THE
FEDERATION OF ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, WOMBWELL, ST HELEN’S, HOYLAND, AND SACRED HEART, GOLDTHORPE, CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN BARNSLEY
Progress Report: January 2008
Following the strategic review by the Diocese in May 2004, it became very clear that the long-term future of our three
schools lay in federating under one Governing Body.
Each of our schools are in former mining communities with small numbers of Catholic pupils. Our schools work
in partnership to develop links between staff, pupils and governors that benefit our three schools and strengthen our educational
provision. After much discussion and a period of genuine prayerful discernment,
in September 2007 the three schools officially federated under one Governing Body, the first federation in Barnsley Local
Authority and only the second in the Diocese of Hallam.
The strategic planning by the three Headteachers, who meet regularly, builds on the strengths
of each school, ensuring the future of all three schools on their current sites despite a falling Catholic population. The result is already providing continuing, developing and widening opportunities
for mutual support and the sharing of good practice within the three school communities.
Our federation of three Catholic schools
works together in Hoyland, Goldthorpe and Wombwell as part of the mission of the Church in education.
Our Shared Mission
Statement:
·
Together we
believe that each person is gifted, unique and loved by God and therefore worthy of deep respect .
·
Together we
are committed to working in partnership to create challenging, stimulating and effective learning and teaching environments,
where Christ is our inspiration.
·
Together we
recognise our responsibility to nurture each individual in our school community.
The successful journey towards
federation was achieved with the support of Mr Frank McDermott (Diocesan Director of Schools) following set procedures and
timescales. Prior to September 2007 these included :-
- Half termly Headteacher meetings with Frank
- Monthly meetings of the three Headteachers
- Termly teaching staff meetings visiting each school
- Termly Governor visits to each of the three schools
- Regular consultation with staff, parents and Governors
- Meeting for all staff with Frank
- Meeting for all Governors with Diocese / Local Authority representation
- Meetings for parents arranged in each of the three schools
- Monthly Headteacher meetings with Mr Duncan Gawthorpe, consultant, to develop action
planning strategies for Staffing, Curriculum, Governors, Home / School / Parish, SEF planning, Premises and School Development
Planning.
Since
September 2007 when we became a hard federation of three schools with one governing body; much good work has taken place.
Following
the agreed Action Plan there have been facilitated meetings of:-
- Our three Deputy Headteachers with our consultant
· An Autumn staff meeting for all teachers facilitated by Mr John Cape,
our new Diocesan Co-Director of Schools
· An Autumn staff meeting for all support staff facilitated by Mr John Cape,
Diocesan Co-Director of Schools
· Half termly meetings of Literacy co-ordinators, RE coordinators, Foundation Stage
teachers
· Termly INSET for Teaching Assistants by Local Authority advisors
On Wednesday
23rd January 2008, the Chair of Governors and the three headteachers, met with Frank McDermott and John Cape from the Diocese of Hallam to consider
a structure of Committees for the new Governing Body. Their discussions have
resulted in a draft structure, draft constitution and draft terms of reference which have now been circulated to all governors
in preparation for their meeting on 4th February 2008.
28th
January 2008
