World Union of Catholic Teachers: Annual National Study Conference

4. WUCT UMEC CATSC ANNUAL NATIONAL STUDY CONFERENCE World Union of Catholic Teachers March 2017 Prof. J Lydon KCHS John.lydon@stmarys.ac.uk

5. WUCT UMEC • OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Purpose of WUCT • Executive Committee • Council of Presidents • Current Situation/Initiatives

6. PURPOSE OF WUCT • The World Union of Catholic Teachers was founded in Rome in 1951. • It is an association of organisations of Catholic teachers, Professional Associations and Trade Unions. • It has its seat in the Vatican, and acts a means of communication between the relevant Dicasteries, and its members. • It is committed to the support of Catholic teachers throughout the world, promoting Catholic Education, and defending the right of parents to choose a confessional education for their child.

7. WUCT UMEC • PURPOSE OF WUCT • WUCT (UMEC) has consultative status with UNESCO, and ECOSOC, and is active in the Forum of Catholic Inspired NGOs, in the Holy See. • It is the only world organisation representing Catholic Teachers and acts as necessary on behalf of its members to make representations when issues affecting Catholic Teachers are concerned. • It is primarily an organisation which encourages interchange and discussion of wide issues affecting Catholic teachers in different parts of the world. • The President of WUCT was invited to address the World Congress in November 2015 alongside Prof. John Lydon whose presentation has now been published by the Congregation in The Formation of Formators

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE • Ecclesiastical Assistant Most Rev. Mgr Vincent Dollmann • Auxiliary Bishop of Strasbourg • President Mr Guy Bourdeaud’hui • Belgium • Secretary Mr Giovanni Perrone • Italy (Sicily) • TreasurerProf. John Lydon • CATSC

10. COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS • Meets annually • The latest meeting including representatives from, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, England and Scotland and The Philippines • As President of CATSC Mrs Maria Rimmer hosted the Council meeting in November 2016 at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Several representatives of CATSC were present.

11. WUCT UMEC • COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS MEETING 2017 • WUCT returned to St Mary’s for the first time since 1963 – the WUCT Congress Mass was the first to be celebrated in the University Chapel • Professor Gerald Grace presented a paper entitled Professions, Sacred and Profane: Reflections on the Changing Nature of Professionalism which was well-received by the Council. It chronicled the evolution of the definition of a profession and the concept of professionalism from medieval times to the present day

12. WUCT UMEC • COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS MEETING 2015 • Apart from the usual business relating to finance and statutes, the meeting was concerned with sharing perspectives from around the world • The meeting was marked by an evocative intervention from Professor Belen Tangco from the Philippines on the impact of the Catholic Church in the Philippines • There was unanimous agreement that WUCT serves a purpose, particularly in the context of its being the only organisation of Catholic teachers recognised by The Vatican

13. WUCT UMEC • WUCT EXECUTIVE MEETING FEBRUARY 2017 • Two significant meetings: • Congregation for Catholic Education • Vatican Secretariat of State

14. Professor John Lydon (Contributor) The Formation of Formators(2016) Educatio Catholica xxxx

17. WUCT UMEC • FOUR PROJECTS - BURUNDI • The support of WUCT means that Justine Ndayisaba is enabled to participate in Conferences in Central East Africa • Justine has been appointed Regional Manager of Catholic teaching teams for Central East Africa • These teams provide mutual support and empowerment in challenging situations • Burundi is a member of WUCT and places a percentage of the subscriptions

18. WUCT UMEC • FOUR PROJECTS - BURUNDI • WUCT’s support for Burundi was extended to providing wide-ranging materials including medical supplies • The President, Guy Bourdeaud’hui was instrumental in seeking the support of a number of agencies in ensuring that the materials could be transported • Collaboration with the Knights of Malta was of particular benefit

19. FOUR PROJECTS - ARMENIA • Support for Fr Bert Taeymans a Belgian priest • Following an earthquake Fr Taeymans embarked upon a project to enable students to study for Batchelor's and Masters degrees • So far 12 students have been enabled to study from one of the poorest areas of Armenia

20. FOUR PROJECTS – DR CONGO • Building an Industrial School, The Holy Family of Nazareth, in Mwene-Ditu near Kinshase • This is a classical Salesian project enabling young people to “earn their bread with honest work”

21. FOUR PROJECTS – ROMANIA • Two priests, Fr Podar and Fr Podas, were present at the Council Meeting in 2016 • They spoke about their pioneering work in Romania in developing and promoting the Catholic Church’s education mission • WUCT is planning to hold the November 2017 Council meeting in Romania

22. WUCT AND UNESCO • WUCT was represented at the UNESCO NGOs Conference in December 2016 by the President and the Treasurer. • The theme of the 2016 International Conference of NGOs held at UNESCO Headquarters bi-annually was ‘The Challenge of the Digital Revolution’ • Over 250 NGOscontributed to debate with over 20 renowned panellists from the academic and business worlds, on the challenges of the digital revolution

23. NGO CONFERENCE – FOUR KEY THEMES • The digital revolution and its impact on the diversity of cultural expressions • The challenge of access to digital information • Can e-learning address challenges of education systems worldwide? • What are the ethical implications for ‘science and the digital revolution: which ethical implications?

24. MAKING CONNECTIONS AT UNESCO • Dr John Lydon was one of twenty-one candidates to be nominated for the NGO Committee • Campaigning for the election resulted in many connections being made with leading Catholics and their organisations including Christine Roche, President of the International Catholic Cooperation Centre for UNESCO

28. MAKING CONNECTIONS AT UNESCO • International Young Catholic Students • International Catholic Cooperation Centre for UNESCO • International Movement of Catholic Students.

29. WUCT UMEC CATSC ANNUAL NATIONAL STUDY CONFERENCE The RE Council of England & Wales MARCH 2017 Prof J Lydon KCHS John.lydon@stmarys.ac.uk

30. WUCT UMEC • OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • About the REC • Purpose of the REC • CATSC and the RE COUNCIL • RE COUNCIL MAJOR PROJECTS • FOUR KEY REPORTS • BRITISH VALUES

31. WUCT UMEC • ABOUT THE REC • The Religious Education Council of England and Wales was established in 1973 to represent the collective interests of a wide variety of professional associations and faith communities in deepening and strengthening provision for religious education. • It provides a multi-faith forum where national organisations with an interest in supporting and promoting religious education in schools and colleges can share matters of common concern

32. WUCT UMEC • The Purpose of the REC • Exists to explore and clarify the scope of religious education in schools and its relationship to other areas of the curriculum. • It aims to facilitate joint involvement in decision and policy making at national level and to provide a means of communication between member bodies, offering opportunities to share ideas and learn from each other. • Meets in full Council twice a year, usually in London, with eminent speakers including government ministers and feedback from members

33. WUCT UMEC • THE PURPOSE OF THE REC • Draws its membership from national organisations which have an active interest in RE • Works with government, the media, parents and children, teachers and governors, members of faith and belief communities, to champion religious education and raise awareness of its value in the education of all young people

34. CATSC AND THE RE COUNCIL • CATSC continues to be represented on the RE Council for England and Wales. • CATSC sits alongside the CES represented by Philip Robinson, The CES RE Adviser, and Peter Ward, now Secretary to the Board, representing the National Board of Religious Inspectors and Advisers. Mgr Kevin McGinnell is the second nominated member of NBRIA.

35. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ON RE • Established by REC but independent of it • Set up in Autumn 2016 • Interim Report in 2017 and final report in 2018 • Opportunity for Catholic Church to state its position clearly • It is understand that Government likely to wait for RE commission before it addresses issues around RE

36. PURPOSES OF THE RE COMMISSION • The Commission on Religious Education has been established to review the legal, education, and policy frameworks for religious education (RE).  • This review will be a wide-ranging, inclusive and evidence-based process designed to inform policy makers.  • The ultimate aim will be to improve the quality and rigour of religious education and its capacity to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain

37. PURPOSES OF THE RE COMMISSION • The establishment of the Commission comes at a critical time for religious education, and its work will be vital.  • A series of recent reports have noted the state of religious education with increasing concern, making a thorough review of the subject essential.  • The Commission’s work has been made even more essential by the Government’s programme of educational reform.

38. PURPOSES OF THE RE COMMISSION • The current intention for full academisation of schools means that there will be severe implications for Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs).  • The Commission on Religious Education will review this challenge along with the broader education and policy issues that affect religious education. •   By doing so, the Commission hopes to provide a new vision for the subject. 

39. NEW GCSEs and A LEVELS • Into first year of GCSE Religious Studies • New ‘A’ Levels in 2018 • Wales one year behind in introduction of new GCSE • Higher numbers of trainee RE teachers • Catholic HEIs have introduced a research project exploring the nature and effectiveness of the introduction of GCSE in Catholic schools – led by Peter McGrail (Liverpool Hope) – data which would stand up to that of any other agency in the context of Catholic RE

40. NEW GCSEs and A LEVELS • CES involved in the production and implementation of RE specifications – principally involving the National RE adviser and an academic from St Mary’s University • Discussions around the content of specification to quality assure material particularly in the context of the resonance between the examination specifications and the curriculum directory • This has also included an engagement between key figures in the world of RE with publishers in producing text books of the requisite quality

41. ASSESSMENT OF RE IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS • Culham St Gabriel have produced a paper on a way forward for the assessment of RE in community schools. • NBRIA is engaged in a review of assessment – issue of Primary-Secondary transition needs to be addressed

42. WUCT UMEC • ISSUES GOING FORWARD • The expertise within HEIs being compromised by the increasing concentration of training in schools • The term religious literacy is being used in a variety of ways which could lead to problems in the future (APPG)

43. WUCT UMEC CORAB EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bodies responsible for admissions and employment policies in schools with a religious character (‘faith schools’) should take measures to reduce selection of pupils and staff on grounds of religion.

44. WUCT UMEC • CORAB – CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS ADMISSIONS POLICIES • Schools with a religious character are not only permitted to select pupils on the grounds of religion, but they are also exempt from aspects of employment legislation, in that they may use religion as a criterion when hiring staff. • There are concerns about the extent of this privilege and about the justification for it.23 Governments should ensure the practice of exemption is monitored effectively and the correct processes observed; whilst, if it is abused, the law should be changed to restrict its application further.

45. WUCT UMEC • CORAB on COLLECTIVE WORSHIP • ….there are still requirements on most schools across the UK to provide religious worship and for this to be Christian. The arguments in favour of retaining compulsory Christian worship in UK schools are no longer, however, convincing. • There are arguments for total repeal but also there is widespread support for an alternative provision, as distinct from abolition.

46. CORAB ON COLLECTIVE WORSHIP • In this connection we applaud the joint initiative in Scotland between the Humanist Society Scotland and the Church of Scotland to work together for an inclusive ‘time for reflection’. • The commission endorses this approach as an example for the rest of the UK and notes that • it would build on the good practice of holding inclusive assemblies that already exists in many schools but remains technically unlawful

47. WUCT UMEC RE FOR REAL (ANDREW DINHAM & MARTHA SHAW Faiths & Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London) Interviewed • 190 Year 10 students in 19 focus groups. • 97 teachers, including 19 senior leaders, • 29 specialist RE teachers and 49 non-specialist RE teachers. • 34 parents, who were asked by their children’s schools to take part. • 10 employers, deliberately chosen to represent a range of public and private settings in a variety of sectors. Participants are all at senior, CEO, level.

48. RE for REAL RECOMMENDATIONS • A statutory National Framework for Religion and Belief Learning should be developed, and be applicable to all schools, balancing shared national approaches with school level determination. • GCSE Religious Studies should remain as an optional subject for schools, and consideration should be given to clearly demarcating the boundary between academic study of the real religious landscape, and other religion and belief learning associated with citizenship and SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural development) outside of the GCSE. • There should be increased investment in continuing professional development for non-specialist teachers of religion and belief.

49. AHRC Report on Collective Worship & Religious Observance • (November 2015) • LANDSCAPE (2011) • The 2011 Census provided the following data on • religious affiliation in response to the question • ‘what is your religion?’: • Christian 59.4% • No religion 24.7% • Religion not stated 7.2% • Muslim 5% • Other religions 3.7% • The census showed an uneven spread of religious groups throughout the country, with minority faith groups often concentrated in particular towns and cities.

50. AHRC Recommendations • It is recommended that there should be a review of Department for Education Circular 1/94, so as to assess its proper status and role in relation to collective worship. • It is recommended that Ofsted should provide more information in their inspection reports about the policies and practices of schools in regard to collective worship.