WESTMINSTER DIOCESE EDUCATION SERVICE

 NB Items marked * do not apply to independent schools

 1. Revised CES Model Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures (August 1998) *

Despite the substantial revision of the previous procedures, it would appear that there remains confusion with regard to the nature and conduct of appeal hearings that arise from staff disciplinary decisions. Included with this bulletin is further advice on this matter that should be incorporated as an appendix to the revised procedures.

The Government believes that decisions on school organisation and admissions matters should be taken wherever possible at local level; in effect at local authority level. To this end recent legislation provides for new arrangements which will support existing local partnership in the provision of school places.

The Roman Catholic Church has been accorded representation on both School Organisation and Admission Forums and DfEE preliminary guidance suggests that this representation might best be undertaken by a combination of diocesan officials, foundation governors and possibly headteachers. At present there are no indications that other persons would be disqualified to sit as members.

School Organisation Committees are due to be established in all LEA areas by April 1999. Preliminary discussion of this matter might best take place in Deanery schools meetings, subsequently, persons who feel they may be able to serve on either forum, are invited to submit nominations, as soon as possible, to the Schools Administration Department for consideration for appointment.

Headteachers and governing bodies are reminded that the WDES Schools Administration Department is required to ensure the presence of an adviser or officer to represent the Bishop at such appointments. Would headteachers therefore please make early contact as indicated below to ensure the availability of such representative when a vacancy for a deputy headship occurs.

Central and East Areas with Sr Victoria Hummel on 0171 247 9474

Hertfordshire with Sr Judith Russi on 01727 826014

North and West Areas with Joan Leith on 0171 798 9005

All schools please contact Joan Leith on 0171 798 9005

It is essential that the diocesan Job Description for the appropriate post be obtained from the WDES. The procedures for advertising and appointing must be in accordance with section 2 of the WDES document Guidance on the Appointment of Staff, issued in September 1996.

Enclosed with this Bulletin are posters and application forms, coloured pink, for the interdiocesan courses for aspiring heads and deputies in the academic year 1999-2000. These courses are provided only once annually and this early information is sent to you to assist in planning the financing of the training budget. Early booking is recommended since the coming course for aspiring deputies on January 18-21 1999 has 40 members and we are fortunate that London Colney has been able to offer additional accommodation.

The cost for these four-day residential courses will be £180. In the past, it has been possible, in certain circumstances, to offer a full or part bursary to fund a recommended candidate.

Aside from the East Region in-service training described above, it is also intended to offer, in Vaughan House in September 1999, and at St Anne’s London Colney in January 2000, at a cost of £50, the five session twilight course on Leadership in Catholic Education. Further information will be sent to schools in due course but again early notice is given to facilitate financial planning.

It is the aim of the service to deal as promptly as possible with all telephone enquiries. Our lines are attended during normal working hours (0900 – 1700 Schools Administration Department, 0930 - 1700 RE and Catechesis Department). Outside these hours an answering machine is available to record messages.

When telephoning, callers may hear a prolonged ringing tone. This is a result of the holding system attempting to deal with more than one incoming call. Unfortunately, the current Vaughan House telephone system lacks the capability of informing callers that their call is held in a queue and hence a caller can be left with the impression that the telephone is unattended! Nor can the system produce an engaged tone.

All telephone calls addressed to officers are logged by our secretaries and it would be helpful if callers were to state whether or not they wished the call to be returned and at what time. When answering calls, WDES staff try to be as helpful as possible to callers by providing information regarding officer availability.

Comments on the efficiency of our telephone response to schools are invited, as the service wishes to be responsive to the needs of our schools.

The Cardinal has received an inquiry through GAP to as to whether or not a Catholic secondary school in London might be willing to establish a student exchange with the Arcibiskupske Gymnazium, Prague, Czech Republic.

The school is located in the centre of Prague and caters for the age range 11 to 19 (mixed).

Further details are available from: Mr Roger Adams, The Old Vicarage, Compton Dundon, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6PE. Tel 01458-272324. Alternatively, schools may wish to contact the gymnazium directly. (The Principal speaks good English)

Dr Krizek (Principal)

Arcibiskupske Gymnazium

Korunni 2

Praha 2

Czech Republic

The next study day for the CCRS is on Jesus Christ on Saturday 24 April 1999 at Vaughan House. The day begins at 10am, ending 4pm. It costs £15.00 for a module but £6.50 for the day only. Registration is possible on the day but advance booking is preferable.

His Eminence Cardinal Hume will be spending the first morning of the conference in dialogue with us about preparing for the Holy Year. The conference begins at 9.30 am on Thursday 11 March 1999 and ends mid-afternoon on Friday 12 March. Further details and booking forms will be circulated shortly.

The booking form and final details have been circulated to all primary Deputy Heads. The theme of this conference is Assisting the vision and leadership partnership between head and deputy. It begins at 9.30am on Monday 8 February 1999 and ends mid-afternoon on Tuesday 9 February.

Would those secondary deputy headteachers who have not already done so please respond to their area representatives, as indicated below, regarding their intention to attend this years’ conference. It is important to let the representative have any nil responses to ensure that sufficient accommodation is available but no avoidable expense is incurred through a shortfall in bookings.

Area representatives are

North Christine Leach at St Thomas More Wood Green Fax 0181 889 6496

Central Geof Hearn at St Charles Sixth Form College Fax 0181 968 1061

East Sue Kerrigan at Cardinal Pole, Hackney Tel 0181 985 5646

Herts John Billington at St Mary’s Bishops Stortford Fax 01279 653 889

West Gary Lewis at St Mark’s Hounslow Fax 0181 577 0559

The theme of the day will concern Judaism, and will refer to its place in the RE Curriculum Directory. Further details will be sent out in April 1999. The day is offered twice and will be the same at each venue. It is offered at Maria Assumpta Centre in Kensington on Tuesday 15 June 1999 and at All Saints, London Colney on Wednesday 16 June 1999.

The date of Education Sunday is Sunday 31 January 1999. The theme is Education Changes. The CES have mailed schools directly with further information. Schools may wish to start planning activities for the week starting 25 January 1999 leading up to Education Sunday. There is a second collection in each parish on Education Sunday itself.

JC2000 is the Millennium Arts Festival for Schools. The Cardinal is a member of its council. The local coordinator for JC2000 in the London Area is Roger Catley. Material has already been sent to your school directly but further information can be obtained - tel 0171 603 6166. For connection to a wide variety of sources, do look at http://www.westminsterdiocese.org.uk

In preparation for the Holy Year of the Lord 2000, the Holy Father has designated 1999 as the Year of the Father. A useful quote to attach to any prayer or reflection on the theme is John 14.23.

In Bulletin 8/98, we asked schools to let us know which technical consultants they had appointed in consequence of Bishop Nichols’ letter of 2 April, 1998

The response to date has been sparse and the item is reproduced below as a prompt: