Birmingham Diocesan Education Service A message from Steve Bell, Director of Education March 2024
Dear Colleagues
I hope this letter finds you well after another busy term. I congratulate and thank all leaders and school staff who continue to work so tirelessly in the service of others. This approach has been formally recognised in the many inspections that have taken place this term. It is wonderful to read the excellent CSI and Ofsted reports that are glowing in praise of the work of our MACs and schools. In addition, many of our schools have received letters of thanks from Damian Hinds, Minister of State for Schools, on the excellent progress that children in our Catholic schools made last year. There is no doubt that your wonderful vocation to the MACs, schools, children, and communities you serve reflects your commitment to the Catholic faith as we spread the joy of the Gospel.
At the DES, I am delighted to confirm that we have achieved the milestones set out for this term including the development of an exciting programme for our Leadership Conference on 17th May (please sign up by Friday 22nd March), publication of the new Scheme of Delegation for MACs, the audit of safeguarding across all MACs and VA schools, the establishment of working groups after 100 volunteers put themselves forward (an amazing act of co-responsibility and solidarity) and continuation of the people strategy for a flourishing diocese.
As you know, a crucial element of our work has focused on the revised Academy Vision, details of which I am delighted to report below.
Archdiocese of Birmingham: Revised Academy Vision
Background There are considerable challenges in the education sector including support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, pupil absence, falling pupil numbers, overall funding, staff recruitment and retention, increasing parental challenge, estates and statutory compliance to mention a few. Nationally, including in other Catholic Dioceses, there has been a move to create larger trusts which are better able to support and protect all schools, whether they are thriving or vulnerable, through the more efficient deployment of the available resources.
We are particularly mindful of the challenges facing our Catholic primary schools, many of whom are facing falling rolls. We have a profound responsibility to support and protect them as they provide a crucial role in the Church’s mission. They are also the foundation of our Catholic secondary schools. In the Archdiocese of Birmingham, pupils are at the heart of creating a flourishing education system aligned to our mission to announce the joy of the Gospel by making Christ known today through securing, protecting, and improving the provision of Catholic Education.
Recommendation following the communications Following the series of meetings undertaken this term regarding the MAC vision, members of the education sub-committee are delighted to confirm that, following feedback, they will be recommending to trustees that there should be a revised plan for the establishment of a smaller number of large, strong Catholic education trusts across the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The sub-committee are most grateful for the spirit of fraternity and co-responsibility encountered during the meetings with Chairs/Vice Chairs/CSELs/academy and VA principals/headteachers. The establishment, progress and success of the trusts will be benchmarked using the strong Catholic MAT framework. The framework clearly places great emphasis on solidarity and subsidiarity. A strong MAT will allow its schools to flourish in their communities and place local governance at the heart of its strategy. The Regional Director, the DfE and the ESFA support our direction of travel and are working closely with DES officers.
A strong Catholic workforce We see this as an opportunity to secure and protect the future of our Catholic schools and therefore our wonderful Catholic workforce. We will need our current workforce’s expertise and skills in creating organisations that are much larger than any of the existing MACs. We appreciate that change can be challenging, but we would also stress that, in creating these larger Catholic MATs, there will be opportunities for staff development. To reassure staff, pay and conditions will be protected by TUPE (transfer of undertakings protection of employment).
Next steps A detailed proposal is being developed by DES officers, working with the education subcommittee and other external consultants. The plan will be submitted to trustees on 26th April and we will write to you again following this meeting in order to update you. As per our commitment to communication, please feel free to contact DES officers if you have any questions or suggestions.
Thank you for your support. We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue on this journey to create a sustainable, flourishing school system in our Archdiocese.
A new Charter I thank school leaders for supporting the DES in producing the following charter. Our vision is to be a Catholic diocese that is faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ, full of missionary disciples who work together co-responsibly in vibrant communities of faith, joyful in their service of God and neighbour. By being faithful to the charter, we will secure, protect and improve Catholic education across what will become a flourishing diocese.
In the summer term, we look forward to finalising the Vision project plan and the strong Catholic framework based on the following pillars:
We look forward to completing the MAC monitoring visits, the review of safeguarding across our schools, the continuation of the people strategy including new CPD and formation opportunities, and the commencement of the working groups.
Reflection As we approach Easter, we reflect on the fact that, together, our vocation is for all to see the beauty of the Catholic faith including redemption, forgiveness, and resurrection. These deepen pupils’ understanding of the core tenets of Catholicism and allow them to grasp the profound meaning of Easter and relevance to their lives.
Beyond academia, our schools emphasise the importance of service and charity. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ, pupils are encouraged to participate in acts of kindness and compassion, reflecting the spirit of selflessness embodied in the Easter narrative. This hands-on experience fosters empathy and a sense of responsibility towards others, nurturing a holistic understanding of the Catholic faith beyond doctrine. On this note, I thank all schools that have signed up to the Pledge £1 campaign for FHC – a wonderful commitment, and thank all those who have donated at Don Bosco House to the women of Fatima House.
In the words of Saint John Paul II, "Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." This quote encapsulates the essence of Easter and its transformative power within the Catholic faith. Through the guidance and support of Catholic schools, pupils are empowered to embrace their identity as Easter people, imbued with hope and the promise of new life in Christ. That is why we do what we do and, even in uncertain times, must continue to work positively and with optimism and hope! Thank you.