The School Improvement Service

The BDES School Improvement Service has experienced a period of rapid growth and has expanded to facilitate practical support and advice across the Diocese. Justine Lomas (Primary) and Ted Hammond (Secondary) provide a range of services on a variety of school improvement issues including, but not exhaustive of the following:

• Attending formal meetings with Local Authority partners to coordinate support offered to schools across the Diocese
• Monitoring the impact of support provided to schools identified as being in need
• Attending regular formal meetings with the DFE, OFSTED and RSC acting as advocate for our schools across the diocese
• Delivering regular headteacher briefings throughout the academic year
• Providing regular termly updates on all matters impacting on Catholic education and our schools
• Offering a bespoke advisory and support service to schools before and after Ofsted inspections
• Attending schools during Ofsted inspections, meeting with HMI/Inspectors and attending feedback sessions when required
• Attending IEB/SIB meetings where necessary

• Collating and analysing performance data from all schools including all statutory primary school assessments and secondary school examination results
• Providing an overview of Diocesan school performance identifying key areas of strength and for further development to Trustees
• Acting as the first point of contact with DFE and LA officers when school performance data is under scrutiny
• Providing support to schools with any visits from DFE or LA officers including attendance at school where necessary
• Identifying any vulnerable schools based on performance data and brokerage of appropriate support

 
Yvonne Brennan oversees the work of the School Improvement Team and supports it by:
 
1.Providing support, advice and references for applications for Teaching Schools, NLE and LLE
2.Delivering regular TSA meetings to share good practice and identify schools needing support and brokering of that support
3.Facilitating school improvement support through Teaching Schools Alliances and other appropriate providers
 
In addition, this space will also enable slides from the Headteacher Briefing to be made available to schools after the events have taken place.
 
Yvonne, Justine and Ted are available to talk to School Leaders and cater for the needs of schools on an individual basis. Our contact details are:

Deputy Director: School Improvement and Leadership 
Mrs Yvonne Brennan
E-mail: y.brennan@bdes.org.uk   
Tel: 01675 464 755 Ext: 112
Senior Adviser for School Improvement 
Mrs Justine Lomas
E-mail: j.lomas@bdes.org.uk  
Tel: 01675 464 755 Ext: 111
Education Adviser
Mr Ted Hammond
E-mail: t.hammond@bdes.org.uk
​Tel: 01675 464 755 Ext: 109