The Education Act 2002 gave certain freedoms which had not existed

      before, one of  which is that it enabled two or more schools either to

      “federate” under a single governing body (Section 24) or to “arrange

      for the joint discharge of functions either through whole governing

     bodies or through joint committees”, permitting “those that wish to

     collaborate but not to federate under a single governing body, to have 

      the opportunity to form joint committees or hold joint meetings”

      (Section 26).  These provisions apply to all primary and secondary

      mainstream schools, and to special schools.

     We believe that greater collaborative working between schools, within

     confederated or  federated arrangements will offer some of our schools

     greater opportunities for development and greater long term strength

     and stability.  Indeed, we believe that  formal, structured collaboration

     and federation offer the Catholic community a realistic way forward in

      fulfilling the words of John Paul ll:

      “Gratitude for the past, enthusiasm for the present, hope for the future”.