Catholic Academies and Schools Office
St Swithun Wells House
22 Edinburgh Road
Portsmouth
PO1 1DH
02392 893600
26th April 2017
Dear Colleagues,
I hope all of you, whether you have just returned to school or to those who have been back a week, managed to enjoy a restful and a fruitful Easter break.
New Appointments
This term we welcome the following colleague to his new role:
St. Bernadette’s Primary School, Farnborough – Rob Lee who will be Acting Headteacher for the Summer Term.
I am sure you will all make sure that he is supported and welcomed into his new role.
Contact with Schools
We have recently reviewed the contact we have had with our maintained schools this academic year. There are very few schools that Edmund, Robert or I have not visited in one capacity or another this year. If we have not visited your school, please do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a visit. If we have visited and you would like a further opportunity for support, discussion or to share your school with us, please contact us and we will try and arrange a time to come.
In the next academic year we will plan opportunities to gather with colleagues from our Independent Schools.
Praying the Rosary
This year is the centenary of the Fatima apparitions. There is a worldwide project supported by ‘Aid to the Church in Need’ to encourage one million primary school aged children to pray the Rosary. The Catenian Association are keen to support this venture and to encourage the praying of the Rosary by providing sets of rosaries for schools. If you would like your school to receive some free rosaries please contact: Kevin Prendergast with the name and address of your school and the number of rosaries you require.
Bamenda
Thank you for all you did during Lentto raise money to support the education of orphans and vulnerable children in our sister diocese of Bamenda, Cameroon. Cheques which will be presented at the Annual Schools’ Mass in June need to be made payable toBamenda Commission
Please continue to remember our brothers and sisters in Bamenda in your prayers.
Validations and Inspections
Since my last newsletter English Martyrs, St. Amand’s and St. Finian’s Primary Schools have received a Section 48 Validation. Congratulations to Jamie Carroll, Helen Ellery, Liz Housden and their staff and governorson achieving a good outcome. The reports highlighted many outstanding features at each school.
RE Adviser
At the Heads and Deputies Day on Friday we will share with you the proposed structure of the number of days the post will need in each MAT and the responsibilities that will be involved. The funding for the posts will be paid for centrally. It will be the responsibility of each MAT to recruit to the posts. The posts will be from the 1st September 2017. Copies of the information will be emailed to everyone next week. Robert will be attending the next Secondary Heads meeting to discuss the secondary school model.
National Leaders of Governance
Don’t forget the National College of Teaching and Leadershiplaunched a new National Leader of Governance (NLG) designation round on 27th March. This will close on 1st May at 11.59pm. This round will be targeted at parts of the country where there aren’t currently enough NLGs to support the schools that most need it. If any chairs of governors are interested in becoming an NLG please click on the link below:
Competency Framework for Clerks
The DfE have now published the Competency Framework for Clerking. This will be a useful starting point when recruiting a new clerk.
Academies Update
Thank you to all those schools who have informed Deacon Roger of their governing bodies decision regarding the directive from Bishop Philip. Following the decision to call an early General Election purdah will begin on the 3rd May. We do not as yet know whether this will impact on the planned timetable for conversions as there has not been a consistent approach applied in recent experiences. We are awaiting further information from the CES and will keep you posted.
Receiving your regular LGB Minutes enables us to gain a good overview of local concerns, challenges and achievements. We recognise the complexity of issues and general hard work each LGB undertakes to support theirschool.
When reviewing some of the recently submitted Minutes we noticed that a number of LGBs were raising the concern that they have not received responses to questions submitted on academisation. In these instances, we do not appear to have a record of either receiving letters, or emails. That is a worry to us, and not receiving a response a source of annoyance to you.
I think it important to say that all of us based inCASOare committed to supporting our schools and communication is key to that. So, if you feel that you have not heard back from us, please email Deacon Roger with your outstanding queries
As there is the risk that post may have gone astray could I remind you that all correspondence should be addressed to the Catholic Academies & Schools Office, St Swithun Wells House, 22 Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth PO1 1DH.
At the next Headteachers Briefing we will provide an update on the conversion programme to date.
Appointment of Interim Executive Principals
We are pleased to inform you that in response to an invitation from the Episcopal Vicar for Education that David Masters, Bill James, Patricia Phelan and Matt Quinn have kindly agreed to take on the key role of Interim Executive Principals. At a moment of significant change it is good to have the support of those who already have a wealth of experience on academisation and are known to the school community. This will be a challenging role during the time of transition. A key aspect of their responsibility will be to ensure that the unique character, flavour, and voice of each school is preserved in the new model. Please pray for them and each MAT Board as they help nurture and enable the new changes to come into effect.
MAT Board Recruitment
A key recommendation from the 2016 Working Group was to draw on our existing pool of excellent Governors to populate the new MAT Boards. We asked the Chair of the Working Group, Charles Marchetti, to oversee the recruitment process and develop the role specification. In January 2017 an invitation was sent to Chairs of Governors seeking nominations for Non-Executive (Voluntary) Directors. We have had a good response and following the initial interviews ten applicants will go forward for formal interviews. We have also contacted Academy Ambassadors (a non-profit organisation set up to bring inspirational educationalists together with talented business leaders to build better multi-academy trust boards) to ensure that we attract a broad range of skills/experience for each MAT.
Primary Validator Training
Will all those interested in taking part in this 2 day course please ensure they have completed their booking forms and returned them to this office by Tuesday 2 May 2017. Places are limited to 12. Priority will be given to applicants who are willing, and have the appropriate experience, to take on the role of validators if they successfully complete the training. Any remaining places will then be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Please don’t hesitate to make contact with Robert if you have any queries.
National School of Formation
I’m sure you will have probably seen literature on the National School of Formation programme for Headteachers and Chairs of Governors provided by EducareM. The programme is about promoting the voice and vision of Catholic leaders. The programme is heavily subsidised by businesses who are keen that society benefits from all that our Catholic schools have to offer. The programme consists of reflection, lectures from key Catholic speakers and visits to Catholic social projects. It is easy amid targets and OFSTED pressures to forget what we really believe in and want to fight for in our schools and society. I would really urge you to think about attending. The cost of the programme can be spread over more than one year.
Working Parties
At the last Heads Briefing I was asking for volunteers to serve on a:
Into ITT, ITT and early career working party
Leadership working party
Heads Forum (to address issues related to Academies)
If you haven’t yet volunteered or aren’t sure if you did, can you let me know. Your contribution will make a difference to shaping the future.
Heads Briefing
This will be at the Apollo Hotel Basingstoke on 23rd May. Although the briefing is in the morning the room will be available all day for any Clusters/MATs who wish to meet.
The agenda for the day will include presentations from Fr. Andrew Pinsent (on the topic of Christ at the Centre of the Curriculum), our HR and payroll provider and an update on Academies and building project funding post academies.
School Business Managers will be invited to attend a venue (tbc) in Basingstoke that day for presentations by PS Financials and the HR and payroll provider.
Foundation Governors
We are keen to improve both the process and the time it can take to get new foundation governors in place. When a nomination form is received, we will now be asking the clerk prior to appointment, to arrange for a DBS check. The application will be processed at the same time as the DBS, and allow for all new foundation governors to have their DBS in place prior to being appointed. We are aiming that most applications will be processed within 6 weeks, and of course there may be exceptions.
If you have any queries, please do contact the office.
Governors Briefings
These will be held from 7.00 – 8.30pm on
8th June St. Peter’s Primary School, Waterlooville
13th June St. Thomas of Canterbury Primary School, Newport
14th June St. Paul’s Primary School, Reading
The meetings will be preceded by a briefing for Headteachers and governors whose schools will be validated during the next Academic Year.
Vacancies
Please direct anyone who you think may be interested to the following vacancies that are currently out to advert.
St. Mary’s Primary School, Ryde - Headship
St. Mary’s Primary School, Gosport – Headship
St. Patrick’s Primary School, Southampton – Headship
St. Bernadette’s Primary School, Farnborough – Headship
St. George College, Southampton - Headship
Dates
28th April Heads and Deputies Day organised by the Bournemouth Cluster
23rd May Heads Briefing Apollo Basingstoke
24th MayPrimary Validation Training (Day One) St Swithun Wells Primary School, Chandlers Ford
8th June Governor Briefing St. Peter’s Primary School, Waterlooville
9th JunePrimary NQTs Training Day 3 St. John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth
13th June Governor Briefing St. Thomas of Canterbury Primary School, Newport
14th JunePrimary Validation Training (Day Two) St Swithun Wells Primary School, Chandlers Ford
14th June Governor Briefing St. Paul’s Primary School, Reading
15th June Primary RE Leaders Day Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke
21st June Annual Schools’ Mass St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth
4th July Secondary RE Leaders Day – St Bede’s Church, Basingstoke
I wish you all a successful and peaceful term and look forward to seeing you at various meetings and events throughout the next few months.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Hobbs
Director for Education
Registered Charity No. 246871