Rev Luiz Ruscillo

In March, 2004, Bishop Patrick commissioned a review of the Diocesan Education Service. He was very aware that in the last twenty years the society in which we live, especially the way we learn, has changed dramatically. Bp. Patrick’s concern was that the educational needs of the people of the diocese could be met. He called on the expertise and experience of Mike Doyle who had worked extensively with the National Catholic Education Services in London after an earlier career in management. Mike, who presently lives in Ambleside, along with a Steering Group of five others including the Acting Chief Advisor of the Education Services for Lancaster Diocese, two headteachers and two priests, were given the following remit by the Bishop:

“to ensure an Education Service of quality, focused on the needs of schools and parishes in an environment of change, strong on Catholicity and Gospel Values.”

The review process endeavoured to consult widely across the schools and parishes of the Diocese and to do this in a climate of openness. In order to assist the Steering Group in their task two Working Groups were formed. One Working Group was for Schools, made up of teachers and governors, and one for Parishes and Adult Formation whose members were involved in parish catechesis of all kinds. Those who formed these groups were from all over the Diocese and from all walks of life.

The prime focus of the Review was centred on the quality, range and relevance of provision and support offered to schools and parishes by the Education Service. Three key questions were asked of those who seek to use the Education Service:

What are the current and future needs?
How effectively is the Education Service meeting current needs?
What should be done to strengthen its work and to ensure future needs can be met?

In order to consult the schools of the Diocese a qualitative survey questionnaire was sent to all schools and governing bodies inviting responses to the three questions above. The parishes were consulted by way of a questionnaire made available to all parishioners through the Voice and from their parish clergy. A number of parishioners who had attended one of the courses provided by the Education Service (e.g. Collaborative Ministry, Children’s Liturgy, Catechist Support, etc.) were consulted personally.

The Review also sought to gain a good understanding of the Education Service and the range of its work and responsibilities by inviting the present staff to contribute to the Review which they did extensively.

The Steering Group endeavoured to record the findings from all these consultations openly, honestly and without bias and to make recommendations on that basis. The Group was conscious during the process that the work undertaken was about people. The work of any service organisation is not easy and especially that of such a distinctive organisation as the Diocesan Education Service.

The Review of the Diocesan Education Services has now been submitted to the Bishop and the Policy and Management Committee of the Education Services and received by them.

It is clear from the responses to the Review that the present team at the Education Services deserve thanks for their professionalism and dedication. Their support of schools was widely praised and those who had taken part in parish courses expressed great appreciation. From almost every quarter there was a request that courses be made available and accessible for every part of the Diocese. Sometimes it is not easy to reach everything that is on offer especially for those living far from Lancaster. It was also recognised that there are great human resources available throughout the Diocese, both priests and lay people in schools and parishes. Their expertise can be used. This would also enable learning to be less Lancaster-centred and more wide-spread.

The Review identified the need to discern priorities for our Diocese but recognised that this will be a very difficult task. This discernment must come from the Bishop, the parishes and the schools and could possibly be expressed in a Diocesan Plan. Indeed the first recommendation of the Review Steering Group reads:

“a diocesan plan is developed with clearly identified priorities which will be used to give direction to the future work of the Education Service including the allocation of finite resources, the sustaining of worshipping communities in the context of declining numbers of priests and people and the definition and clarification of the role of the Education Service in education and formation. The process of developing the plan should be used as an opportunity to unite all stakeholders behind the task of proclaiming the Gospel within the Lancaster Diocese.”

The work of the Review revealed that the parishes, schools and the Education Services would all benefit from working more closely together and with greater trust. The unity of all those involved in education of every kind in the Diocese is not what it could be. It is essential that we all work together more in a spirit of trust and with a common purpose.

As a result it is recognised that the role of the Chief Advisor of the Diocesan Education Services will need to be different to what it was in the past. In the future the emphasis will be on bringing people together to work for the Gospel. Clergy, parishes, schools and colleges will need to be more closely linked.

Responses to the Review indicated that the current provision for parishes was greatly appreciated by those who had taken part. It also identified that there is the need for even more localised training in parishes and deaneries. Further development of catechesis of all kinds in parishes and more use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church was widely requested.

With regard to the schools the priorities recognised by the Review relate to the distinctive nature of the Catholic Schools, especially with regard to their mission to teach and pass on the Gospel. Serious concerns were expressed with some aspects of Curriculum RE especially the Here I AM programme used in Primary Schools. Chaplaincy in schools was identified as a great need and requiring further support.

All in all the Review addresses the whole Diocese not just the Education Service. It is essential that we all work more closely together with a more unified purpose to pass on the Gospel. This means that the Education Service will seek, in the future, to work ever more closely with the clergy so that parishes, schools and colleges can continue to be, and become even more fervent, communities of a living and vibrant Church.

Many thanks are due to Mike Doyle and all those who contributed to this Review, whether by being on the Steering Group, the Working Groups or by responding to the questionnaires. The Review is a very positive document giving great praise to those already working in education in the Diocese and outlining the challenges which lie ahead for us all.