The Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools & Colleges, CATSC, was formed in April 1996 and officially launched by Cardinal Basil Hume at Westminster. The Cardinal referred to the rich tradition which was being carried on by the Association. He commended the Association to all teachers who through their commitment, expertise and experience 'may play a part in the Church's mission to the world so that children and parents will benefit from your vocation.. I am confident that the Association will most ably represent you, enable you to work, act and pray together, for the benefit of Catholic Education ...' Ecclesiastical liaison was continued through Bishop Edwin Regan, the Bishop of Wrexham, until 2008, when the role was accepted by Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton. Bishop Doyle is himself the son of a former CTF President!
One hundred years ago our predecessors found it necessary to come together on behalf of Catholic education. CATSC takes up this challenge. It was formed from the amalgamation of two other associations, the Association of Catholic Schools & Colleges (formerly the Conference of Catholic Secondary Schools & Colleges), the Catholic Teachers Federation with the support of the Association of Religious in Education. These had each been in existence on behalf of Catholic teachers, schools and colleges in the independent and state maintained sectors across all of the phases including Special and Higher Education, the oldest since the 1890s and the early 1900s.
1996 saw the coming together of the Association of Catholic Schools & Colleges, ACSC, and the Catholic Teachers Federation, CTF, after three years of negotiation and discussion. The Conference of Catholic Secondary Schools & Colleges, CCSSC, was founded in 1896 by the Heads of mainly Catholic independent and grammar schools. Most of these schools and colleges had been founded, and were conducted by the religious orders and congregations. They organised themselves to safeguard and further Catholic Education at a time when Government education policies were developing and changing - shades of modern times! The Catholic Teachers’ Federation followed, being founded in 1907 in Manchester, to safeguard the rights of Catholic teachers. The Association for Religious in Education was formed in 1929. The ARE, the CTF and the CCSSC (and ACSC) were highly successful in their different roles on behalf of Catholic Education, and in supporting an active Hierarchy and the Catholic Education Council, through the various Education Acts, principally that of 1944.
The Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools & Colleges, CATSC, has emerged with new vigour to provide for Catholic Education in England & Wales in a modern context. In its wide diversity from primary through to tertiary, for both maintained and independent schools and colleges, for individuals and for area, local and cluster groups, CATSC is looking to link in and co-operate with Diocesan Commissions and Religious Education Centres, some of whom are also in membership. All of these groupings have been represented at recent CATSC conferences. CATSC has emerged with the best attributes of its noted predecessors, ACSC, CTF and ARE, to encourage local groups in their local needs, and to make the wider provision nationally to help maintain Catholic schools and colleges in the forefront of education in England & Wales, a position which has been confirmed - though not broadcast! - in Ofsted statistics. The Association offers for Catholic education professional advice, promotes good educational practice, provides courses, hosts national conferences, responds to local and national initiatives within education, encourages research, and maintains and forges links internationally, particularly in Europe. The Association distributes material to all schools and colleges. It has over 1000 members -mainly schools and colleges - currently in England & Wales. Those Catholics working in education other than in a Catholic institution are encouraged to join as individual members. The Association is independent of the Catholic Education Service but works in close support of, and co-operation, with the CES directorate. This is effected through representation on working parties and was particularly effective in the former Forum Three.
Membership subscriptions encourage schools and colleges to join in clusters; this means a reduction in the level of subscription for all in the cluster but more importantly it brings members together. There has been great benefit in cluster for development -many colleagues work in this fashion. It is a small step thereafter for the clusters to come together locally and then to run their own training with support from CATSC - both financially and professionally. Some examples of clusters, area groups and local branches now established are in various parts of the country. In most cases, primary and secondary, maintained and independent come together.
The Council members of CATSC are representative of all phases in Catholic education, across both the state and independent sectors, including special education. The Council includes representation from other national action groups such as the Association of Catholic Chaplains in Education and CAFOD. The Association is represented on the National Board of Catholic Women, the National Council for Lay Associations, the Religious Education Council of England & Wales; the President of the World Union of Catholic Teachers [UMEC] is a CATSC Council member. Action is taken through Committees for Member Services, In Service Training, Recruitment & Membership.
Publications, International Links and Research & Development. Responses are regularly made to Government consultations, and members are closely involved in educational working parties. Current research includes such as exclusions, and listings of research on Catholic Education with the Catholic Centre for Research and Development in Education based at the London University Institute.
The CATSC newsletter 'The Vine' is sent to all 2,500 Catholic schools and colleges five times a year, through the weekly Catholic Teachers Gazette. Publications and occasional papers are in the course of preparation. In the national programme for each year, detailed elsewhere, are included the Annual Conference, a Secondary Heads Conference in January, and Primary Heads Conferences. The first conference for teachers of Religious Education was arranged by CATSC in Birmingham. The Annual Conference 2008 will be in Stratford Upon Avon.
In the first year of the association much effort was channelled into membership, in establishing CATSC as a necessary independent provider for Catholic education in the transition into one Association. There was a need to develop new workings for a new Association, not just continue with the amalgamation of existing practices; to establish an up to date organisation for Catholic schools and colleges, a specialist provision with the emphasis on Christ centred distinctiveness. This would provide not exclusiveness but the centre core of what the Catholic schools and colleges have been founded for, why they are central to the Catholic mission in Britain. After ten years of the Association, its place is firmly fixed, and it has added attendance at Recruitment Fairs, and a place at the annual Education Show at the NEC to its regular portfolio.
In this way we are carrying on the work of those people who formed the first associations to unite their endeavours, to provide a united front and effort on behalf of the Catholic community in England & Wales. In many respects these are different times in which we are operating but the basic need is still with us to respond on behalf of our Catholic schools and colleges, to give guidance and support to each other; to provide where required politically, personally, pastorally, academically, spiritually, professionally; to speak with one voice in matters affecting Catholic education, that are within the Association's remit and competence. It is thus that CATSC with your support will help to take Catholic Education into the new millennium thus maintaining the professional enthusiasm for its mission characterised by those who had the same interest at heart over a hundred years ago.
