Archdiocese of Westminster

Education Service

Bulletin 5/03 August 2003

To: Head Teachers and Governing Bodies

To: Head Teachers and Chairs of Governing Bodies

Items marked* do not apply to independent schools

Welcome!

A very warm welcome to all new members of staff who have joined our schools this term. We wish them success and happiness in their new roles.

A special welcome – and congratulations – to the following Headteachers who take up headships in the diocese this September:

q Paul Adams, St Ignatius College, Enfield

q Sue Faulkner, St Mary and St Michael Primary, Tower Hamlets

q Mary Kelliher, St Augustine’s Primary, Hammersmith

q Pauline Moss, St Joseph’s Junior, Wembley

q Angela Murphy, Bishop Douglass High, Finchley

q Nicholas O’Sullivan, St Columba’s College, St Albans

q Eileen Plunkett, St Augustine’s Primary, Hoddesdon

q Angela Rawlinson, St Mary’s Preparatory School, NW3

Their generosity and commitment are vital to the Church’s mission in our diocese.

School Complaints Procedure

A reminder that, as from 1^st September 2003, Governing Bodies of all maintained schools in England are required to have in place a procedure to deal with complaints relating to the school and to any community facilities or services that the school provides. The law (Education Act 2002, section 29) also requires the procedure to be publicised. Most schools already have such a procedure in place but they may wish to update it in the light of recent DfES guidance (available via: www.governornet.co.uk). Our own diocesan procedure, adopted by many of our schools, has now been updated in accordance with this guidance and a copy is included for all schools with this bulletin. Schools who at present use a procedure based on an LEA model might like to note that in our procedure the governing body is the final, appeal, stage of any formal complaint. LEAs have no remit to review or overrule the decisions of the governing body of a voluntary aided school. It is, therefore, inappropriate for a voluntary aided school to adopt a complaints procedure that includes an appeal to the LEA.

All maintained schools are invited to adopt the enclosed diocesan procedure. Workshops in its use will be offered later in the term. Independent schools may need to adapt the procedures to fit in with their particular structure of governance before adopting the procedure.

(For further information, or for advice and support in dealing with complaints, please contact Liz Duffy on 020 7798 9005 or email: elizabethduffy@rcdow.org.uk)

Staffing Changes in the Education Service

We were so sorry to say goodbye to Paul Uden at the end of term and we join with many heads who wish him success in his new appointment as deputy head of The Bishop Thomas Grant School in Southwark. We hope to meet with Paul for a more formal goodbye at the end of September. We welcome Peter Ward, former deputy head from the Gunnersbury Catholic School, who has been appointed as a secondary adviser in the Department of RE and Inspection. Another adviser position is being advertised in The Tablet and on the diocesan website. (For further information contact Rita Price on 020 7798 9006 or email: ritaprice@rcdow.org.uk)

We welcome Mike Pittendreigh to the team in the Department of Schools as from 1^st September.

CES Personnel Procedures

The revised Capability, Disciplinary, Grievance and Sickness Absence Procedures are now in the final stages of consultation with professional associations. The CES expects them to be ready in October. We will be offering training in their use later this term for governors and head teachers. Dates will be finalised as soon as the procedures are out. (For further information, or support on such personnel matters, contact Liz Duffy on 020 7798 9005 or email: elizabethduffy@rcdow.org.uk)

Priest’s Reference Forms

Many thanks for the excellent response to the consultation on the priest’s reference form. If you wish to see a summary of the responses, it is available on our website. The consultation with the dioceses of Brentwood and Southwark is continuing and an agreed common form will be issued with final admissions guidance later this term. In the meantime, an interim reference form will be available on the website in the next few days. See www.rcdow.org.uk/education.

Bids for capital funding 2004-2005*

Attached to this bulletin is a letter of invitation to bid for funding under the Locally Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programme (LCVAP) for the financial year 2004 – 2005. If you are considering any capital investment in your school which is beyond the scope of your formula funding, please read this letter carefully, discuss it with your building consultant and submit a completed form (also attached – lilac) to Sally Livesey by 15^th October.

CCRS Study Day

The next study day for the CCRS is on Saturday 20^th September 2003 at Vaughan House, starting at 10am. The Module is on The Church. Extra tutorial centres have been set up, one in East London and one in West London. Participants can register on the day but prior registration is appreciated. It is important to indicate to new staff that this is a good point to start the CCRS. It will include an introduction to At Your Word, Lord, the local church looking to renew itself. (Contact Moira Wilson on 020 8202 3611 or by e-mail moirawilson@rcdow.org.uk )

At Your Word Lord (AYWL)

Schools and colleges are called into the diocesan process of renewal. The start is to be marked with Mass celebrated at the Wembley Arena on Friday, 26 September. Every school has been invited to send representatives. Please will governors and heads connect their schools with this important occasion. A small working group has prepared a list of proposals to link the work of the schools with the AYWL themes and this will be circulated at the start of the term. Several schools have begun to link with the local parish events. AYWL will be seen as supporting current initiatives such as in self-evaluation, prayer, spiritual and moral development. (Contact Rita Price on 020 7798 9006 or email: ritaprice@rcdow.org.uk)

Courses for Aspiring Heads and Deputies (Closing dates 19^th Sept and 14^th Nov)

Don’t forget the Aspiring Heads and Deputies courses run jointly by the Dioceses of Brentwood, East Anglia, Northampton and Westminster. Flyers were sent out with the last bulletin. Admin is handled by Brentwood Diocese (Contact Janet Simmons on 01277 265284).

Training Programme for Continuing Professional Development

The new training programme from the Department of RE and Inspection has been sent out to schools and this aims to support the priorities for 2003/2004. Briefly listed below are some of the key areas which will extend our vision, planning and development.

q Developments in self-evaluation. The next section for closer review will be that of spiritual and moral development. Additional materials will be circulated shortly to support this work.

q Changes to the Inspection Framework affecting Section 10 and Section 23. The changes operate from 1 September 2003. The Section 23 has been modified in response to the changes in Section 10. Inspectors have attended update training and further in-service is offered for heads, governors and staff.

q The focus on curriculum change and development is a high priority for the Catholic curriculum and religious education. At every Key Stage there is the opportunity to develop learning, share practice and to weigh current thinking. A symposium on religious education is proposed for the Spring term. (For further information contact Rita Price on 020 7798 9006 or email: ritaprice@rcdow.org.uk)

Re-appointment of Foundation Governors*

The terms of office for the majority of our foundation governors across the diocese ended on 31st August 2003. The re-appointment process has been completed during the summer for all those schools who returned the essential forms and information. Written confirmation will be sent out in the next few days. The small number of schools who have not yet returned the paperwork to enable this process to happen have been contacted separately. Please respond as a matter of urgency.

The response to the recruitment of new Foundation Governors through parish bulletins has been excellent and we are very grateful to our parish priests for supporting this initiative.

(Any queries please contact Maureen Roe on 020 7798 9005 or e-mail maureenroe@rcdow.org.uk)

Re-constitution of Governing Bodies*

A reminder that the diocese will liaise directly with all LEAs to ensure that Instruments of Government are revised between September 2004 and September 2006: full guidance is being prepared for all maintained Catholic schools. It is not anticipated that most schools need to take any action on this matter until next year at the earliest. If any school considers that there are particular reasons for re-constituting in advance of this timetable, they are asked to contact the Director of Schools in the first instance. (Contact Paul Barber on 020 7798 9005 or e-mail: paulbarber@rcdow.org.uk)

Governor Training

A comprehensive programme of training is planned for this academic year. Two Induction days for new governors, and those needing a refresher, are planned for Saturday 29th November and Saturday 24th January, both at Vaughan House. New governors will be given these dates when they are appointed. Other training on offer will include Personnel Issues, School Premises Management, Clerking of Governing Bodies and Appeal Panels, Admissions and Appeals (appeal panel member training will also be available), Performance Management.

For some of the training we will be contacting schools to ask them to act as hosts. Details of venues and dates will be issued with the next bulletin in October.

(Contact Maureen Roe on 020 7798 9005 or e-mailmaureenroe@rcdow.org.uk)

Teacher Recruitment

Head teachers will find enclosed with this bulletin a list of potential recruits for our Catholic schools. Contact details vary so if you have any queries please contact Maureen Roe. If you have been unable to fill vacancies for September, you may wish to register this with Maureen so that, where appropriate, people who contact the diocese about teaching posts in the next few weeks can be matched more easily to available posts. The response to the advert placed in all parish bulletins about teachers in non-catholic schools who may wish to return to Catholic education has been heartening. Some evidence of this is given on the list.(Contact Maureen Roe on 020 7798 9005, or e-mail maureenroe@rcdow.org.uk)

Day conference on Vatican II and Biblical characters

On Friday 17^th October 2003, Bishop Remi De Roo, retired bishop from Victoria, Canada, gives a morning conference starting at 10.30 at Vaughan House on Vatican II. He attended the council as a newly ordained bishop. In the afternoon, together with Pearl Gervais, he presents a conference on Biblical Characters – sources of life. £10 for the day. Details at www.rcdow.org.uk/lilac/remi.html

(Contact Maria Leondiou on 020 8202 3611 or email marialeondiou@rcdow.org.uk)

LSC 14-19 Strategic Area Reviews

The Learning and Skills Council has now issued the guidance on this process (LSC Circular 03/06). We are pleased that, unlike the draft guidance, the Circular makes it clear that dioceses must be actively involved in carrying out Strategic Area Reviews, and we are discussing the nature of our involvement with local LSCs. Schools and Colleges will shortly be requested to review their educational character and mission, and guidance on this process will shortly be sent by the diocese to secondary schools and colleges. In the meantime, governing bodies are reminded that they are appointed to preserve and develop the educational character and mission of a Catholic school or college which is determined by its trustees, under the supervision of the local bishop. It is therefore essential that the school’s trustees and the diocese are involved from the outset in any discussions of this nature.

(Contact Paul Barber: 020 7798 9005, e-mail: paulbarber@rcdow.org.uk.)

Connexions – ‘Partnership Agreements’*

Dialogue is continuing with local Connexions Services over the content of Partnership Agreements: these are the key document where the safeguards for the Catholic ethos of the school must be located. We are aware that a number of schools have not been made aware that this is the case before being asked to enter into these agreements. A reminder to all secondary schools and colleges that they should await advice from the Department of Schools before entering into or renewing any Partnership Agreement with the local Connexions Service. In cases of difficulty, please contact the Department of Schools or refer the local Connexions Service to us.