Westminster Diocese Education Service
Bulletin 2 1997
Despatched 14th April 1997
11 April, 1997.
Dear Colleague,
1. CCRS Study Day on Jesus Christ
The next study day of the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) is on Saturday 10 May 1997 from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm at The Grey Coat Hospital Upper School, Greycoat Place, London SW1. The nearest tube is St James's Park. Fr Eamonn Mulcahy CSSp from the Missionary Institute London is the lead speaker. The subsequent study day is on Saturday 13 September, Module 4, on The Church. The cost of a module is £15.00 (day only £6.50). Advance booking preferable but is not required.
(For further information and booking details contact Moira Wilson on 0171 798 9006.)
2. Primary Headteachers Conference
The conference is from 9.15am on Wednesday 7 May to Thursday 8 May 3.30pm at London Colney. Details and an application form were sent to every primary headteacher before Easter. A further application form and the final programme are included with this bulletin. The final session will be a talk by His Eminence Cardinal Hume OSB, on the spiritual development of teachers. Father Anthony Smithwick OSB will be offering us a meditative reflection on the Wednesday evening. You are reminded that the closing date for applications is Monday 28 April.
(For further information contact Sr Patrice on 0171 798 9005.)
3. Inform Conference
The annual Inform Conference is on Saturday 3rd May entitled New Religious Movements and Violence.
(Further details can be obtained from Inform on 0171 955 7654.)
4. Two Chaplains' Conferences
A summer school for school chaplains is being held from 2-6th June 1997 in Southampton to launch the MA in chaplaincy ministry. For further information contact Rev Kenneth Owens of the Chaplaincy Development Initiative based at LSU College of Higher Education - phone 01703 228761 Extension 2358.
The Annual conference of ACCE is being held at the James Gracie Centre in Birmingham from 18-20 June 1997.
(For further details contact Sr Barbara Brent (The ACCE Conference Secretary) on 01223 214269.)
5. Living Theology
The excellent theology course run by the Jesuits this year is from 26 July to 1 August 1997.
(Contact Douglas Harvey-Browne, 50 Thorndale Close, Chatham, Kent ME5 9SW.)
6. Advertisements for Primary and Secondary RE Advisers *
An advertisement is to be placed shortly for a secondary RE Adviser for the Central and West Areas of the diocese, to start in September.
(Contact Paul Forsdick on 0171 798 9001 for the job description and application form.)
Brentwood Diocese is looking for both a primary and a secondary RE adviser.
(For further details contact Fr George Stokes, or his secretary on 01277 215689.)
7. Pitstop Evening
PIT is the well known acronym for the Pool of Inactive Teachers and a pitstop evening is an open evening for those primary teachers who have taken a break from teaching and who would like to return, with a little updating. The evening will be held in the West Area Office at Gumley House, Isleworth on Thursday 12 June 1997 from 7.15pm until 9.15pm (venue subject to confirmation). If there is sufficient demand, an updating course will subsequently be put on, in conjunction with St Mary's College, to answer the update needs.
(For further details contact Kathleen Gilbert at 0181 568 0850.)
8. News of Sr Paula
Your prayers are asked for Sr Paula Egan who gave so many years to the Education Service after her teaching career at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Willesden. She is in a hospice in Ipswich and despite her serious condition is praying for our work in educating young people across the Diocese.
9. Primary RE Coordinators Study Days
Details and application forms will shortly be sent to all primary RE Coordinators on two study days being organised for them. In fact it is the same day being offered twice in two venues, Tuesday 10th June at Vaughan House and Friday 13th June at the pastoral centre, London Colney. The topic is The RE Curriculum Directory and the purpose of the day is to come to a deeper knowledge and understanding of what our Bishops expect our young people to learn and gain from RE.
10. Dates of Forthcoming Conferences
Secondary Heads conference - Thursday 25 September 1997 to Friday 26 at Royal Chace Hotel in Enfield.
Heads of RE - Thursday 6 November 1997 to Friday 7 at All Saints, London Colney.
Primary Deputies - Tuesday 3 February 1998 to Wednesday 4 at All Saints, London Colney.
Secondary Deputies - Tuesday 3 March 1998 to Wednesday 4 March at All Saints, London Colney.
Primary Heads - Wednesday 6 May 1998 to Thursday 7 May at London Colney.
11. Diocesan Conference for Secondary Deputy Headteachers, 1997.
Due to the poor uptake of places, a decision was made with regret, to cancel this event at very short notice. Apologies are offered to those (few) deputies who had made a written commitment to attend.
Given the purpose of diocesan conferences, it is important to research the factors surrounding this situation. In the coming weeks, secondary headteachers and deputy headteachers will be sent a pro-forma inviting comments on the arrangements for this conference in 1998.
(Further enquiries to Joan Leith on 0171 798 9005)
12. Twinning Church Schools in the UK with Schools in South Africa.
Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), the successor organisation to the Anti-Apartheid Movement, recently sent its first national delegation to South Africa. The delegation visited schools and was struck by the dire need; members saw schools set up in converted factories, without equipment, books or facilities.
The movement wishes to encourage the twinning of Church schools in the UK with schools in South Africa, particularly Gauteng, the area around Johannesburg.
(Further information is available from David Kenvyn, Secretary to the south-east region of ACTSA on 0181 550 7188.)
13. Codes of Practice on Admission and Exclusion Appeals. *
The Catholic Education Service (CES) has recently advised diocesan school commissioners that, in the country at large, many independent appeal committees appear to be unaware of the Codes of Practice which govern their proceedings. Given the regular reminders which have been circulated by the WDES, it would be surprising if this were to be a difficulty in schools in the Diocese of Westminster. Nevertheless, complaints are received from time to time from parents and others, that the requirements of the Codes are being disregarded. Whilst, as you would expect, these criticisms are dealt with as they arise, it seems timely to issue a general reminder on some key points.
Independent appeal committees established by the governing bodies of voluntary aided schools are subject to the Local Authority Associations' Code of Practice. Those established by the governing bodies of grant maintained schools are subject to the DfEE Code of Practice. The text of the Codes is almost identical, drafted as it was by the Council on Tribunals.
Whilst 'independent' in terms of its membership, the conduct and proceedings of an independent appeal committee remain the responsibility of the governing body. The governing body is responsible for ensuring that the committee is correctly constituted and properly advised. In the majority of LEAs in the diocese of Westminster, the LEA will undertake the administrative arrangements on behalf of the governing body. Where it does so, this must be done without charge. Where it does not, the LEA must specify what assistance is provided, both financial and advisory.
The proceedings of independent appeal committees are within the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsmen. Currently, the way in which governing bodies set their oversubscription criteria and reach their decisions are not. The Committee on Standards in Public Life (the 'Nolan Committee') has noted this position and remarked that there are no good reasons why these procedures should not be subject to external review. It seems likely that there will be progress on this, whatever the outcome of the forthcoming election. Any school wishing to comment on this should write to the WDES. Otherwise, the assumption will be made that schools would be content to see the work of the Commission for Local Administration extended in this way.
You may wish to note that the WDES guidance on admissions and appeals, last issued in January, 1995, has now been revised to take account of the Education Act, 1996 and expanded to include the bishops' advice on determining 'Catholicity' for the purpose of admissions, circulated in September, 1996. The guidance incorporates the major points included in the codes of practice and is essential reading for appeal committee members.
(Further information from Ian Beck or Tony Mackersie on 0171 798 9005)
14. CES Contract of Employment for Teachers in Voluntary Aided and Grant Maintained Schools. *
The long awaited revised edition is now available on application direct from the Catholic Education Service, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX - Tel: 0171 828 7604. Detailed guidance notes are printed on the form, but should schools require further advice please contact WDES.
Please note there is no need for existing staff to receive a new contract of service, unless of course such documentation has not been previously issued.
Separate contracts of employment are being prepared for headteacher and deputy headteacher posts, non-permanent posts for teachers and all categories of non-teaching staff. These will be published in due course. Meanwhile, chairmen of governing bodies are advised to use the new edition of the teachers' contract for recent appointments to the posts of headteacher and deputy headteacher.
(For further information, contact Tony Mackersie or Ian Beck on 0171 798 9005.)
15. WDES and CES Publications Order Forms.
Copies of the order forms to be used for the purchase of WDES and CES publications is attached. Please note that the WDES cannot supply CES publications, which can only be purchased from the Catholic Education Service, 39, Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX.
16. Governors' Support and Training, Summer Term, 1997.
As in previous terms, the majority of planned sessions are in response to requests from individual schools. Schools wishing to avail themselves of such bespoke sessions should contact Joan Leith on 0171 798 9005. Sessions are provided, without charge, as part of the WDES service to schools.
Apart from bespoke sessions the following open sessions are offered. Places must be reserved in advance by leaving name, school and session number on the answer machine 0181 906 3321 (office hours only)
1. Monday, 9 June 7.30-9.30 For new and might be Foundation Governors. English Martyrs Church Hall, Chalkhill Rd Wembley Park.
2. Monday, 16 June For teacher and parent governors. LDBS, 36, Causton St.London SW1.
(Further information from Joan Leith on 0171 798 9005)
17. Pontifical Council for the Family on Legalisation of Drugs
The copy of the text 'Should 'Soft' Drugs be Legalised ?' by the Pontifical Council for the Family has been sent to all dioceses by the president of the Council for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo. The text is available through the diocesan order form enclosed - reference is txt08.
(For further details contact Anthony Clark on 0171 798 9006.)
18. New Term of Office for Foundation Governors of Voluntary Aided and Special Agreement Schools. *
In all areas, there remain foundation governors who have not responded to letters from their area bishop or episcopal vicar of September, 1996 regarding availability re. re-appointment as foundation governors for 1 September, 1997.
Aside from the discourtesy to the area bishop and episcopal vicar, the failure to respond aggravates the difficulty to ensure that over two thousand deeds of appointment are correctly dispatched before the end of August.
Would headteachers and chairmen of governing bodies please assist in this matter by checking that all current foundation governors have returned the response form to the area bishop.
(Further information and copies of the form are available from Joan Leith, on 0171 798 9005.)
19. Primary Deputy Headship Vacancies. *
As soon as a vacancy for a primary deputy headship is known, the headteacher must contact the area primary RE adviser. This early contact is essential so that dates for shortlisting and interview are negotiated to ensure her availability to assist and to avoid inconvenience to candidates and governors when dates have to be changed at late notice to permit the adviser to be present.
(Further details from Joan Leith on 0171-798 9005)
Yours sincerely,
Anthony Mackersie - Director Schools Administration Department
Anthony Clark - Director RE and Catechesis Department