BDES Newsletter July 2022
|
A Message from the DES Team
As the school year draws to a close, we offer our thanks for the work you have undertaken on behalf of Catholic education across the schools of the Archdiocese. For all of us the past academic year has had its joys and challenges, but we give thanks for all that has been achieved for the education of our young people in communities which place the person of Christ at the heart of their work. Special thanks to all who have worked with us as the DES team and for the opportunities you have provided us to be part of the life and work of your school communities. We wish you all a very blessed summer. Do take time for rest and relaxation and enjoy moments with family and friends. With our prayers and renewed thanks, The DES Team |
|
Prayer for the end of the school year
God of wisdom, we thank you for all the gifts you have given us throughout this school year. We praise you for giving us life, for saving us in Christ, and for choosing us to be your people.
As we come to the end of this school year, we voice our gratitude for the good things you have done in us, and we praise you for all who have shared in the work of this school.
We ask that you bless them in your love and give them refreshment and peace. We praise you, God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
God of wisdom, we thank you for all the gifts you have given us throughout this school year. We praise you for giving us life, for saving us in Christ, and for choosing us to be your people.
As we come to the end of this school year, we voice our gratitude for the good things you have done in us, and we praise you for all who have shared in the work of this school.
We ask that you bless them in your love and give them refreshment and peace. We praise you, God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Emergency Cover Arrangements for August
Should you require urgent support, advice or guidance from the DES during the month of August, please contact the Deputy Director on-call.
WB August 1: Maggie Duggan m.duggan@bdes.org.uk, 07538 572124
WB August 8: Yvonne Salter Wright y.salterwright@bdes.org.uk, 07961 635164
WB August 15: Ted Hammond t.hammond@bdes.org.uk, 07538 573085
WB August 22: Justine Lomas j.lomas@bdes.org.uk, 07538 573094
From August 31: Toni Guest t.guest@bdes.org.uk, 07538 573338
Please note that the DES offices will be closed from Wednesday 17 August and will re-open on Wednesday 31 August.
Website
Please take time to have a look at the BDES website www.bdes.org.uk where you can find lots of useful information.
Please consider clicking on the cookies link when looking at the website. This helps us keep a count of the numbers of people visiting the website and the pages people like to look at and helps us improve our website for your future use.
If you have any good news stories, pictures or artwork that you would like published on our website then please send them to bdesadmin@bdes.org.uk
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
National Schools Singing Programme
His Grace, Archbishop Bernard, is happy to announce that the Archdiocese has joined the National Schools Singing Programme and it is hoped the initiative will start in Coventry and the surrounding area in September.
The National Schools Singing Programme is for all Catholic dioceses in the UK to create or enhance their own music programmes for children educated in Catholic state schools. This initiative is founded and supported by The Hamish Ogston Foundation.
The initiative will be launched in a small number of our Catholic schools to begin with, and over time the whole Diocese will be involved.
A singing programme, developed by specialist choral trainers, will start in our primary schools and eventually move to secondary schools. It is hoped instrumental tuition will follow in due course.
This programme is aimed at all children and is set to result in the formation of choirs and musical groups across our Archdiocese, based principally within our Diocesan Multi Academy Companies (MACs) and their neighbouring VA schools.
It is hoped that this will be one of many new initiatives which has our Diocesan Vision, Unfolding God’s Plan at its heart.
The benefits to the Diocese include:
The programme is being managed by Keith Ainsworth, a Foundation Director of Holy Cross Catholic Multi Academy Company in Coventry, who has been appointed Diocesan Programme Director.
More information on this exciting venture will follow in the coming months.
LiveSimply Awards
It has been wonderful to see just how many of the schools across the Archdiocese signed up to express their interest in undertaking the CAFOD LiveSimply Award. As it stands today, 95% of Catholic schools within the Diocese have taken this first step. Schools are now in the process of putting together their action plans and it’s great that these plans are involving children and staff as well as governors and directors. Some schools are also exploring linking up with their parish for this initiative. By putting Catholic Social Teaching into action schools will be showing their commitment to living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor and creating a legacy for the future.
Our congratulations must go to both St. Anne’s Primary, Chelmsley Wood and St. Augustine’s Primary, Coventry who have both been successful in achieving the LiveSimply Award this week. If you haven’t already seen it, do take a look at the latest edition of The Sower as Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Yardley Wood, have made the front cover having received their LiveSimply Award in May.
https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/diocesan-magazine
Some facts and figures:
There are 22 Dioceses in England and Wales
43 schools have achieved the award
4 of those are Birmingham schools (St. Thomas More Secondary School, Willenhall were the original trailblazers back in 2021)
Keep up the good work. We can’t wait to see what the numbers are like in a year’s time!
BUILDINGS AND FINANCE
The Health & Safety Executive has announced school inspections to support asbestos management
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it will undertake school inspections from September 2022. These inspections are aimed at ensuring asbestos is being managed effectively in schools, in line with their duties under Control of Asbestos Regulations to keep children, staff and the wider community safe from asbestos.
HSE’s announcement sets out what they will be looking at and how schools should prepare for a possible inspection.
DfE has published the asbestos management in schools guidance for schools to help them understand and meet their responsibilities in managing asbestos safely, including having an asbestos management plan and register.
Should you be contacted by the HSE and informed that your school is due an inspection, please contact Toni Guest t.guest@bdes.org.uk
Occupation of School Premises Document
Thank you to schools that have already completed their return. Could we ask that you please submit your return if you haven’t already done so. Two briefing sessions have been offered to governing bodies and directors in October for the Occupancy document.
National School rebuilding programme
Following our bid submissions earlier this year, a number of follow up school site visits have been requested by the DfE. If you are contacted by the DfE about the programme, please do get in touch with Toni Guest t.guest@bdes.org.uk
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable summer break from the Building & Finance Team.
DIOCESAN DIRECTIVES
A huge thank you to the schools who have submitted a response to let us know about compliance with the Diocesan Directives.
If you are yet to send a response, please do so as soon as possible using this link: Diocesan Directives Compliance Checklist
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Senior Leadership Appointments, Induction and Mentoring
Thank you to all senior leaders, governors, CSELs and Directors for the hard work and commitment to both developing and growing leaders as well as securing new senior leaders for our schools, as well as the positive and constructive engagement with the DES advisors who have supported recruitment and appointment processes.
We have almost 80 leaders taking up new senior leadership positions who will be undertaking the Archdiocesan induction programmes next academic year (one for HTs/Principals/Heads of School and one for DHTs/VPs). Formation will be the foundation of both programmes. It will also cover relevant, contextual and wider issues surrounding Catholic leadership, governance and accountability within the current educational landscape; exploring and developing key research, knowledge and skills, and facilitating opportunities for collaborations and peer support as we go through our leadership journey. Peer dialogue and collaboration offered in these sessions have been reported by previous participants as hugely beneficial in their initial years of headship. The sessions are held half termly at Don Bosco House. All dates are included on the BDES training and events schedule and will be sent out to participants. We ask that Governing Bodies and Boards give their fulsome support to active engagement by those on the programmes.
Each new senior leader will also be allocated a mentor for their first year. Can we take an opportunity to thank all of those experienced senior leaders who support the development and growth of the next generation of Catholic senior leaders through their willingness to serve as a mentor.
Senior Leadership Recruitment Notification
Just a reminder to please alert Yvonne Salter Wright and Basman Zora, as soon as possible, of all impending vacancies to protected positions (substantive or interim) by completing the Leadership Vacancy Notification form available at: https://www.bdes.org.uk/vacancynotification.html
For all leadership issues, queries and questions, please do email us directly and/or to our leadership email account: leadership@bdes.org.uk.
Leadership Conference 2022: Loving with the Heart of Christ
Many thanks to all those who engaged with the virtual Leadership Conference 2022 held on Friday, 24 June. While it was not possible to hold the event in person this year, it was wonderful to be able to invite our Archdiocesan Ubi Caritas awardees to Sacred Heart and Holy Souls Church to be presented with their awards by His Grace Archbishop Bernard Longley. If you missed the sessions or Mass or would like to reflect on them again, there is further information and videos available on the BDES website at: https://www.bdes.org.uk/leadership-conference-2022.html
HOLD THE DATE: The Archdiocesan Leadership Conference 2023 will be held on Friday, 9 June 2023. We are very much hoping to hold next year’s conference once again in person as well as broadcasting to reach as many of our school and multi academy senior leaders, governors and directors as possible.
Safeguarding: NEW Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2022
The new 2022 Keeping Children Safe in Education will be effective from 1st September 2022 and is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 Do please review the sections appropriate to your role (at minimum Part I). There are key changes to compliance and guidance. In our June Governor and Director Briefing, we highlighted the key changes and your school and/or multi academy will be ensuring that you receive further briefing and guidance.
Governor and Director Briefings and Induction
We have almost 2,000 governors and directors across our Archdiocesan schools and multi academies. A sincere thanks to you all for your ongoing engagement and the support you provide to our schools in serving our diverse communities and children. You will have seen in the timetable for the 2022/23 academic year we will be continuing to provide virtual, termly governor and director briefings and we ask that you note these in your diaries. Additionally, for those new to serving on a local governing body in a MAC or a governing body in a VA school, there are dates for the Governor Induction Programmes. Those eligible will be sent an invitation to register, but if for whatever reason you have not, please do contact us by emailing governance@bdes.org.uk
Updated Contact Details and GIAS (Get Information About Schools)
We know the Autumn term will come quickly and there may be a number of changes to the membership of governing bodies including parent/LA/co-opted membership as well as key positions such as Chair and Vice Chair. Please can we remind all schools and multi academies that it is a requirement to keep up to date the details for governors and directors on the government’s GIAS system and website AS WELL AS notifying the BDES by emailing governance@bdes.org.uk We have continued to find that many governor email addresses have not been updated and therefore circulations are not reaching some. Please can your governance professional and/or clerk be asked to maintain these records and keep the BDES notified of such changes.
The Diocesan Vision for Education and Multi Academy Strategy
We recently had the pleasure of hosting a visit by colleagues from the Department for Education and the Catholic Education Service to two schools within two of our Archdiocesan Multi Academies. All were very impressed, in particular about how the pupils articulated their faith journey as well as the support received by the school and multi academy communities. We also had the opportunity to discuss the Archdiocesan strategy and the shared commitment by government and the Archdiocese to ensure that we develop strong multi academies (see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/schools-white-paper-delivers-real-action-to-level-up-education )
Across the Archdiocese, we now have 144 of 234 schools under the Trust Deed that are within 16 MACs and plans are in place for this number to increase from 1 September 2022. Importantly, there has been a tremendous amount of effort to build and develop not only the infrastructure but the relationships and trust that will allow our families of schools to grow and thrive. Thank you to the many schools working together through constructive dialogue to continue to pursue the Archdiocesan vision ( see https://www.bdes.org.uk/vision-and-multi-academy-strategy.html ) and its alignment with the Archdiocesan Vision and the mission of the Church.
Please keep the DES up to date with any changes to contact details and positions by emailing bdesadmin@bdes.org.uk.
Emergency Cover Arrangements for August
Should you require urgent support, advice or guidance from the DES during the month of August, please contact the Deputy Director on-call.
WB August 1: Maggie Duggan m.duggan@bdes.org.uk, 07538 572124
WB August 8: Yvonne Salter Wright y.salterwright@bdes.org.uk, 07961 635164
WB August 15: Ted Hammond t.hammond@bdes.org.uk, 07538 573085
WB August 22: Justine Lomas j.lomas@bdes.org.uk, 07538 573094
From August 31: Toni Guest t.guest@bdes.org.uk, 07538 573338
Please note that the DES offices will be closed from Wednesday 17 August and will re-open on Wednesday 31 August.
Website
Please take time to have a look at the BDES website www.bdes.org.uk where you can find lots of useful information.
Please consider clicking on the cookies link when looking at the website. This helps us keep a count of the numbers of people visiting the website and the pages people like to look at and helps us improve our website for your future use.
If you have any good news stories, pictures or artwork that you would like published on our website then please send them to bdesadmin@bdes.org.uk
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
National Schools Singing Programme
His Grace, Archbishop Bernard, is happy to announce that the Archdiocese has joined the National Schools Singing Programme and it is hoped the initiative will start in Coventry and the surrounding area in September.
The National Schools Singing Programme is for all Catholic dioceses in the UK to create or enhance their own music programmes for children educated in Catholic state schools. This initiative is founded and supported by The Hamish Ogston Foundation.
The initiative will be launched in a small number of our Catholic schools to begin with, and over time the whole Diocese will be involved.
A singing programme, developed by specialist choral trainers, will start in our primary schools and eventually move to secondary schools. It is hoped instrumental tuition will follow in due course.
This programme is aimed at all children and is set to result in the formation of choirs and musical groups across our Archdiocese, based principally within our Diocesan Multi Academy Companies (MACs) and their neighbouring VA schools.
It is hoped that this will be one of many new initiatives which has our Diocesan Vision, Unfolding God’s Plan at its heart.
The benefits to the Diocese include:
- Growth – the evangelisation and formation of our young people, the future of the Church
- Drawing our young people, and their families, more fully into the life of the Church
- Championing the holistic education of the poor and disenfranchised
- The fostering of deeper engagement with the lived experience of our faith and liturgy, and a shared sense of belonging, individual well-being, positive mental health and social interaction
- Having a Diocesan-wide programme that gives value for money, is scalable, financially stable and attractive to other grant funders
- Supports the national curriculum for music in our schools.
The programme is being managed by Keith Ainsworth, a Foundation Director of Holy Cross Catholic Multi Academy Company in Coventry, who has been appointed Diocesan Programme Director.
More information on this exciting venture will follow in the coming months.
LiveSimply Awards
It has been wonderful to see just how many of the schools across the Archdiocese signed up to express their interest in undertaking the CAFOD LiveSimply Award. As it stands today, 95% of Catholic schools within the Diocese have taken this first step. Schools are now in the process of putting together their action plans and it’s great that these plans are involving children and staff as well as governors and directors. Some schools are also exploring linking up with their parish for this initiative. By putting Catholic Social Teaching into action schools will be showing their commitment to living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor and creating a legacy for the future.
Our congratulations must go to both St. Anne’s Primary, Chelmsley Wood and St. Augustine’s Primary, Coventry who have both been successful in achieving the LiveSimply Award this week. If you haven’t already seen it, do take a look at the latest edition of The Sower as Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Yardley Wood, have made the front cover having received their LiveSimply Award in May.
https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/diocesan-magazine
Some facts and figures:
There are 22 Dioceses in England and Wales
43 schools have achieved the award
4 of those are Birmingham schools (St. Thomas More Secondary School, Willenhall were the original trailblazers back in 2021)
Keep up the good work. We can’t wait to see what the numbers are like in a year’s time!
BUILDINGS AND FINANCE
The Health & Safety Executive has announced school inspections to support asbestos management
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it will undertake school inspections from September 2022. These inspections are aimed at ensuring asbestos is being managed effectively in schools, in line with their duties under Control of Asbestos Regulations to keep children, staff and the wider community safe from asbestos.
HSE’s announcement sets out what they will be looking at and how schools should prepare for a possible inspection.
DfE has published the asbestos management in schools guidance for schools to help them understand and meet their responsibilities in managing asbestos safely, including having an asbestos management plan and register.
Should you be contacted by the HSE and informed that your school is due an inspection, please contact Toni Guest t.guest@bdes.org.uk
Occupation of School Premises Document
Thank you to schools that have already completed their return. Could we ask that you please submit your return if you haven’t already done so. Two briefing sessions have been offered to governing bodies and directors in October for the Occupancy document.
National School rebuilding programme
Following our bid submissions earlier this year, a number of follow up school site visits have been requested by the DfE. If you are contacted by the DfE about the programme, please do get in touch with Toni Guest t.guest@bdes.org.uk
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable summer break from the Building & Finance Team.
DIOCESAN DIRECTIVES
A huge thank you to the schools who have submitted a response to let us know about compliance with the Diocesan Directives.
If you are yet to send a response, please do so as soon as possible using this link: Diocesan Directives Compliance Checklist
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
Senior Leadership Appointments, Induction and Mentoring
Thank you to all senior leaders, governors, CSELs and Directors for the hard work and commitment to both developing and growing leaders as well as securing new senior leaders for our schools, as well as the positive and constructive engagement with the DES advisors who have supported recruitment and appointment processes.
We have almost 80 leaders taking up new senior leadership positions who will be undertaking the Archdiocesan induction programmes next academic year (one for HTs/Principals/Heads of School and one for DHTs/VPs). Formation will be the foundation of both programmes. It will also cover relevant, contextual and wider issues surrounding Catholic leadership, governance and accountability within the current educational landscape; exploring and developing key research, knowledge and skills, and facilitating opportunities for collaborations and peer support as we go through our leadership journey. Peer dialogue and collaboration offered in these sessions have been reported by previous participants as hugely beneficial in their initial years of headship. The sessions are held half termly at Don Bosco House. All dates are included on the BDES training and events schedule and will be sent out to participants. We ask that Governing Bodies and Boards give their fulsome support to active engagement by those on the programmes.
Each new senior leader will also be allocated a mentor for their first year. Can we take an opportunity to thank all of those experienced senior leaders who support the development and growth of the next generation of Catholic senior leaders through their willingness to serve as a mentor.
Senior Leadership Recruitment Notification
Just a reminder to please alert Yvonne Salter Wright and Basman Zora, as soon as possible, of all impending vacancies to protected positions (substantive or interim) by completing the Leadership Vacancy Notification form available at: https://www.bdes.org.uk/vacancynotification.html
For all leadership issues, queries and questions, please do email us directly and/or to our leadership email account: leadership@bdes.org.uk.
Leadership Conference 2022: Loving with the Heart of Christ
Many thanks to all those who engaged with the virtual Leadership Conference 2022 held on Friday, 24 June. While it was not possible to hold the event in person this year, it was wonderful to be able to invite our Archdiocesan Ubi Caritas awardees to Sacred Heart and Holy Souls Church to be presented with their awards by His Grace Archbishop Bernard Longley. If you missed the sessions or Mass or would like to reflect on them again, there is further information and videos available on the BDES website at: https://www.bdes.org.uk/leadership-conference-2022.html
HOLD THE DATE: The Archdiocesan Leadership Conference 2023 will be held on Friday, 9 June 2023. We are very much hoping to hold next year’s conference once again in person as well as broadcasting to reach as many of our school and multi academy senior leaders, governors and directors as possible.
Safeguarding: NEW Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2022
The new 2022 Keeping Children Safe in Education will be effective from 1st September 2022 and is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 Do please review the sections appropriate to your role (at minimum Part I). There are key changes to compliance and guidance. In our June Governor and Director Briefing, we highlighted the key changes and your school and/or multi academy will be ensuring that you receive further briefing and guidance.
Governor and Director Briefings and Induction
We have almost 2,000 governors and directors across our Archdiocesan schools and multi academies. A sincere thanks to you all for your ongoing engagement and the support you provide to our schools in serving our diverse communities and children. You will have seen in the timetable for the 2022/23 academic year we will be continuing to provide virtual, termly governor and director briefings and we ask that you note these in your diaries. Additionally, for those new to serving on a local governing body in a MAC or a governing body in a VA school, there are dates for the Governor Induction Programmes. Those eligible will be sent an invitation to register, but if for whatever reason you have not, please do contact us by emailing governance@bdes.org.uk
Updated Contact Details and GIAS (Get Information About Schools)
We know the Autumn term will come quickly and there may be a number of changes to the membership of governing bodies including parent/LA/co-opted membership as well as key positions such as Chair and Vice Chair. Please can we remind all schools and multi academies that it is a requirement to keep up to date the details for governors and directors on the government’s GIAS system and website AS WELL AS notifying the BDES by emailing governance@bdes.org.uk We have continued to find that many governor email addresses have not been updated and therefore circulations are not reaching some. Please can your governance professional and/or clerk be asked to maintain these records and keep the BDES notified of such changes.
The Diocesan Vision for Education and Multi Academy Strategy
We recently had the pleasure of hosting a visit by colleagues from the Department for Education and the Catholic Education Service to two schools within two of our Archdiocesan Multi Academies. All were very impressed, in particular about how the pupils articulated their faith journey as well as the support received by the school and multi academy communities. We also had the opportunity to discuss the Archdiocesan strategy and the shared commitment by government and the Archdiocese to ensure that we develop strong multi academies (see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/schools-white-paper-delivers-real-action-to-level-up-education )
Across the Archdiocese, we now have 144 of 234 schools under the Trust Deed that are within 16 MACs and plans are in place for this number to increase from 1 September 2022. Importantly, there has been a tremendous amount of effort to build and develop not only the infrastructure but the relationships and trust that will allow our families of schools to grow and thrive. Thank you to the many schools working together through constructive dialogue to continue to pursue the Archdiocesan vision ( see https://www.bdes.org.uk/vision-and-multi-academy-strategy.html ) and its alignment with the Archdiocesan Vision and the mission of the Church.
Please keep the DES up to date with any changes to contact details and positions by emailing bdesadmin@bdes.org.uk.
|
© Design and Content Copyright The Diocesan Education Service
|
Website supplied by Gabriel Media Limited
|
|
Birmingham Diocesan Trust, Registered Charity No: 234216