The CES’ Continued Negotiations on the White Paper, December 2005
Senior officers from the CES met with Lord Andrew Adonis to discuss aspects of the White Paper on 30th November. We were given a very warm welcome and left in no doubt that Lord Adonis is genuinely anxious to hear the views of our sector and also to have the opportunity to explain his hopes for the White Paper and the subsequent Bill. Our meeting built upon Lord Adonis’ attendance at our DSCs’ conference earlier that month.
We took the opportunity to again welcome the personalised learning that is promoted in the White Paper, recognising the needs of pupils who require further help to catch up, as well as the additional needs of gifted and talented pupils. We were clear, however, that it is some of the structural matters within the White Paper that exercise us most. For example, all schools – including community and Church schools – could seek to gain Trust status. Ministers hope that the Church will wish to pursue the opportunity to sponsor Trust schools in some way. Such Trusts would have the benefit of relieving our Catholic community of their 10% capital liability but we all need to be very clear about any loss of independence or other new responsibilities which might ultimately result. Clearly, the Government has much to work out yet as to what the new Trusts would look like and the numbers that are anticipated. The CES will continue to listen carefully and press for more details in order to be able to advise our Bishops and their Diocesan Officers of the true position.
We will maintain our close interest in admissions policy. We are particularly concerned to ensure that developments do not promote competition at the expense of collaboration. We will be scrutinising the details of the role of the proposed Schools Commissioner, and of Choice Advisers on admissions, as they are developed. The White Paper proposes a greater voice for parents, which is a principle which the CES wholeheartedly supports but we must look carefully at how this would be implemented; the voice of parents is well represented on our excellent Governing Bodies and we would not wish to see an alternative structure set up which could undermine such an elected body.
The CES has already contributed a response to the Education and Skills Select Committee on the White Paper as well as making our views known to a wide range of senior officers and directors at DfES, and to the Bill manager. We will continue to work with Ministers and their officials in the hope that our Catholic community can contribute its experience and expertise to the formulation of the Bill, so that we secure Catholic schooling in ways well matched to the opportunities and demands of the 21st Century. We undertake this work mindful of the old adage that ‘the devil is in the detail’.
We welcome all observations on the White Paper through Diocesan Officers or emailed directly to the CES pwalsh@cesew.org.uk and copied to relevant Diocesan Officers. We particularly encourage headteachers and governors to read the White Paper and the CES’ documentation on the Paper which are available through the links below.
Oona Stannard
Chief Executive and Director
12.12.05 | 
