The Diocese of Westminster has announced that a number of its Catholic schools have become Academies.
Effective from 1 March 2012, four schools have become Academies and founding members of the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust. The schools are: John Henry Newman, Stevenage; Nicholas Breakspear, St Albans; Douay Martyrs, Hillingdon and St Michael, Garston.
Also effective from 1 March 2012, the Diocese of Westminster has established The All Saints’ Academy Trust, the ‘pilot’ of a geographical multi–academy trust. St Joan of Arc School in Rickmansworth, which has also become an Academy, is included in the membership of this trust and will be joined shortly by a number of local Catholic primary schools.
About the Academy Trusts
The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust is to be open to any school in the diocese. It is designed to support the Governing Bodies of individual Academies in retaining all the freedoms they enjoyed as voluntary aided schools along with any additional freedoms that result from no longer being maintained by the local authority.
A geographical multi-academy trust, such as the All Saints’ Academy Trust , is designed for a group of Academies in a particular area that want to collaborate more closely in their provision of education.
Head Teacher comments
Martin Rainsford, Head of The Douay Martyrs School, Ickenham, Hillingdon said: 'Becoming an Academy is a significant landmark for the school because it gives us additional flexibility with the curriculum we offer and additional financial resources to support our work. The opportunities for schools collaborating together for the common good are increased through our participation in the multi-academy trust.”
Eddie Conway, Head of St Michael’s Catholic High School in Garston, Hertfordshire said: “I am delighted that we are converting with numerous other Catholic schools under ‘The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust’ and believe that this model will give us an even greater opportunity to develop our distinctive Catholic identity and collaborate with other Catholic schools in a mutually beneficial way.”
Phil Jakszta, Headteacher of Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School, St Albans said:
“As one of the very first schools in the Diocese of Westminster to convert, we are looking forward to the exciting possibility this will bring in terms of facilities and enhanced educational opportunities for our students.”Michael Kelly, Headteacher, and Anita Simmons, Chair of Governors, of The John Henry Newman Catholic School, Stevenage said:
“We are pleased that the Secretary of State agreed for The John Henry Newman Catholic School to become an Academy on 1 March 2012, as part of The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust. We look forward to working closely with the diocese and the academies in the Trust to continue to serve the needs of our pupils and students, the Catholic community in North Hertfordshire and the wider Catholic community beyond.”
Bishop John Sherrington
Bishop John Sherrington, Chairman of the Diocese of Westminster Education Commission said: “I welcome the creation of the Academy Trusts of the Diocese of Westminster, which have been created in partnership with schools in the diocese. These collaborative Academy Trust structures will allow our Catholic Voluntary Academies to provide an excellent education within our diocesan family of schools. Rooted in the Catholic vision of education they will also allow for the development of solidarity and structured relationships between our schools.”
Paul Barber
Paul Barber, Director of the Diocese of Westminster Education Service said:: “The development of these unique new Academy Trusts has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of the head teachers, governors and staff of the schools. I am certain that their clear vision and willingness to work for the good of Catholic education is a great sign of things to come.”
