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Minutes
of the meeting held on June 16th 2010 at Our
Lady’s Primary School, York
Present:
Derek Sutherland, Mary Barry,
Kieron Flood, John Greenwood, Liam McGurrin
Apologies:
Phil Harrison, Sharon
Melia-Craven, Peter Davison, Jane Lewin, Nuala Nelis
1. Matters arising
Nil
2.
Conference 2010
Derek reposted that he had had
many positive comments about the conference held at St Bede’s on April 23rd.
Oona
Stannard from the CES found it “very rewarding and useful”.
Dame Mary Richardson
said:
Congratulations on a super day. It was very successful indeed and
I could see people fired up. Everyone clearly found something useful. A ground breaking occasion.
NEDFOS
is making a very important contribution to Catholic education. What I found missing in the presentations is the Head teacher’s
DUTY to train tomorrow's headteachers - the lack of suitable Catholic candidates is indeed alarming and threatens the
whole RC schools sustainability.
Other comments stated that
“the day was enlightening and useful”
“exactly what we were looking for”
“helps to inform other collaborations”
“helpful to see other examples”
“useful to investigate other collaborations”
The venue, food and attendance were highly pleasing. It was felt that we need to be more proactive
and inform other heads and governors of the benefits of collaboration It was decided that we should
send out a termly Newsletter to all the schools in the four Dioceses and invite them to share their experiences of collaboration
and federation.
3 FLM
It was noted that there had been new appointments of RE Directors
in Hexham and Newcastle, Leeds and Middlesbrough, and we would be arranging to meet with them in the Autumn term.(Kieron – Leeds, Derek – Middlesbrough and Liam –
Hexham and Newcastle). We need to improve our links
with the FLM team and encourage mutual representation of representatives on both bodies. Derek would be attending the next
meeting of the FLM team in the Autumn term,
4. NCSL
The NCSL provides case studies of Models of Leadership, and have
a link to the NEDFOS site, Derek will follow up his contacts there to help us to broaden our scope and allow other schools
to contact us if they require more information. We have had a request from Tom Jordan of the Leicestershire Federation for
‘examples of some inspirational activities such as the Pilgrimage
for heads’, so the website is beginning to work.
It was noted that the Leeds annual Conference on June 24th had an agenda item
on exploring leadership in Catholic schools.
5
Engaging Governors
There was lengthy discussion on how to engage Governors in discussing elements of collaboration and
federation. With reference to a small Catholic primary school, when the present head has retired, the choices are:
Appoint a
replacement
Federate with another school
Federate with a local C of E school
Governors should be encouraged to:
Discuss the situation with their
RE Director of Schools for the Diocese
Talk to local schools
Talk to the local C of E School
Talk to fellow Catholic heads
It was noted that a Catholic and a C of E school in Grimsby were
looking towards a joint hard federation.
In Barnsley, the Governors
had appointed an acting head to take over from the retiring head of one of the federated schools.
6 CES
Should
the CES have a question on their annual census form to find out how many schools were either federated or in the process of
discussion re. federation? As Oona Stannard pointed
out at the Conference, the CES do not have an ‘overall picture’ of federated schools in the country.
7 Meetings for 2010/2011
Autumn term
Next meeting Wednesday, 6th October, 2010 at Our Lady’s
School – 10.00 a.m. for 10.30 a.m.
Spring term
Wednesday, 9th February 2011 - same venue
Summer term
Wednesday, 22nd June 2011 – same venue
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Minutes March 24th 2010
Minutes, February 3rd 2010
Minutes September 22nd 2009
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