Dear Colleagues in Catholic education,
 
The end of another full and busy term is crowned with our celebration of Holy Week. The great mysteries of our faith which we celebrate this week give meaning and purpose to our Christian lives as well as the work we undertake for Catholic education. If Christ had not suffered and been raised from the dead then our work would be in vein, for it serves to present Christ to the world so that all those who engage in Catholic education will find in and through him the fulness of life. The days ahead invite us to focus our attention once again on Christ and his saving presence in our lives which can come to fruition in the work we undertake for his Church.
 
Recently, I attended a national conference for Catholic educators with Fr Adrian Porter SJ as one of the key note speakers. He invited all those present to take up the challenge of sitting down and reading one of the four gospels from beginning to end. He argued that a reading of the gospel was incredibly important for all those engaged in the work of leadership in our schools at every level. Focusing on the message of Christ and the saving actions of his life encourages our discipleship of Christ and the joyful witness it will give to others. Perhaps this is a challenge we can take up as we celebrate Holy Week and the joy of Easter to come?
 
To support your school in the work of Catholic leadership our Diocesan School Leaders Conference on Friday 22nd June will be a very rewarding experience. The theme for this year’s conference is, “You will be my witnesses.” If you have not already signed up, the final date for doing so has now been extended to the 28th March 2018. The key note speakers for the conference are Canon Luiz Ruscillo and Michelle Moran who both have extensive experience in working across the Church in the work of Catholic leadership. I know from personal experience that you will find their presentations enriching and rewarding. The Archbishop asks that all school leaders make this conference a priority and that you also consider inviting your Chair of Governors and indeed other staff dedicated to the leadership of the Catholic life of the school. The day will end with the celebration of Mass with His Grace the Archbishop, the presentation of the UBI Caritas Award to retiring Headteachers and the recommitment of all those engaged in school leadership.
 
This termly letter includes some important updates around the Diocesan Academy Strategy. Currently 101 schools have now converted to academy status. In recent months there have been many encouraging developments across the Diocese with groups of schools working together to form new multi academy companies as well as the potential merger of other multi academies.
 
We have also had considerable success in the recent round of MAC Development Improvement Fund (MDIF) bids, which means there will be exciting expansion of some of our current MACs. This, combined with the considerable research and development work currently being undertaken around the role of Senior Executive Leaders in our new MACs, means that we are well placed to move forward incrementally and constructively over the forthcoming months. The DES will be publishing details of the Senior Executive Leader role shortly after the Easter break.
 
The DES recognises that this work takes time and energy for all those concerned and that the developments will happen at various times and intervals. In some cases, the pace to move towards academisation may require urgency to provide support to schools for a variety of reasons including an Academy Order issued by the Secretary of State for Education. Moving forward, the DES will expect any school that receives a Requires Improvement judgment from a Section 5 or Section 48 inspection to be working intently to join a local multi academy company to ensure that the school is both supported and secured in an academy structure.
 
At this time, I wish to respectfully remind all governing bodies and school leaders that it is the expectation of the Archbishop and the Diocesan Trustees that all Diocesan Schools engage proactively in the Diocesan Academy Strategy with the development of concrete plans in consultation with the DES to move forward to academy status. For those of you who are not in current dialogue with the DES or your local schools about the Strategy, I ask that you contact John Dwyer, Deputy Director of the DES j.dwyer@bdes.org.uk or Mark O’Connell Academy Project Manager at the DES academies@bdes.org.uk  to take up these discussions. I wish to place on record the incredible commitment and generosity of so many governors and school leaders who have been engaged with our Diocesan Academy Strategy and who are willing even amidst uncertainties to work towards its development.
 
It is becoming increasingly evident that the Diocesan Academy Strategy is making a difference to Catholic education across the Diocese. At a recent meeting of the Chairs of the Board of Directors of Diocesan MACs, John Dwyer shared some important key information about progress and outcomes which is significant.

Key Stage 2 Outcomes:

	Number of Schools	Number of pupils in Year 6	Achieving expected standard in Reading	Achieving expected standard in Maths	Achieving Combined expected standard (R,M,W)
Schools not in MACs	120	4045	75.30%	79.50%	65.40%
Schools in MACs	83	2468	76.40%	81.20%	67.60%
All BDES Schools	203	6513	75.70%	80.10%	66.20%
National Figures			71%	75%	61%

Key Stage 4 Outcomes:

	Number of Schools	Nos. of Year 11 pupils	Average Progress 8 Score	Average Attainment 8 Score	% of pupils 5+ E&M	% of pupils 4+ E&M
Schools not in MACs	15	2563	-0.08	45.9	41.1	63.2
Schools in MACs	17	2722	0.04	48.6	45.3	66.7
All BDES Schools	32	5285	-0.02	47.3	43.3	65
National Figures			-0.03	44.6	39.6	63.9

This is indeed good news and celebrates success. There is strong evidence that where a clear rationale is put together for the development of a Mac and a drive by all parties to make it work, then improvement and success happens, and Catholic education is being further strengthened and secured.
 
Finally, may I thank you all for your continued commitment and work for Catholic education in the Diocese.
 
May I take this opportunity on behalf of the DES team to wish you a blessed Easter that you come to know the peace and joy that the Risen Christ gives.