The North West Dioceses’ Catholic Leadership Programme2015

Some Comments about the CLP from the 2014 Cohort:

An aspect of the programme I particularly appreciated was….:

• “…the opportunity to reflect on my personal faith. It is a rare commodity to have time put aside to develop as not just a leader, but as a leader in the Catholic faith”

• “…the opportunities to speak to other people in different schools. Many of the speakers made me really consider what we are doing and why – something that is sometimes easy to forget amidst targets and our number-driven world”.

• “…the inspirational presentations from Headteachers demonstrating a range of leadership styles and qualities, and the distinctive nature of Catholic Schools. It allows you to reflect and further evaluate your own personal qualities and skills and your responsibilities as a Catholic leader”.

• “…the opportunity to speak with my mentor. It allowed me to speak personally and privately about my faith and worries concerning leadership”

• “…at a personal level it has challenged and nurtured. It has also given me confidence to stand by my personal faith and values and to understand they are not the finished product. It has raised the questions that need to be explored further”.

• “…it has really made me reflect on why I work in Catholic education and what makes the difference. I have had to reflect on my own personal beliefs and my own mission for the children in my care”.

The overall value of this programme for me has been:…..

•“…time to reflect on my role and responsibility as a Headteacher, access to further reading and learning on a personal level”.

•“This has been the best course I have ever had the privilege to be part of and have thoroughly enjoyed it”.

•“…the notion of ‘being’ truly Catholic rather than ‘doing’ what are viewed as Godly things. This has resonated with me deeply and has come through strongly in all the visiting speakers even in sessions that were very theological. The great thing also was that all sessions were highly accessible to all and will enable colleagues to articulate their faith more effectively at a level with which they are comfortable”.

Aims of the Programme:

By the end of the programme participants should be able to articulate their personal values and mission, and have a better understanding of the distinctive mission of Catholic schools. “As a Headteacher in a Catholic school providing leadership in the faith community you need:

A clear understanding of the mission of a Catholic school

To be able, in the light of the mission to secure the school’s distinctiveness as a Catholic school

To be able to communicate and share this knowledge of the mission of the school and its distinctiveness and the vision it inspires with staff, pupils, governors, parents and the parish community

To be able, through translating the vision into action, to ensure that the school can contribute purposefully to social and community cohesion through promoting constructive and inclusive dialogue with the wider community”

(Handbook for Headteachers, Archdiocese of Birmingham)

ContentThe programme lasts for one full year January to January (three school terms).

 

Term 1 – focus on SELF:  

Participants’ own faith experience/spirituality Their knowledge and understanding of their faith Their own values

“Good leadership is truthful and trustworthy. Leaders can act more confidently if they have a strong sense of their own inner truths and are resolute in upholding positions that may be unpopular but congruent with the leader’s values.”

(Kevin Treston)

ContentTerm 2 – focus on CONTEXT:

How their personal vision impacts on their present school How they would want their personal vision to impact on any future

leadership role in a school The distinctive vision/mission of a Catholic school Evaluating the Catholic nature of a school

“Ethos is not something that is ancillary to the other aspects of school life, but it is their foundation stone: every aspect of school life must be rooted in its ethos, from the curriculum to the playground, from the staffing structure to school policies”

(Archbishop Malcolm McMahon)

ContentTerm 3 – focus on TASK.

  Leadership models National Standards for School Leaders – interpreted for Catholic school

leaders

“… be clear that providing leadership and management for a Catholic school is totally compatible with the ‘standards agenda’. The requirement to improve the quality of educational provision and pupil achievement needs to be understood and interpreted within the setting of an ethos rooted in the Catholic Church and Gospel values.”

(Headteacher Handbook, Archdiocese of Birmingham)

Structure 2015:Three Conferences

1. Friday 27th and Saturday 28th February…Residential –

Chancellors Hotel

2. Tuesday 9th June…One-day Conference –

Liverpool Hope

3. Friday 13th and Saturday 14th Nov…Residential –

Chancellors Hotel

Structure 2015:Five Coaching sessions1. Tues 24th March…Joint Session (all delegates) – Salford Cathedral Centre

2. Tues 19th May…Primary/Secondary Sessions – Salford Cathedral Centre

Wed 20th May…Primary/Secondary Session (Liverpool delegates) – LACE

3. Tues 30th June…Primary/Secondary Sessions – Salford Cathedral Centre

Wed 1st July…. Primary/Secondary Session (Liverpool delegates) – LACE

4. Tues 15th September…Primary/Secondary Sessions – Salford Cathedral Centre

Wed 16th Sept...Primary/Secondary Session (Liverpool delegates) - LACE

5. Tues 20th October…Primary/Secondary Sessions – Salford Cathedral Centre

Wed 21st Oct… Primary/Secondary Session (Liverpool delegates) – LACE

Structure 2015:Individual work with a Coach/Mentor who will:

gain an overview of the specific needs of their mentee guide their mentee's progress throughout the course facilitate experiential placements which are targeted to

the needs of the mentee point their mentee towards other CPD for the future

Structure 2015:Practical experience through school visits of:

…different leadership styles

…schools with a contrasting intake – e.g. size, intake, demographic

…schools/leaders with a particular expertise

Assessment1.100% Attendance (85% minimum)2.Either a 1500 word essay or a 10-15

minute presentation3. Optional….MA modules (accredited

via St Mary’s, Twickenham)

Celebration Mass and Certificate Presentation Evening

 

TUESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2016

“Good leadership is……

…. truthful and trustworthy. Leaders can act more confidently if they have a strong sense of their own inner truths and are resolute in upholding positions that may be unpopular but congruent with the leaders values”

Kevin Treston

“Trust is the most important factor inleadership. Leaders cannot repeatedly break trust with people and expect to keep influencing them.

People will forgive occasional mistakes on ability (if admitted) …but they won’t trust someone who has slips in character”. John Maxwell, “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”

“…more than just a place where pupils are equipped with learning and skills for the workplace and responsible citizenship” for they are not just ‘citizens’ or ‘learners’ or (God forbid) ‘economic units’. They have a ‘divine origin and an eternal destiny’….are God-given and full of grace”.

A Catholic School is…

“We must seek Christ in the eyes of every person.”

“In today’s unfavourable culture, Catholic schools have to be absolutely certain of their mission, which is far wider than a focus on attainment and

standards. We have to explain what ethos means”. Sister Judith Russi

“OUR SCHOOLS MUST BE AT LEAST AS ACADEMICALLY DISTINGUISHED AS ALL OF THE NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS”

Canon Law