CHALLENGES FACING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND CATHOLIC HEADTEACHERS

Why do you go to school?

“To get good GCSEs and A Levels, go to university and be a success.”

“So you lot can look after me whilst Mum goes to work.”

We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Our biggest challenge is to not lose sight of our Mission. To grow, learn, serve and pray in a community inspired by the Gospel message, enabling all to realise their unique hopes and potential.

Things are forever changing, for example: SATs/no SATs Levels/Life After Levels Diplomas/no diplomas Specialist schools/ no specialist schools New GCSE/ New A Levels New BTEC New National Curriculum The Ebacc

Raising the leaving age University fees NVQs Academies, Studio Schools, Free Schools New Ofsted frameworks Every Child Matters British Values 2014

Since our sixth form students started school, we have had nine Secretaries of State: Nicky Morgan – incumbent Michael Gove – 2014 Ed Balls – 2010 John Denham – 2009 Alan Johnson – 2007 Ruth Kelly – 2006 Charles Clarke – 2004 Estelle Morris – 2002 David Blunkett 2001

Integrity Holiness Humility Faithfulness Gentleness Service Peace Truth Compassion Forgiveness Purity Mercy Justice Tolerance Dignity Sacrifice

Every effort should be made to ensure the school’s ethos promotes the fundamental British values of: Democracy Rule of law Individual liberty Mutual respect and tolerance Encourage pupils to respect others.

Although as a Catholic school (and as the Headteacher of a Catholic school) I welcome and fully embrace this focus on values, I do believe it is the Gospel values given by Christ himself that are objective values that provide the scaffolding by which we educate our youngsters for their lives in school, at home and in society. Our challenge, which is our Mission, is to continue to educate and nurture children to build their own lives on Gospel values, and if they live them out they will be fulfilled at a personal, family and professional level. THANK YOU