An Update From The Lourdes Committee
From the organising committee to all members of the Lourdes Hospitalité and the family of the Diocese of Middlesbrough.
We are writing to update you regarding the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the impact this is having on plans for this year’s Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
This situation is unprecedented, has developed very rapidly on an international scale and changes almost daily. This makes it difficult to predict the eventual outcome and how we should be responding to it.
If we cancel the pilgrimage unilaterally, we/you may not be able to claim a refund on our insurance.
If, on the other hand, we are advised by the government and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to cancel then we may be in a stronger position to claim a refund.
We have a provisional plan that is in two stages:
- We await the official advice of the government and FCO regarding travel to France.
- They have already advised on March 12 against school trips and people over 70 years old travelling on cruises.
- This alone may not be enough for insurance purposes in the event of the organising committee deciding to cancel the whole pilgrimage.
- If in due course the government and FCO advises against all but essential travel to France, this not only makes the decision to cancel the pilgrimage clear, it may also make any claims for refunds more straightforward.
- If such a declaration by the government and FCO is not forthcoming within the next two weeks, we will take medical and financial advice and a final decision will be made by the committee and communicated to you.
Thank you for your patience and support in these difficult times.
17th January, 2020
Dear Parents and Carer
I am delighted to be able to share with you the outcome of our latest Ofsted monitoring inspection. As you are aware, I commenced my duties as head teacher 21st October 2019. The college has had a monitoring visit during the previous summer term and the outcome of that inspection was negative.
Following a monitoring visit on December 17th and 18th 2019, inspectors have now concluded: “Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.”
Below I have included the contents of the glowing report that charts ‘Significant” Progress at St Patrick’s and the comments of CEO H. Hegarty.
St Patrick’s Catholic College in Thornaby has been praised by inspectors for the “significant” progress made since the appointment of a new headteacher and strengthening of its leadership and teaching teams.
The school was judged to be inadequate and placed in special measures after a full inspection in May 2018.
The report says that although previous efforts to improve the quality of education had mixed results, this picture is now being transformed.
New headteacher Michael Burns took up his post on 21st October 2019 and Ofsted says he has made “significant strides in a short space of time.”
“The headteacher has a clear vision for improvement,” the report says. “He wants all pupils to succeed. In just eight weeks, he has made a number of important changes.”
“He has brought in new systems to check pupils’ progress and the quality of education. Prompt action is now being taken to support pupils who fall behind. His team holds weekly meetings to check on the most vulnerable pupils. The senior team are working more effectively together.”
“The headteacher is developing the quality of senior leadership. He has made sure his team are much more visible around the school site. As a result, staff and pupils feel more supported. Senior leaders will not accept bullying or poor behaviour.”
“Much stronger systems are in pace to check pupils’ progress and the quality of education. When areas of underachievement are identified, swifter action is being taken to provide support.”
“Leaders have made the school site safer. Movement on corridors is calmer and more effectively supervised. Split lunchtimes and breaks have led to better site management.”
“There has been a drastic reduction in serious incidents causing injury. Leaders and teachers take purposeful action to help pupils leave the site as safely as possible.”
“The headteacher has commissioned support from the local authority to further improve traffic safety outside the school.”
There is also praise for Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (NPCAT), which runs St Patrick’s along with 25 other schools across Teesside and North Yorkshire.
“The trust is providing better training,” the report continues. “This is improving the quality of the curriculum.”
A new trust standards officer and trust subject directors for English and maths are described as important appointments which are improving the quality of planning, teaching and assessment.
The report says work to improve attendance is a major priority for 2020, along with further efforts to improve the quality of teaching.
“While there is still a long way to go, the momentum for change has increased,” it says. “Staff said they receive fewer objections from parents when they issue sanctions, such as detentions. This is because more parents appreciate the culture leaders are building.”
“Leaders are building a positive atmosphere through increasing praise and rewards. Pupils are accessing more clubs and after-school activities. Pupils’ successes are shared through the school’s developing use of social media.”
“The headteacher has increased the pace of improvement. There is increased urgency in actions to improve the curriculum and pupils’ outcomes.”
“Pupils’ behaviour has continued to improve. The school site is safer and calmer. Pupils and staff value the heightened presence of leaders.”
Trust chief executive officer Hugh Hegarty added: “The report sets out very clearly that NPCAT is effectively putting the necessary infrastructure in place to embed quality education in St Patrick’s Catholic College.”
“Together with Ofsted’s recent positive findings at Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough, it is evidence of the impact our trust-wide infrastructure is having across all our secondary schools.”
“Mr Burns is committed to the trust’s vision and his leadership and determination to drive St Patrick’s forward is inspirational.”
“Students speak freely about the positive culture within the college, where teachers go the extra mile, where everyone is respected and where high expectations and standards are central to daily life.”
“I must thank all the staff who have embraced the necessary changes and who work relentlessly to assist all students. I also want to thank every parent for working in partnership with the trust as we continue to progress.”
“The governors provide crucial support and their desire to restore St Patrick’s to its previous status within the community remains a key target.”
“We have a long way to go, but this external validation is a boost to everyone within the college and within the trust.”
My team and I are delighted to have made such significant progress in such a short space of time and it is reassuring to see the inspectors have acknowledged the transformation that is taking place. I am extremely proud of this report and of all the children and staff who have worked so hard to take this school forward. I am also very appreciative of the support of our parents and the whole community.
I would especially like to highlight the comment the inspectors made about how we as a school will not tolerate poor behaviour and bullying. We will continue raising expectations in the months ahead as we build on the strides we have made so far. We have strengthened further this month with six new teachers, including a School Learning Lead, Science teacher, Art teacher, English teacher and two lead practitioners of English.
Again, I would like to thank you all for your support, The full report will be available on the Ofsted website in the coming days.
Yours Sincerely
Michael Burns B.A (Hons)
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am delighted to inform you that Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust has appointed Mr Michael Burns as the permanent Headteacher of St Patrick’s Catholic College, Thornaby. This appointment is highly significant in many ways. As a Trust, we are committed to St Patrick’s Catholic College and we have worked tirelessly to secure the services of a Catholic school leader with a proven track record who is relentless in their pursuit of the highest standards. I am convinced that this experience and his many personal qualities will ensure St Patrick’s Catholic College reinstates itself as a centre of educational excellence.
Mr Burns brings extensive and proven school leadership experience. He is currently the Headteacher of Red House Academy in Sunderland. Under his stewardship, Red House has undergone significant and rapid positive change. Michael has led the school through a period of marked improvement in the academic progress and attainment of students. Attendance has improved dramatically and now sits at the national average. The behaviour of students has been transformed through his determination to enhance opportunities for all.
As an ex-student of both St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School and St Patrick’s Catholic College Thornaby, Michael is acutely aware of the community and the significant challenges our young people deal with daily. Equally, he has proven throughout his school leadership career that he believes barriers to success can and must be removed for every child.
As part of the selection process, Mr Burns had panels with students, teachers and senior leaders at the College as well as the Board of Directors of the Trust, the current Chair of Governors and Executive Headteacher of Christ the King and St Patrick’s Primary School, Mr Mark Ryan. The feedback from everyone involved was unanimously positive.
I will be in touch next week to set out a schedule for all parents to meet Mr Burns which will give you the opportunity to welcome Michael back to St Patrick’s Catholic College this time as Headteacher.
Regards
Hugh Hegarty
CEO
Students in Year 7 took part in their own Remembrance Service at Stockton Parish Church today. The students listened enthusiastically to a member of the Durham Light Infantry, who told them about the men who had lost their lives in the Great War, particularly those who died in 1918. They then planted their own remembrance crosses and laid a wreath which they had made. A poem, written by the group, was read as a mark of remembrance.
