Specimen Letter Requesting a Priest S Reference and Reference Reply Form

MODEL LETTER REQUESTING A PRIEST’S REFERENCE AND REFERENCE REPLY FORM

Sample letter of request for a priest’s reference and reply form

Dear Father xxxxx,

Appointment of Headteacher of XXXXXX

Applicant: XXXXXXXXXX

This person has applied for the above post. He has named you as a priest whom we may approach for a reference as to his religious practice and commitment.

I enclose for your information a job and person specification for the post, along with the material supplied to all applicants to illustrate the Catholic life of the school.

I would be grateful if you could let the appointment panel have your opinion of this candidate, which will be treated in confidence.

The panel will be particularly interested in your response to the following questions.

Can you confirm that this applicant meets the requirement laid down by the Bishops of England and Wales that persons appointed to the post of headteacher in Catholic schools must be practising Catholics? If not, what is the basis of your reservation?

Can you confirm that this applicant has the commitment to provide successful and effective leadership of this school as a Catholic community?

Can you give details of how you know this applicant and of his/her participation in the wider life of the Church, or in the local Catholic community, through school, parish or other activities?

It would be very helpful if you could send your reply to the above address by XXXXX, marked ‘confidential for the attention of the Chair of Governors’.

Yours sincerely,

XXXXXXX

Clerk to the Governors

IN CONFIDENCE

TO ______Chair of governors

______School

Applicant: ______

Post ______

Thank you for your request for a confidential reference concerning the above candidate.

I can/cannot confirm that this applicant meets the requirement laid down by the Bishops of England and Wales that persons appointed to the post of headteacher in Catholic schools must be practising Catholics.

FURTHER COMMENTS (including the basis for any reservation)

I can/cannot confirm that this applicant has the commitment to provide successful and effective leadership of this school as a Catholic community.

FURTHER COMMENTS (including the basis for any reservation)

I offer the following details of how I know this applicant and of his/her participation in the wider life of the Church, or in the local Catholic community, through school, parish or other activities.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS

Priest’s signature______

Position______

Date______

It would be very helpful if you could send your reply to the school address by ______, marked confidential for the attention of the Chair of Governors.