come out of Special Measures. They are,
quite rightly, celebrating in style! Congratulations to all involved.
Congratulations to Douay Martyrs School on
becoming a DfES designated Training School from September 2003.
Congratulations to all the schools who have
received School Achievement Awards this year. It’s splendid to have so
many that they won’t fit into this slot! See special insert instead.
Please
keep the good news rolling in.
`
Vaughan House
46 Francis Street London SW1P
1QN Tel: 020 7798 9005 Fax: 020 7798 9013
E-mail:
greenylongville@rcdow.org.uk Registered Charity No. 233699
GOOD NEWS SLOT – SPECIAL INSERT
SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2003
St Aloysius Infants and La Sainte Union in Camden;
Our Lady and St Joseph Primary, St Dominic’s Primary, Our Lady’s Convent High
and Cardinal Pole in Hackney; Holy Cross Primary, St Augustine’s
Primary, Larmenier and Sacred Heart Primary, Pope John Primary, St Thomas of
Canterbury Primary, Sacred Heart High School, The Oratory School – all in Hammersmith
and Fulham; St Peter and St Paul Primary, Blessed Sacrament Primary
and Mount Carmel Technology College in Islington; Oratory
Primary, St Francis of Assisi Primary, St Joseph Primary, Our Lady of
Victories Primary, St Thomas More Secondary, Sion-Manning Secondary and
Cardinal Vaughan Secondary in Kensington and Chelsea; St
Elizabeth Primary, St Agnes Primary and Bishop Challoner Collegiate
School in Tower Hamlets; Our Lady of Dolours Primary, St Edward’s
Primary, St Joseph’s Primary and St Vincent’s Primary in
Westminster; The Annunciation Infant and Junior Schools, Our Lady
of Lourdes Primary, St Joseph’s Junior, Blessed Dominic Primary and
Finchley Catholic High in Barnet; Our Lady of Grace Junior and Infant
and Nursery Schools, St Margaret Clitherow Primary, St Mary’s
Primary and the Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College in Brent;
Our Lady of the Visitation Primary, St John Fisher Primary, St Gregory
Primary, St Vincent Primary and Cardinal Wiseman Secondary School in
Ealing; St Mary’s Primary, St Edmund’s Primary, St George’s Primary,
St Monica’s Primary and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary in Enfield;
St John Vianney Primary in Haringey; St Anselm’s Primary, St John Fisher
First and Middle, St Joseph’s Primary and Salvatorian College in
Harrow; St Swithun Wells Primary and St Catherine Primary in Hillingdon;
Our Lady and St John’s Primary, St Michael’s and St Martin’s Primary and
Gumley House Secondary in Hounslow; St James’s Primary in Richmond;
St Alban and St Stephen Infant and Nursery, Our Lady’s Primary(Welwyn Garden City),
St Albert the Great Primary, St Thomas More Primary (Berkhamsted), St
Thomas More Primary (Letchworth), St Dominic Primary, Sacred Heart Primary
(Ware), Holy Rood Infants, St Anthony Primary, St Joan of Arc Secondary –
all in Hertfordshire; Our Lady of the Rosary Primary and Christ
the King First School in Surrey.
WELL
DONE TO THEM ALL