Catholic Education

Useful Dates 2020-2021

Useful dates for the Liturgical Year

School Term Dates across the Archdiocese

“Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News.
First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living
God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.”
Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Catholic Educators, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2008.

For Access to re-live, the Archdiocese of Birmingham's RE and Catholic life sharing platform.

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Pope Francis' Monthly Prayer Intentions 2020

Please click on the image to download the document outlining His Holiness' prayer intentions for each month of the year.
Don't forget that a short video message will be published each month on https://clicktopray.org/

The God Who Speaks
Sunday 26 January: Day of the Word. Please click here to download the Blessing for bibles.
Please note that bibles to be blessed must be a Catholic edition.

At the centre of the DES is RE and Catholic Life. Catholic schools exist, first and foremost, to proclaim the Good News that 'God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' (John 3:16).

The DES helps to support, secure and improve Catholic education through the work of its RE and Catholic life team. This team is comprised of Primary and Secondary advisers, Chaplaincy coordinator as well as the work of the inspection team. Please see the links below to explore this area.

Primary RE and Catholic Life

The Primary RE Advisers for the Archdiocese of Birmingham are Maggie Duggan, David Harris and Rebecca Brolly. They are experienced practitioners in Primary education and are enthusiastic and dedicated in their support for schools in their Catholic Life mission and delivery of Collective Worship and teaching of RE.

They offer support and guidance for schools on all aspects of RE including induction to teaching and learning in Catholic schools, INSET, staff training, support for schools pre and post inspection and sharing of current initiatives and updates with RE subject leaders at Cluster meetings.

Primary

Chaplaincy Provision

Beccy Roseman is the Lay Chaplain Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Beccy has a vast amount of experience of working in youth ministry and before joining the DES and Kenlem Youth Trust she was employed as a lay chaplain in a large secondary school in the Northampton Diocese

Beccy offers support and guidance for all of chaplaincy within our secondary schools. This includes a detailed programme of INSET, school visits, The Archdiocese Lay Chaplaincy certificate qualification and much more.

Chaplaincy

Secondary RE and Catholic Life

The Secondary Adviser for the Archdiocese of Birmingham is Richard Smith. Richard has been a middle and Senior Leader in our diocesan schools and is passionate and dedicated in his support of secondary schools to fulfil their mission as Catholic Schools.

The DES offer support and guidance for all aspects of RE and Catholic as well as general secondary school issues. This includes a detailed programme of INSET, partnership meetings for Heads of RE and People in charge of Catholic life, school visits, pre and post inspection support and much more.

Secondary

Section 48 Inspections

Ben McArdle is the Senior Adviser for Section 48 Inspections and Maureen O'Leary is the Senior Adviser for School Support (Section 48 Inspections)
Every school in the Archdiocese of Birmingham will be inspected under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005. These inspections evaluate the Catholic life of the school, the provision and quality of collective worship, as well as all areas of RE.

This inspection process helps ensure that all Catholic schools continue to develop in order to fulfil their mission of making Christ known today.

S48 Inspections