More than 120 headteachers, diocesan officers, school governors and other Catholic educational leaders gathered in London recently to discuss the unique challenges faced in trying to secure and support leaders for Catholic schools.

Visions for Leadership, a national consultative conference hosted by the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales and the Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life included speeches from CESEW Chairman Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Fr Michael Holman SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain. Rt. Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister for Schools and Learning paid tribute to the expertise and experience of Catholic school leaders, and noted that through collaboration and partnership these leaders can be a valuable resource for the whole community.

CESEW Director Oona Stannard opened the conference with a reminder that Michelle Obama, wife of U.S. President Barack Obama had recently told her husband that she wished he would do something more likely to make a difference to the world, such as being a headteacher! Oona then suggested that the words of the late Pope John Paul II, who said that "Teaching has an extraordinary moral depth and is one of humanity's excellent and creative activities, for the teacher does not write on inanimate material, but on the very spirits of human beings” were applicable many times over for headteachers.

The day included Rev Dr James Hanvey sharing some of the research undertaken by the Leaders for Education Project, co-directed by Heythrop and the CESEW, as well as findings from research commissioned by the project.

Activities and discussion focused on the needs of headteachers, as well as asking what the Church needs from its headteachers. Over two highly productive workshop sessions, delegates shared concerns and aspirations, discussing their own needs as leaders and the support they need in nurturing future leaders. After the conference one delegate wrote: “I very much welcome the chance to listen, discuss, celebrate and maybe contribute to change and development within Catholic education. Thank you. I look forward to the next stage!”

The conference was made possible by the continued support of the National College for School Leadership and the Leaders for Catholic Education project.

For more information you can email CESEW at general@cesew.org.uk or telephone 020 7901 1900.