News/Events

July 2020

MONTH OF MILES

All of our lives have changed dramatically since COVID 19. We’ve missed our school life, sports centres are closed, all events have been cancelled and families and friends have been separated from each other for many months.

We want to bring our community together again, have fun, get fit and raise funds for some wonderful local charities who need our support now more than ever.

During MONTH OF MILES we invite you to join family, friends, staff and members of your community, walking, running or cycling their way to the 13 September 2020 – the day our famous Great North Run 2020 should have taken place. See the Month of Miles letter for information on how to join in!

SEPTEMBER REOPENING

On 2nd July the government unveiled their detailed plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education from September. The key points are:
• All pupils, in all year groups, are expected to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term.
• A system of controls must be implemented to reduce the risk of transmission. These build on the protective measures which you will have heard about already, such as ‘bubbles’ of groups in school.
• Engaging with the Test and Trace process.

Senior leaders across the Trust are digesting this guidance and are working on the systems and processes necessary to enable the safe re-opening of our schools to all pupils from the start of term in September. We will provide further information on what this means for our pupils as soon as we are able to.

June 2020

Letter to parents guardians partial re-opening 4.6.2020

Letter to parents guardians from Chair of Trust

May 2020

Our schools are missing their students and we know how much they are missing school too so we’ve had an idea to help bring everyone together – we are going to create a virtual choir with our students and the help of a very talented musician, Mike McGrother we are going to sing ‘We’ll Meet Again’, a well known song from the World War II era. The song will air on Friday 8th May, which marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Below are instructions on how the students have been asked to record themselves singing and then how to send their recordings in to us by 3pm on Wednesday 6th May.

We’ll Meet Again THE DAWN CHORUS -2_

April 2020

SCHOOL MERGERS UNDERWAY BUT DELAYED DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Plans to merge a further four schools into the expanding Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust have been slightly delayed.

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Education Trust (comprising St Anthony’s Girls Catholic Academy and St Aidan’s Catholic Academy in Sunderland) were due to join in April; while St Mary’s RCVA Primary School, in Wingate, and St Godric’s RCVA Primary School, Wheatley Hill were due to join in May.

Further to earlier updates in which we advised that Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Education Trust and Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust were working towards a merger date of 1 May, there continues to be a short delay to both this and to the transfer of the primary schools into the trust.

Discussions between all the schools involved have been underway for many months and the leadership teams want to reassure everyone concerned that both Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust and the schools have completed the process as far as possible and remain eager to conclude the mergers.

We’re confident that all outstanding matters will be resolved in the coming months with the four schools merging into Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust soon.

NEW NAME FOR A GROWING ACADEMY TRUST
As Catholic schools across the North East continue to amalgamate in line with the Diocesan Academy Policy, we are changing our name to reflect a new sense of purpose. As of 1 April 2020, Northern Saints Catholic Education Trust will be re-named as Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.

This change reflects an ambition by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle to establish a new, strong sense of identity for the four Multiple Academy Trusts (MATs) that are developing across our region.
As announced last year, the Diocesan Academy Policy is to develop structures to further preserve, protect and develop Catholic education through the growth of trusts.

Schools within the diocese continue to be consolidated within the four academy regions into a base trust per region. There are 156 schools in our Diocese educating over 54,000 children. 45 of these schools are currently academies. The implementation of this policy is underway and will happen in two stages:
Stage 1: consolidation of existing academies and trusts into one base trust
Stage 2: conversion of voluntary aided schools to academy status within their regional trust

In establishing these trust structures and having a single system in our Diocese, we aim to ensure that the children and young people in our schools will continue to receive the very best educational opportunities and life fulfilling experiences, within communities which have the teachings of Christ and his Church at the very centre.

A Catholic trust model where every school has its place will mean that no individual school will be left isolated or vulnerable in a rapidly changing environment. It will ensure that the uniqueness of each individual school is celebrated and the unique contribution of each is recognised and appreciated.
The Rt Rev James Chadwick, a former Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, established his name and reputation as a Professor of Theology at Ushaw College, where he ultimately became the President in the 1860s, training men for the priesthood. He devoted his life to helping others achieve the best for themselves underpinned by a deep faith.

April 2020

TRUST STAFF AWARDS UPDATE:

We regret to inform you that our Staff Awards Event, due to take place on 3rd July 2020, has had to be cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions which have been placed upon the UK at this time and with no confirmed date as when these will be lifted.

We understand that this cancellation may cause inconvenience to you and anyone you have nominated for an award and for that we apologise. It is our intention to re-schedule this event for the start of 2021 and any nominations that have been received to date will be retained and used for the re-scheduled event.

Our intention is to re-launch the nomination process at the beginning of September and confirmation about the new deadlines for nominations will also be sent out at the same time.

We thank you for your patience and understanding at this time while we undertake work to re-schedule this event to celebrate the achievements and hard work of our colleagues within our trust.

APRIL 2020

Please find attached Mental Health Resources which have been produced by South Tyneside CCG and South Tyneside Council but which will be of relevance to all school children (and their carers).

Primary Mental Health Pack

Secondary Mental Health Pack

Adult Mental Health Pack

Advice for parents Pack

MARCH 2020

Message from the Rt Rev Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds and Chairman of the Catholic Education Service

To all teachers, parents, support staff, governors and pupils in Catholic schools

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At this time, we are living through an unparalleled global crisis. When faced with national emergencies in the past, the people of our country have overcome adversity by relying on their families and local communities for comfort, strength, and indeed, personal contact. However, because of the contagious nature of the COVID19 Coronavirus, many will have to face this challenge in isolation.

Over the last few weeks the leaders, teachers, support staff and governors of our Catholic schools have carried out their responsibilities outstandingly in the face of increasingly difficult circumstances, preparing for the long-term closure of their schools and developing home schooling resources for pupils and parents. For this, we owe them our sincere thanks.

Our prayers are particularly needed for those parents who are now taking up their role as teachers while their children are at home. As parents they are the first educators of their children. Those who are members of the Catholic Church exercise this duty principally by choosing to send their children to Catholic schools wherever and whenever it is possible. However, in these difficult times, the role of all parents of school-aged children as their primary educators will become even more important.

I will certainly be praying for all Catholic schools, and for the teachers and support staff in them, which will remain open for the children of key workers. While our nation’s health services are on the front line battling the threat of this pandemic, our schools can play a crucial function in allowing doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to exercise their vital role treating the sick.

Over the coming weeks and months, the resolve of our country is going to be tested. Each of us will have to play our part, whether by supporting relatives and friends, assisting those in our communities who are vulnerable and in need, by social distancing or by self-isolating if we become ill.

What we must do is pray. Together we must pray for schools, their leaders, teachers, parents and pupils. With this shield of prayer, let us support one another and place all our faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of his love to save us.

With the assurance of my prayers and every blessing, I remain
Yours in the Lord
+ Marcus

Trust Staff Awards

The trust is very pleased to launch its first Staff Awards Scheme as an exciting way to congratulate those working in the schools named above for their achievements and hard work over the past year. There are 15 categories and staff can nominate individuals or teams for more than one category. Students can make a nomination in the Inspirational Staff Award category. Please click on the links below for more information and to make a nomination by the deadline of Friday 24 April 2020.

Category Guide

FAQs

Nomination Form

DECEMBER 2019

Revised Diocesan Academy Policy