LASSP Newsletter - Edition 2

Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

Edition 2

Liverpool Archdiocese Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

Welcome to the second edition of the Liverpool Archdiocese Secondary Schools’ Partnership newsletter. Since the release of our first newsletter in May there have been a number of events that have taken place across the Archdiocese over the last term.

The highlight of all these events was the first ever Student Voice Conference that took place at Langtree Park, the home of St Helens Rugby League Club. Observing students engaged in discussion and debate with pupils from other schools was a joy to behold.

Over 60 staff also attended a Literacy Conference organised by Carmel College and mass was held for Year 7 students attending our Liverpool schools, the West Cluster, at Liverpool Cathedral. All of these feature in this edition, along with details on upcoming events including GCSE Conferences covering the new specifications, so Newsletter—Edition Winter 2015 read on for more information and to pick out your students from1our Student Voice Conference gallery.

Literacy Conference Over 60 Staff from primary, secondary and college sectors met at Langtree Park on 24th June to discuss improving literacy in all phases of education. The Conference, organised by Carmel College, in association with St Helens Council, aimed to provide teachers and leaders with practical ideas and strategies to improve literacy across the whole school or college curriculum.

Phil Beadle, an award winning English teacher and an internationally recognised expert on teaching and learning, was invited to speak to staff about the importance of literacy in all subjects. He also offered practical strategies to develop extended writing and up-skill talk as well as to improve spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Conference delegates thoroughly enjoyed the day and left feeling inspired, commenting: ‘Fantastic subject knowledge and practical ideas’ ‘Thanks for the inspiration! ’ ‘A great opportunity to share ideas with other literacy specialists.’

‘Passionate delivery. Most refreshing!’

‘Absolutely brilliant - I need to deliver a whole school CPD session immediately.’

We hope to highlight further Partnership Conferences in the years ahead.

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Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

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Newsletter—Edition 1 Winter 2015

Student Voice Conference ‘British Values - Our Student’s Perspective’ Tuesday 30th June was marked down as a momentous day when our 38 Catholic Secondary Schools and Sixth Form Colleges came together to offer one voice on the subject of British values. Attendees ranged from different cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as all our different schools, to attend at the home of St Helens Rugby Football Club in Langtree Park.

One of the conference goals was for students to discuss what British values meant to them and produce resources that would appeal and be appropriate to use with their peers back at school. One of the biggest questions that needed to be answered was just what are British values and are they any different from our Catholic values? Each school from the Liverpool Archdiocese Secondary School’s Partnership selected students from Years 10 and 12 to participate in the conference, all aiming to tackle this complex question and to find an answer.

Paul Greenall, Partnership Director, organised the event with the key objective of challenging young people to think about what it means to be British. This encouraged students to take part in several activities based on a survey produced by Christ the King Catholic High School’s Head of Science, Dave Hemsley, and over a thousand young people across the region successfully completed it.

The range of views expressed by the survey further gave credence to the importance of education of British values within our schools. Tim Warren, Archdiocesan Director of Education and James Lancaster, Head Teacher of Christ the King Catholic High School, were the keynote speakers and they provided further information and views to facilitate the young people’s understanding of how Catholic values, personal values and British values are all interlinked.

David Cameron, Prime Minister, has previously stated that: ‘We (the government) want every school to promote British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs’. The conference was indeed a superb response to the challenge set by the government, and the recent legislation and new Ofsted framework for inspection of schools. It has galvanised all thirty-eight schools and colleges and the students participating in the event to explore this theme further in the new term..

You will find all resources relating to the Cluster and Partnership Conferences on our website www.lassp.co.uk

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Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

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STUDENT VOICE CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY

Newsletter—Edition 1 Winter 2015

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Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

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STUDENT VOICE CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY

Newsletter—Edition 1 Winter 2015

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Post 16 Meeting The third Post 16 meeting held this year was at St John Bosco, Liverpool, and the Examination Board AQA were invited to the meeting. Heather Butler, AQA Curriculum Development Manager, went through the key issues and challenges facing Post 16 providers over the next twelve months. Topics covered included co-teachability of AS/A levels, BTec developments, English and Maths GCSE, Work Experience and the programme of study, funding (following the learner). The Heads of Sixth Form and Post 16 Curriculum Leaders present felt that this was a beneficial briefing and that it could be repeated on an annual basis in order to alert school and college leaders of the up and coming issues facing this phase of education.

Work Experience was also featured on the agenda as it was proving challenging for schools to meet the requirements expected by Ofsted and the DfE; that is work experience was to be an integral part of a programme of study. Schools/ Colleges discussed their own solutionsNewsletter—Edition to the problem and a variety of responses 1 Winter 2015 and issues emerged:- Year12 work shadowing at the end of first year in sixth form - IAG Lead teacher would be looking at a solution - Awareness of H&S for sixth formers - Voluntary work - Part of PSHE programme - Enrichment activity on Wednesday afternoon - Student finding own placement - Outsourcing through another company (Compact or Business in the Community BITC) - Coordinator responsible for programme and timetabled one day per week with students programme

It is clear that schools/colleges have found a number of solutions but it is a challenging expectation that it is delivered to all students. Other items on this agenda included the challenges facing schools and colleges in delivering Level 2 English and Maths to students and a creative tiered entry into the sixth Form being piloted by Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College in Widnes.

As always, the meeting had proved beneficial for all schools represented and it has been decided that there will be three termly meetings a year, the next one taking place at Bellerive FCJ Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 8th October beginning at 2.00 p.m.

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Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

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Newsletter—Edition 1 Winter 2015

Year 7 Cathedral Mass In July, a Mass for Year 7 students from the Catholic High Schools in Liverpool was celebrated in the Metropolitan Cathedral by Bishop Tom Williams. The Mass was prepared by chaplains and musicians from Archbishop Beck, St Julies, St Francis Xavier and Bellerive. Contributions were made by students from across the schools. The Mass was a celebration of what unites our Catholic schools. There was a tangible feeling that the pupils saw themselves as part of a community with shared values.

The mass was held to celebrate Year Seven students reaching the successful end of their first year at High School and gave all a chance to reflect not only on their own successes and that of their own school community, but the opportunity to realise that the strength of our catholic faith extends beyond our own environment and reaches a far wider community.

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Science Conference A Science Conference was held at St John Bosco College on the 2nd July to consider with other leaders of Science the merits of the new specifications to be introduced as part of the DFE’s new curriculum changes. All four examination boards attended the event. There was also an opportunity to network and meet other leaders of Science from across the Archdiocese to learn from their organisational procedures, structures and policies.

Each exam board went through the changes and their response to the new framework imposed by Ofqual (the exam regulatory body). Each exam board also outlined the support and additional resources they could give to schools to support the delivery of the specification.

Very positive comments were received from delegate’s evaluation forms and a twilight session has been arranged for Tuesday 22nd September at 3.00 p.m.

Newsletter—Edition to give all Heads of Science 1 Winter the2015 opportunity to discuss in more detail with their colleagues from other schools the merits of each exam board and their reason for choosing a particular specification.

Further conferences have been organised to support the introduction of other new GCSE specifications and details are with your CPD Leads in each school.

To book a place on the Science twilight session, or any of the other upcoming conferences listed below, please see your CPD Leader/Coordinator and once approved email Vikki Borlase at v.borlase@rcaolp.co.uk GCSE Subject

Conference

Twilight

Venue

Science

n/a

Tuesday 22nd Sept

St John Bosco, Liverpool

Art & Design

Monday 28th Sept

Wednesday 4th Nov

Archbishop Beck, Liverpool

Geography

Thursday 1st Oct

Thursday 10th Nov

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College, Widnes

History

Wednesday 7th Oct

Thursday 12th Nov

To be confirmed

Modern Languages

Tuesday 13th Oct

Thursday 26th Nov

Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, Liverpool

Physical Education

Thursday 5th Nov

Thursday 3rd Dec

St Edmund Arrowsmith, Wigan

Drama

Wednesday 11th Nov

Wednesday 9th Dec

To be confirmed

Music

Tuesday 17th Nov

Tuesday 12th Jan

To be confirmed

Computer Science

Wednesday 2nd Dec

Thursday 14th Jan

St John Bosco, Liverpool

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Deputy Headteachers/Senior Leaders Conference The first Partnership Conference for Senior Leaders was held at LACE on Tuesday 16th June. Over 70 Senior Leaders attended this event and presentations in the morning were given by Archbishop Malcom, Tim Warren, Director of Education, and from serving Headteachers, Ann Pontifex and Andy McGlown. Each presenter covered a different topic. The Archbishop discussed the challenges of leading in a Catholic School and in particular focused upon Attentiveness, Creativity and Hope.

He stressed the importance of each to students’ learning, community development and Hope being the gift of a future for our young people. One participant commented that ‘The Archbishop was outstanding’ and another said that they found the Archbishop’s address very inspiring and challenging.

Tim Warren, gave an overview of the challenges facing schools and the need to work together in partnership in the interests of all our children. He covered key aspects of the Archdiocesan Strategic Plan and emphasised the key areas and in particuNewsletter—Edition 1 Winter 2015 lar the importance of work force development.

The presentations given by Anne and Andy were extremely well received. Anne spoke of her journey through education and focused particularly on the challenges of Headship. Andy spoke on his experience of building a strong team and this led to much table discussion and suggestions coming from participants. What was particularly appreciated was the honesty of the speakers and the opportunity to listen to Catholic Heads speak openly about the challenges of headship.

Comments from Senior Leaders included: ‘The information given by practicing HT’s – it’s real, it’s true and it’s credible.’

‘I am currently assessing where about I am in my career and to be honest the Inspirational words from current HT’s have helped me to consider my future as a potential Headteacher more positively.’

What was also appreciated was for Senior Leaders to have the opportunity to listen, learn and reflect with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

Joan Bonefant, HMI, provided the afternoon’s session which was focused upon the new changes being introduced by Ofsted into the inspection framework from September 2015. It was timely to hear the presentation given by Joan Bonefant as this gave time to schools to prepare in readiness for the new term and the changes being introduced.

Overall the feedback received was that this was a really enjoyable conference - very useful and thought provoking, and as result of the comments received this will become an annual event.

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Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

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Pastoral Support

The Leaders of Pastoral Support in the Central Cluster have met to pull together a programme of six sessions with the intention of sharing good practice across all the Catholic schools in St Helens, Knowsley and Newsletter—Edition 1 leading Winterin2015 Sefton. The sessions are primarily for those involved with the pastoral area and this is an attempt to put on worthwhile in-service training for a CPD area that is often overlooked. The sessions will be led by a member of one of our schools with the intention of sharing good practice and considering approaches adopted by schools in addressing some of the challenges that are faced by pastoral staff on a daily basis. The sessions include: 1. Responding to Current Issues – including the most recent Government directives regarding Radicalisation, British Values, e-safety, and responding to the Ofsted framework) 2. Safeguarding (Middle Leaders) - Sharing Good Practice – transition KS2-3, KS3-4 and KS4-5. To include sharing of approaches, paperwork, dealing with confidential information, timelines (what happens when, visits, transition meetings, forms, parental/carer involvement in the process, etc.)

3. Sharing Good Practice – Our Vulnerable Young People (Attendance, LAC, PEPs, PP, etc.), working effectively with outside agencies.

4. SMSC including Assemblies, distinctive nature of Catholic Schools, links between pastoral support, PSHE and SMSC and school approaches to this.

5. Role of the Form Tutor - Rewards and sanctions? Sharing policies, JD/Role descriptor, systems in place.

6. Use of Data and Tracking Progress - sharing systems, roles of colleagues in the process, collection of data (timescales and how), ownership of data This programme will be open to the Central Cluster only and schools will nominate attendees for each session. At the end of the year we will evaluate this programme and provide feedback to other clusters.

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Liverpool Secondary Schools’ Partnership Newsletter

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UPCOMING EVENTS Central Pastoral CPD - Sharing Good Practice Wednesday 16 September at Carmel College West Cluster CPD Meeting Wednesday 16th September at Bellerive FCJ Catholic College Partnership Board Meeting (HT’s only) Friday 18 September at St Peter’s Catholic High School Headteacher Central Cluster Meeting Friday 18 September at Christ the King Catholic High School

Newsletter—Edition Winter Meeting 2015 Headteacher East1Cluster Tuesday 22 September at St Peter’s Catholic High School Central Cluster CPD Meeting Thursday 24 September at St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College East Cluster CPD Meeting Wednesday 30 September at St Peter’s Catholic High School Post 16 Meeting Thursday 8 October at Bellerive FCJ Catholic College Central Pastoral CPD - Safeguarding Meeting Tuesday 20 October at Hope Academy West Cluster CPD Meeting Wednesday 4 November East Cluster CPD Meeting Thursday 19 November Central Cluster CPD Meeting Tuesday 24 November Central Pastoral CPD - Sharing Good Practice Meeting Tuesday 24 November at Holy Family Catholic High School

If you have any comments or observations about this newsletter then we would welcome them.

Please forward those comments to Paul Greenall, Partnership Director p.greenall@rcaol.co.uk All dates are correct at the time of printing, but can be subject to change.

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