Appointing headteachers in Catholic schools: “it’s not easy but we’re getting there”

Statistics from the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales (CESEW) show a welcome slight upturn in the rates of appointment to headship posts in Catholic schools.  This shows that the CESEW, the Catholic dioceses and NCSL (National College for School Leadership) working together strategically is having a noticeable impact on vacancy rates.  Appointing excellent headteachers for Catholic schools is something that the Catholic community takes very seriously and this year the CESEW released a DVD Leading a Catholic School: the best job in the world! to every Catholic school with the support of NCSL.  The CESEW is also collaborating with Heythrop College, University of London on Leaders for Catholic Schools, a joint research and planning project, which is exploring in depth the views of heads, senior and middle leaders in Catholic schools, looking at issues which deter people from headship as well as identifying factors that support and encourage individuals to headship of a Catholic school.

CESEW Chief Executive and Director, Oona Stannard, is on NCSL’s Succession Planning Advisory Board and we have secured funding from NCSL to support succession planning initiatives, including, for example, governor training and regional work to nurture future leaders. 

The CESEW includes questions about leadership in its annual Catholic schools census.  Statistics from the CESEW Census 2007 showed just under 6% of Catholic primary schools with an acting head and 3.6% of secondary schools.  In the primary phase one diocese had no vacancies and six dioceses had only one acting headship.  The position was more favourable generally in secondary schools, with thirteen dioceses having no acting posts and another six having only one.

Oona Stannard said: ‘OFSTED data shows how good our schools are and we know this is in no small part due to the excellent leadership of our current headteachers.  I continue to say that there is no shortage of people well-qualified to lead Catholic schools, but we have been challenged by insufficient numbers coming forward.  Partnership working between CESEW, dioceses and NCSL is vibrant, and slowly but surely we are beginning to see improvements in the ability to fill headship vacancies.  I am confident that together we can maintain and build on this good progress.’

ENDS

For more information please contact Laura McCann e: lmccann@cesew.org.uk t: 0207 901 4854

The DVD Leading a Catholic School: the best job in the world! is available here: http://www.cesew.org.uk/standard.asp?id=7108

Click on the link below for more information about leadership recruitment on the CESEW website.