Westminster Diocese Education Service
WDES Bulletin 1/97
To: Chairman of Governing Bodies and Headteachers of Roman Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Westminster.
NB Items Marked * do not apply to independent schools.
10 January, 1997.
Dear Colleague,
1. RE Curriculum Directory.
At the November meeting of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, the RE Curriculum Directory was approved. It will be published in the course of January and formally launched on Education Sunday (see below). A copy will be sent to each school, together with an order form for further copies. Its introduction is to be carried out over a period of time. The Education Board has approved the enclosed timetable for its introduction.
(For help or further information contact your area RE Adviser or Anthony Clark on 0171 798 9006.)
2. CCRS Study Day on The New Testament.
The next study day of the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) is on Saturday 18 January 1997 from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London SW1. It is Module 2 on the New Testament. Sr Nilda Petenuzzo is the lead speaker. The subsequent study day is on Saturday 10 May, Module 3, on Jesus Christ. The cost of a module is £15.00 (day only £6.50) - no booking is required.
(For further information contact Moira Wilson on 0171 798 9006.)
3. Education Sunday.
Education Sunday is celebrated on 26th January 1997 and the theme will be Generation to Generation: Nurture and Nourishment. It provides a focus for reflection, prayer, celebration and a challenge to action with regard to the vital role played by parents, teachers, college tutors, youth services and faith communities in the world of growing children and young people. Information has already been sent to each school by the CES.
(Contact Margaret Smart at the CES, on 0171 828 7604).
4. The Story Keepers.
This set of videos on the early church in Rome, together with the gospel stories, will be shown on national TV, starting January 12 and ending at Easter. It is aimed at older primary school children and younger secondary school age groups. The exact times of screening and availability of the videos for retail are not yet finalised. In some of the ITV regions (if not all) it is at 10.15 am each Sunday. Workbooks and a teacher guide are already being published by Cassells, while the videos will be on sale in February or March.
(For further information contact Anthony Clark on 0171 798 9006 at WDES or Liz Marsh at Cassells on 0171 420 5560. For up to the minute information, consult the web page of the RE and Catechesis Dept on the internet - see below)
5. Lent, Easter and Pilgrimage Leaflets.
Sets of leaflets are available for groups to work with over the Lent and Easter periods and to provide reflections on the place of pilgrimages in the Christian life. The sets cost £1.00 each. Each set consists of five leaflets for five discussions, with suggestions for prayer and action. They can be freely photocopied.
(For further details contact Margaret Sheldon on 0171 798 9006. A poster is enclosed. )
6. Theology Themes in Here I Am (Primary Schools).
A series of four lectures on the theological themes of Here I Am is being offered. The lecturer is Fr Eamonn Mulcahy CSSp from the Missionary Institute at London. The content will include reference to the new RE Curriculum Directory. The lectures are from 5pm to 6.30pm at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, which is 3 minutes from Victoria Underground Station.
The dates of the lectures are:-
Tuesday 25th February 1997 Revelation
Thursday 6th March 1997 Creation
Tuesday 11th March 1997 Incarnation
Thursday 20th March 1997 Redemption
Cost is £10 per person for the series of 4 lectures, or £5 per lecture. Certificates of attendance will be available for those who complete the four lectures. No booking is required in advance. Enrolment is from 4.30pm on Tuesday 25 February.
(For further details contact your area RE Adviser, or Margaret Sheldon on 0171 798 9006. A poster for the staffroom is enclosed.)
7. E-mail and Internet Addresses.
The list of diocesan web sites and e-mails now is:-
Dept of Schools Administration. email wdes2@rmplc.co.uk
Web page http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/wdes2/index.html
Dept of RE and Catechesis. email wdes@dial.pipex.com
Web page http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac714
Herts Area Office email office@hertsarea.demon.co.uk
Web page http://www.hertsarea.demon.co.uk
(Bishop O'Brien's email address is bishop@hertsarea.demon.co.uk)
West Area Office email office@westarea.demon.co.uk
Web page http://www.westarea.demon.co.uk
(Bishop O'Donoghue's address is bishop@westarea.demon.co.uk)
The full text of this mailing, as well as all the mailings of 1996, are on the internet, available through either of the WDES web pages.
8. Catechesis of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Sr Marie Raw has left the service for the deaf and hard of hearing in the diocese to be closer to her father who is ill. Many thanks are expressed to her for all she did. If a school is looking for help or advice with a pupil who is deaf or hard of hearing, do get in touch with Suzanne Line at Vaughan House on 0171 798 9008 (voice and minicom).
9. Primary Deputy Headteachers Conference.
The annual primary deputy headteachers conference is at London Colney on Tuesday, 4 and Wednesday, 5 February 1997. It is concerned with the role of monitoring proper to a deputy headteacher in a primary school.
(Further details including the conference timetable and booking form are included in the enclosed envelope addressed to the deputy headteacher.)
10. Diocesan Conference for Secondary Deputy Headteachers.
Secondary schools will find enclosed a blue application form for the Diocesan Conference for Secondary Deputy Headteachers at All Saints Pastoral Centre on 4 and 5 March 1997. Would secondary heads please encourage the participation of all their deputies, including those with acting responsibility, at the annual conference. Diocesan conferences seek to promote the continuing formation of leaders in Catholic education, the fostering of the network across diocesan schools and the addressing of key issues in the context of Catholic education. Given the Church's concern to ensure strong candidates for future Catholic headships the contribution of all Catholic deputies, regardless of their personal career aspirations, is important at this conference.
A prompt response would be appreciated, since the Pastoral Centre can no longer make available any additional places at short notice.
(For further information, contact : Joan Leith on 0171 798 9005)
11. Governors' Support and Training. *
In the spring term the following sessions are provided:
Session No.
1 Thurs 30 January
at 7.30pm Westminster House Hendon For recently appointed governors
2 Mon 10 Feb. LDBS Causton Street SW1 Role of the Clerk
(This session is in
co-operation with the
London Diocesan Board for Schools)
3 Wed 5 March All Saints Pastoral Centre London Colney On appointing Staff
(This session is run
by EPM)
4 Tues. 11 March at 7.30pm Sacred Heart Primary School, Ware Staff Appointments
(This session is run
by EPM)
Places must be booked in advance by leaving on the answerphone 0181 906 3321 (office hours only) the session number, governor's name, school, and a contact telephone number.
Would the chairman and headteacher kindly pass on the information on these sessions to governors as early as possible.
Whilst these sessions have been organised centrally, bespoke evening or half day sessions remain the preferred option for governors' support sessions and are becoming the norm
(Further information from Joan Leith, tel 0171-798 9005)
12. Foundation Governors in Voluntary Aided Schools in Diocesan Trusteeship. *
Would headteachers and chairmen of governing bodies please be alert to the importance of foundation governors' responding to the area bishop/episcopal vicar's letter of September, 1996, regarding interest in re-appointment for 1 September, 1997. The deadline for response was November, 1996, but to date, not all responses have been received. An awareness of those foundation governors not available for re-appointment will enable the chairman to alert the local clergy of the need to recruit additional foundation governors to fill anticipated vacancies. Relevant information and application forms are available from the area offices or the WDES.
(Further information and additional response forms, if required, available from Joan Leith on 0171-798 9005).
13. Head and Deputy Headteacher Secondments. *
From time to time, schools are in the position of requesting assistance in filling senior vacancies for short periods through secondment, usually to cover the sickness of the head or deputy headteacher, or the repeated failure to recruit to a vacancy. Governing bodies, headteachers and their deputies are most generous in responding to these appeals for help, which are sometimes made in difficult circumstances.
The system for recruiting suitable and willing secondees, is and will no doubt continue to be somewhat extempore. Nevertheless, we are anxious to ensure that colleagues who are willing and able to serve Catholic education in this way are not overlooked.
Headteachers and deputy headteachers (with the explicit approval of their headteachers), are therefore warmly invited to put their names forward for consideration should the need arise. There is no need to fill out an application as such, but some general indication of teaching experience and particular strengths, together with preferred geographical location, would be most helpful.
There are one or two such positions currently vacant and, in consequence, a prompt response from those interested would be appreciated.
(Further discussion, if needed, should be with Ian Beck on 0171 798 9005)
14. Students Seeking First Teaching Posts.
A list of students seeking first appointments in schools in this diocese is attached for primary and secondary headteachers, as appropriate.
(Further information from Sr. Doreen on 0171 798 9007)
15. Position Wanted.
Any primary or junior school in the East Area or thereabouts looking for a class teacher, for the summer term, 1997 in the first instance, is invited to contact Ian Beck on 0171 798 9005.
16. Inspection of Schools.
A reminder to those schools scheduled for inspection during the coming year. As soon as the date of inspection is received from OFSTED, please convey the following information to Sr. Patrice at the Inspection Unit, Vaughan House
date of inspection
name, address and telephone number of the lead inspector for the section 10 inspection.
Early receipt of this information would be very much appreciated
As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany in this new year, we wish you every blessing and encouragement in your school community's witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Mackersie
Director,
Schools Administration Department .
Anthony Clark Director, RE & Catechesis Department