cc. Headteachers.
25 April, 1996.
Dear Chairman,
1. CCRS Study Day on Morality
The last study day of this round in the CCRS - the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies - is on Saturday 18 May 1996 from 10am to 4pm at Vaughan House, 46 Francis St, London SW1. It is unit number 6 on Morality. It is being led by Fr Terry Phipps from Allen Hall. The cost of the unit is £15 (day only £6.50) - no booking is required. (For further information contact Moira Wilson on 0171 798 9006.)
2. CCRS in September
The next round of the CCRS starts with the study day on 14 September 1996 at 10am at Vaughan House. It begins with Unit 1 on the Old Testament. New teachers or teachers wishing to enrol for the CCRS should be reminded of the above date as soon as possible. No booking is required - students enrol at the study day. (For further information contact Moira Wilson on 0171 798 9006.)
3. Questionnaire on First Communion Day Conference.
A brief questionnaire is being circulated to parish priests, first communion catechists and primary school RE co-ordinators. Its aim is to invite people to help set the agenda for the day conference on Preparation for First Communion being offered in July. The same conference is going to repeated on two days to allow different people to get to them. The dates and places of the two days are Friday 12th July at All Saints, London Colney and Saturday 13th July at Cathedral Hall, Westminster. The details of the two days will be circulated shortly together with application forms. In the meantime it would be useful to note the dates in the diary. (For further information contact Margaret Sheldon on 0171 798 9006.)
4. "Refugees: We left because we had to"
'Refugees: We left because we had to' is a resource book designed for use with students aged 14-18. Its author is Jill Rutter and it is published by the Refugee Council. The book contains background information, testimonies and activities for use by schools and youth groups. It has been published as part of an educational project which aims to raise awareness about refugee issues. It is available at œ6.00 including pp from The Refugee Council, 3 Bondway, London SW8 1SJ. (For further information contact Michael Feeney at Social and Pastoral Action, Vaughan House Tel 0171 798 9008.)
5. This Newsletter on the Internet
The text of this letter is available on the internet on the Web pages of both departments of the Education Service.
Schools Administration Dept. http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/wdes2/index.html
RE and Catechesis Dept. http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac714
6. Students Seeking First Appointments.*
A list of students seeking first appointments is attached for the appropriate phase headteachers. (For further information, contact Sr. Doreen on 0171-798 9007)
7. RE Co-ordinators Study Days
We will shortly be sending out separate application forms for the two study days we are offering to RE Co-ordinators on monitoring RE, one on 13 June at London Colney and 14 June at Vaughan House. Carol Donoughue from the Institute of Education will be leading the day on the 13 June. (For further information, contact Anthony Clark on 0171-798 9006)
8. Bright Lights
Following up its success last year, a Bright Lights festival for young adults is going to be held again at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney from 12th - 14th July 1966. Its intended age range is 16-30 ish. It is a weekend of music, prayer, bands, speakers etc. (For further details and application forms please telephone Lynn Bassett on 01727 828888. )
9. Christian Education in Collaborative Ministry
A day conference is being organised by the Association of Religious in Education on Saturday 14 September 1996. It is focused on Christian Education in Collaborative Ministry and Br Damien Lundy is one of the lead speakers. A poster giving further details is enclosed.
10. Pentecost and Pilgrimage leaflets
New sets of leaflets for use with small groups on the themes of both Pentecost and Pilgrimage have been developed. Each set supplies material for five or six meetings. There are different sets for both adults and children of the Pilgrimage set, though only one set (adult) for Pentecost. Sets cost œ1.00 and may be freely photocopied. A poster is enclosed. (For further information contact Margaret Sheldon on 0171 798 9006.)
11. French School Exchange
A French Roman Catholic boys' school of 750 pupils, (aged 6 - 18) located 30 minutes from Avignon is seeking a link school with a view to developing individual and group pupil exchange. (Further information from Joan Leith on 0171-798 9005) 12. GEST Funding for Governors' Support.*
Joan Leith thanks those schools (and LEAs) who sought invoices to allow for payment to the WDES from their schools' GEST allocation. Where there remain unspent GEST funds or where the new budget allocated funds for governors support and training she is happy to invoice schools, if they ask her to do so. Please note that this item is wholly separate from item 20 below. (Further information from Joan Leith on 0171-798 9005)
13. National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH)*
The Catholic Education Service (CES) is to offer a pilot scheme approved by the Teacher Training Agency for an NPQH for Catholic headship. Initially, one national region (the North East) will pilot the NPQH for 10 teachers from the primary sector. All five national regions will, on a more local basis be involved in ongoing provision, in the NPQH in the future. (Further information from Joan Leith, 0171-798 9005.)
14. Eastern Province In-Service
Given that the pilot and subsequent accreditation of the NPQH (Catholic) will not happen immediately, aspiring headteachers (both Primary and Secondary) are reminded that an appropriate residential course is on offer at All Saints London Colney from 25 to 28 November 1996 . A course for those aspiring to primary and secondary deputy headship is provided from 27-30 January, 1997. Early booking recommended since there are only 20 places available. (Further information from Joan Leith, 0171-798 9005.)
15. Governors' Support Sessions (Summer Term)
(i) The pattern of bespoke sessions for individual or cluster schools continues to find support. Evening or Saturday sessions can be provided on most topics in response to the schools' needs.
(ii) There are three sessions (listed below) run jointly by WDES and LDBS which governors may attend by leaving a telephone booking in advance on the answer machine (office hours) on 0181 906 3321.
Thursday, 6 June at 6.00pm at LDBS, 36, Causton Street, SW1. Topic : UPDATE ON STAFF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
Thursday, 20 June at 7.00pm at St John Cass Primary School, St James' Passage, Duke's Place EC3. Topic: PARENT & TEACHER GOVERNORS.
Monday, 24 June at 6.00pm at LDBS 36 Causton Street, SW1 Topic : GOVERNORS AS EMPLOYERS
(iii) The Hertfordshire consortium of Catholic schools invites interested governors to a session on Salary Review run by EPM at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney at 7.00pm on Tuesday 7 May. (Prior booking (by FRIDAY 3 MAY) with Jill Biggs on 01462 683354 is essential.) (Further information from Joan Leith, 0171-798 9005.)
16. Appraisal*
Many thanks to colleagues for their returns on the continuing progress of headteacher and staff appraisal. The majority of responses indicated the positive merits of the process despite the difficulties of maintaining the momentum in some LEAs. Given the possible disadvantages to teachers who do not experience professional appraisal, it is suggested you may wish to contact the Schools Administration Department if the necessary help is not available within your LEA. (Further information from Joan Leith, 0171-798 9005.)
17. Special Educational Needs
A copy of the March edition of St Joseph's Pastoral Centre newsletter is enclosed for chairmen of governing bodies with this mailing (headteachers receive this directly from the centre).
Of special interest to SENCOs and governors responsible for SEN are several articles relating to experiences of meeting special needs in diocesan schools. It is suggested that the newsletter be passed to the SENCO and SEN link governor. St Joseph's Centre is happy to add to its extensive mailing list the names of SENCOs and SEN link governors wishing to receive newsletters. (Further information from Joan Leith, 0171-798 9005.)
18. Governing Bodies; Liability Claims.*
Headteachers and governing bodies are advised that enquiries regarding claims for costs of legal expenses arising from the discharge of governors' functions should be referred in the first instance to the LEA or DFEE as appropriate, but also to the Director of the Schools Administration Department. Tony Mackersie should also be advised whenever there is a threat of legal proceedings against a governing body or any questions are raised regarding employers' liability. Any headteacher personally threatened with legal action should immediately consult his or her professional association. All matters relating to the insurance of buildings or other property should continue to be referred to Stephen Peter, the Diocesan Estates Surveyor, on 0171-798 9000 (fax 9011). (Further enquiries to Tony Mackersie on 0171-798 9005)
19. Secondment to The Sacred Heart Junior School, Brook Green. (LB Hammersmith & Fulham).*
The governing body of The Sacred Heart Junior School, in Hammersmith, urgently requires a suitably qualified and experienced teacher to cover the absence for one year of the school's headteacher, Christabel McLean. Any head or deputy headteacher who may be willing to be seconded (and whose governing body is minded to consent) from his or her post is requested to contact Chris McLean on 0181-748 8706 for an informal discussion. The secondment would be for the school year, 1996/7 beginning on 1 September, 1996. (Further enquiries to Tony Mackersie on 0171-798 9005)
20. Supply of Professional Services.*
As you know, the Education Board is concerned to maintain an advisory service to support Catholic schools in the Diocese of Westminster. In view of the ever-increasing cost of maintaining this service, the Board last year initiated a scheme for charging a subscription to each school which received very wide assent from schools. This is to advise you that you will shortly be invoiced for this year's subscription. The rate has not been increased and remains at the level of £20 per 100 pupils or part thereof. (Further enquiries to Tony Mackersie on 0171-798 9005).
21. WDES Document Order Form.
A revised copy of the WDES document order form is attached. This form should be used to order WDES documents. Catholic Education Service (CES) documents must be ordered from the CES, 39, Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX Tel. 0171-828 7604, Fax 0171-233 9802. The CES also maintains a list of current publications which is available on request to Eccleston Square.
22. Clerks for Independent Admission and Appeal Committees.*
From time to time, the Schools Administration Department is requested to supply the names of persons who are willing and able to serve as clerks to independent admission and appeal committees. This situation arises where the clerk to the governing body has been too closely involved in the first decision to be seen to be impartial at the independent hearing and/or where the LEA is prepared to meet the costs of clerking but cannot supply the personnel.
The WDES is very grateful to those who already give generously of their time to serve schools in this role, but they are few in number. We would be very pleased to hear from anyone who feels that he or she could serve in this way, perhaps with some support from this department. (Further enquiries to Ian Beck on 0171-798 9005.)
Yours sincerely,
Anthony Mackersie, Director, Schools Administration Department.
Anthony Clark, Director, RE and Catechesis Department.