The Right Honourable Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners has 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. The minister made his comments at Visions for Leadership, a national conference hosted by the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales and the Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life. He joined over one hundred headteachers, principals of Catholic sixth form colleges, diocesan officers, school governors and other Catholic educational leaders at the Commonwealth Club to discuss the unique challenges faced by leadership in the Catholic sector.
Mr Knight emphasised the importance of inspirational leaders and the role they play in “creating a sense of the school at the heart of the community”, echoing CESEW Chairman Archbishop Vincent Nichols who in his earlier speech stated that it is not possible to take a “narrow view” of leadership. Archbishop Nichols called on school leaders to “foster an ecology of human growth”, in keeping with the unique mission of Catholic education. Fr Michael Holman SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain outlined not only the kind of leadership we need in our Catholic schools, but also the needs these leaders have as they exercise their “Christian ministry” of leading a Catholic school community. Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor thanked delegates for all their hard work as school leaders and congratulated them on the invaluable service they provide to both the Church and society as a whole.
The day’s focus was very much on finding new and innovative ways to move forward. 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. In his closing remarks, Dr James Hanvey SJ stressed the necessity of putting these ideas into practice, outlining next steps in terms of research and modelling and testing resources while reminding delegates that they themselves are the Catholic sector’s most valuable resource in this regard.
Speaking after the conference, CESEW Chief Executive and Director Oona Stannard said “The feedback from the working groups has affirmed the action research we have carried out and the independent research commissioned for the Leaders for Catholic Education project. We will be preparing a conference report for publication and using the evidence to help us in formulating an action plan. There is no doubt that our educational leaders and governors are enthusiastic about engaging with the issue of how we get the leaders we need and how we meet the needs of our leaders.”
The conference was made possible by the continued support of the National College for School Leadership and the Leaders for Catholic Education project.
ENDS
For more information please email general@cesew.org.uk or telephone 0207 901 1900
