1. Catholic Community of Learning

2. Current Members St Joseph’s School, Rangiora St Mary’s School
Our Lady of Victories School
Catholic Cathedral College
St Albans Catholic School
Villa Maria College
St Anne’s School
Marian College
St Teresa’s School
St Peters School
St James School
St Bede’s College
St Thomas of Canterbury College

3. From the beginning….
Last year, Christchurch Catholic school Principals and Board members were invited to meetings to discuss the possibility of a Catholic Community of Learning (Catholic CoL).
Discussion at these meetings centred on the key features of Communities of Learning including;
the development of broader collaboration across our schools;
the sharing of knowledge and expertise to raise student achievement; and
the clear educational pathway of Catholic primary students leading into our Catholic secondary schools.
Student movement data (accessed via the Ministry) was analysed which showed the pathways from our primary to secondary schools. This data was for the period 2012 – 2015, and give a comprehensive view of the educational pathway of the whole network.

4. Questions posed to Principals:
Principals reviewed the Catholic Schools’ Declaration - to confirm the aims of the Catholic CoL are consistent with the purpose of Catholic schools.
Questions posed to Principals:
What is our purpose of joining together as a Community of Learning?
What are we able to achieve as a Community of Learning that we can’t achieve as individual schools?
In answer to these questions, our schools have agreed on the following principles as the basis of their work together:
Focusing on the principle of the Common Good for all students by creating conditions which allow every person to reach fulfillment – academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually
Working in partnership with students, parents, whanau and Parish to achieve our vision.
Providing learning environments that engage students.
Being culturally responsive to our bi-culture heritage and the ethnic diversity of our school communities
Focus here was the principle of being able to share resourcing based on equity rather than equality.

5. Vision
“We are a Community of Learning in which our akonga encounter Christ and excel in their learning”
Our focus is student achievement and Faith development through a strong educational pathway

6. Structure
An interim Stewardship Group and Management Group have been established:
The Stewardship is made up of one Board member from each school and provides oversight.
The Management group is made up of all Principals.

7. Achievement Plan
The CoL must have an approved achievement plan in place in order to receive resourcing for cross-school and in-school lead roles.
Principals suggested possible achievement challenges – based on challenges at their own schools
Data was gathered to confirm the extent of challenges across the Community.
The following three challenges have been proposed:
Learning challenge: academic
Learning challenge: hauora
Learning challenge: Catholic character

8. Learning Challenge- academic
To lift achievement in Mathematics for all students in years 1 – 10, with a particular focus on our Pasifika students
To lift achievement in Writing of all students in years 1 – 10, with a particular focus on Boys in year 9 & 10.
To lift achievement in Science for all students in years 1 – 8, with a particular focus on Maori and Pasifika students.
To lift achievement in Science for year 9 & 10 Maori and Pasifika students.

9. Learning Challenge - Hauora
We acknowledge that the well-being of our students is a crucial component of educational success.
This includes increasing our students’ capabilities in these areas:
The necessary self managing skills to engage in learning at new entrant level;
An effective transition from primary school to high school, and then onto tertiary education;
Growing resilience to develop confidence and encourage participation.

10. Learning Challenge – Catholic Character
We believe the focus on our Catholic character will strengthen connections across our community, develop capacity of our teachers, and enhance our educational pathways - therefore having a direct influence on the educational success of our students
We aim to increase the level of understanding and participation in the concept of social justice - the promotion of respect for creation, and principles of stewardship, participation, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity and the preferential option for the poor and the vulnerable.

11. Resourcing
Ministry will advise the Community of Learning of the number of cross-teacher and in-school teachers to be resourced.
Our achievement plan details having a cross-school teacher to lead each of achievement challenges.

12. Size doesn’t matter
The balance of Catholic schools are either undecided, or have chosen to remain with their geographical Learning Community Clusters.
The Ministry’s preferred size of a Community of Learning is between 7-10 schools.
Ministry has advised that the current size of the Catholic CoL is not a concern, and if more Catholic schools join, it may actually provide more options regarding its structure.

13. Next Steps Approval of the achievement plan by Boards
Boards sign Memorandum of Understanding
Submission of achievement plan to Ministry
Gathering of trustees and staff to commission CoL
Establishment of appointment panel
Appointment of Lead Principal
Appointment of cross-school lead teachers
Incorporation of achievement targets into school charters/strategic plans
Confirmation from each board that they have discussed the achievement plan and agree with the targets
The achievement plan will be peer reviewed by local MoE office – feedback provided to the CoL, and then submitted to Minister for approval
This gathering is seen as an opportunity to network, and to ‘launch’ the CoL
Will need agreement about who will be in the appointment panel
Will need to agree on job description
Will need to agree on job descriptions
CoL targets to form part of individual school annual targets