Registered Charity Number 233699
WDES Bulletin 06/99
To: Chairmen of Governing Bodies of Roman Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Westminster
Cc:Headteachers
NB Items marked * do not apply to independent schools
Diocesan Website: http://www.westminsterdiocese.org.uk
1. Mea Culpa.
The following were omitted from the list of newly appointed headteachers, published in Bulletin 5/99
St Adrian, St Albans South Mrs Yvonne Hawkes
Divine Saviour, Abbots Langley Mrs E. Barton.
2. Schools Memorial Mass for Cardinal Hume
Many thanks are extended to all who came to the memorial Mass and especially to those who helped with the service. The memory sheets you presented are moving. They will be placed in a large display file, which will be available at the various conferences in the course of the year. Some are already displayed on the diocesan website and eventually all will be.
3. RE Consultation
Details of the consultation of the Bishops Conference on Expectations of Classroom RE in Catholic Schools are included. It consists of the covering letter, the text leaflet and a proforma response sheet. Do encourage staff, governors, clergy, parish and parents to consider the issues and send in their views - the deadline is the 17 November 1999. You are free to photocopy the papers widely. Replies are to be sent to the Bishops Conference and the diocesan bishop; the latter in Westminster is Bishop Nichols, Westminster House, Watford Way, Hendon, London NW4 4TY. (Further details will be found in the RE and Catechesis Webpages on the diocesan page - address at top - or phone Anthony Clark on 020 7798 9006.)
4. RE Conferences (Secondary)
The secondary Heads of RE conference is at All Saints, London Colney, starting on Thursday 11 November and finishing on Friday 12 November 1999. Details and application forms have been sent to all secondary schools.
(Further details from 020 7798 9006.)
5. RE Conferences (Primary)
The study days for Primary RE Coordinators will both be on the same topic, but offered in two places on two dates. The first study day is at Maria Assumpta on Thursday 15 June 2000 and the second is at All Saints, London Colney on Tuesday 27 June 2000. (Further details from 020 7798 9006.)
6. Preparation for the Holy Year
Schools have each planned how they are preparing for the Holy Year, both with other schools in their area and for themselves. One suggestion is that each school makes a point of getting its website up and running in time for Advent and including some details of its preparation. Do let Anthony Clark have the address of your school's website - you will find them listed in the diocesan website - see top page. Send an email to aclark@westminsterdiocese.org.uk or phone 020 7798 9006.
7. BBC Sex Education Programmes - Learning to be You
These programmes are currently being broadcast for all key stages. The BBC claims to be presenting 'morally neutral' material in these programmes and is leaving it to the schools to 'add on' their particular moral code. Philosophically such a view is untenable and schools are advised to use the material with caution, ensuring those parts they do use conform with Church teaching.
(For further details contact Anthony Clark on 020 7798 9006.)
8. Letter approving RE programme conformity to Curriculum Directory
Following the approval of the Framework for RE (see item 16 in previous bulletin 5/99) schools coming up for inspection now each receive a letter from their RE adviser confirming that their RE programme conforms to the RE Curriculum Directory. If their RE programme doesn't yet conform, the Director of RE will write a letter to that effect and the Section 23/HMI inspector will make it one of the key issues for the school to work on. (For further details contact Anthony Clark on 020 7798 9006.)
9. CCRS Study Day
The next CCRS study day is on Saturday 15 January 2000 at Vaughan House. The topic is Sacraments, and will begin at 10am. Prior registration is preferable but new students are welcome on the day. Module fee is £15 (£6.50 study day only).
(Contact Moira Wilson on 020 7798 9006.)
10. Lecturer - St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill
Approaching his sixtieth birthday, Rev Deacon Duncan Macpherson in the Theology and Religious Studies Dept at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill is retiring. He hopes to continue serving the Catholic community and is available either for adult theology lectures or for tutoring A level groups in specific theological areas. He specialises in Catholic theology and in other faiths.
(Tel 0181 755 4162.)
Where this matter has been addressed and deputy headship appointments are pending it is essential to negotiate dates for shortlisting and interviewing with both the LEA and this service. The appropriate contact person in this service is:
Sr Judith for primary deputy headship in Herts
Sr Victoria for primary deputy headship in East and Central areas
Joan Leith for all other deputy headship appointments.
Headteachers are reminded of the requirement to use the appropriate Diocesan Job Description, obtainable from this office, for deputy headship appointments.
(Further information on this item please contact Joan Leith on 020 7798 9005)
12. Diocesan Documentation *
Many of the documents provided by this service have been updated in recent months. In particular the application forms for the appointment of foundation governors and for teaching staff have been updated to reflect recent legislation. Please ensure that the current version (available from this office) is used from now on.
13. Leadership Courses.
There are still two places available on the four-day residential course for Aspiring Headteachers in November and headteachers are reminded that a bursary covering the course costs [but not supply cover] may be available to a small school.
The course for Aspiring Deputies in January 2000 is almost full but again a bursary is available for a teacher in a small school.
(Further enquiries to Joan Leith on 020 7798 9005).
14. Legal Expenses Insurance.
In Bulletin 04/99, guidance was issued on the procedure to be followed where a governing body was threatened with legal proceedings. The guidance included the telephone number of the Legal Advisory Centre, together with an instruction to take advice from this source before responding to any serious threat of legal proceedings.
Thankfully, few schools have been required to make use of this service. The experience of those that have has been mixed and much seems to depend on the knowledge and experience of the person who answers the call. Some schools have been given a prompt and helpful response, culminating in the appointment of a solicitor or an employment consultant who takes charge of the case. One or two, sadly, have had a different experience.
If schools receive an unhelpful response from the Legal Advisory Centre, they should immediately contact John Rogers, Insurance Manager of the Catholic Church Insurance Association on 01296 422030. If, for any reason, Mr Rogers is unavailable or is unable to respond sufficiently promptly, please contact the Head Office of the CCIA in Glasgow on 0845 603 0337.
(The WDES contact for issues concerning legal expenses insurance is Ian Beck. For property insurance issues, please contact David Squires, both on 020 7798 9005)
15 Governors’ Support and Training
A session for governors who have only recently taken up office is available at John Henry Newman School, Stevenage on Saturday 13 November from 10.00am to 1.00pm. The school has kindly offered to provide buffet lunch for £2 at the end of the session.
(Please contact the school secretary on 01438 314643 to reserve a
place and inform her if you wish to stay for lunch.)
16 Study Day - INFORM's winter seminar
The body that maintains informed and critical study of religious sects is presenting its winter seminar on Saturday 27 November 1999 at the London School of Economics. It is entitled 'The New Religious Movements and Rites of Passage'. The main speakers are Prof. Eileen Barker and Rev Canon Dr Martyn Percy.
(For further details ring 020 7955 7654 or fax 020 7955 7679.)
17 Storykeepers
The pack containing all thirteen episodes of The Storykeepers is now available, together with a useful guide relating the 47 parables and gospel stories to the liturgical year (RE Teacher guide version). It costs £75 and is available from Bill Upchurch in Ruislip on 01895 624774 or by mailorder (add £3.50) from Ross Coad 01460 242405.
(Further details from Margaret Sheldon on 020 7798 9006.)
This picks up paragraph 5.7 on page 11 of the Code of Practice: School Admissions, which states 'admission authorities should carefully consider the possible impact, direct or indirect of equal opportunities on the over subscription criteria'. Whilst the adjudication is not binding on any other admission authority, the adjudicator's view that the use of these criteria might be unlawful has considerable force. Governing bodies will need to be clear about the justification if they are to be used.
(Please refer any queries to Ian Beck on 020 7798 9005)
(For further information contact Christians Aware 0116 254 0770.) End