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History & Archives

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 fifteen 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.

CATHOLIC TEACHERS’ FEDERATION OF ENGLAND AND WALES
 
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.
 
We have provided here some interesting facts about CTF, CCSS, CCSSC, ACSC and CATSC.

Presidents

1907 - 1908
1908 - 1909
1909 - 1910 
1910 - 1911 
1911 - 1912 
1912 - 1913 
1913 - 1914 
1914 - 1915 
1915 - 1916
1916 - 1917
1917 - 1918
1918 - 1919 
1919 - 1920 
1920 - 1921 
1921 - 1922 
1922 - 1923 
1923 - 1924 
1924 - 1925 
1925 - 1926 
1926 - 1927 
1927 - 1928 
1928 - 1929 
1929 - 1930 
1930 - 1931 
1931 - 1932 
1932 - 1933 
1933 - 1934 
1934 - 1935 
1935 - 1936 
1936 - 1937 
1937 - 1938 
1938 - 1939 
1939 - 1940 
1940 - 1941 
1941 - 1942 
1942 - 1943 
1943 - 1944 
1944 - 1945 
1945 - 1946 
1946 - 1947 
1947 - 1948 
1948 - 1949 
1949 - 1950 
1950 - 1951 
1951 - 1952 
1952 - 1953 
1953 - 1954 
1954 - 1955 
1955 - 1956 
1956 - 1957 
1957 - 1958 
1958 - 1959 
1959 - 1960 
1960 - 1961 
1961 - 1962 
1962 - 1963 
1963 - 1964 
1964 - 1965 
1965 - 1966 
1966 - 1967 
1967 - 1968 
1968 - 1969 
1969 - 1970 
1970 - 1971 
1971 - 1972 
1972 - 1973 
1973 - 1974 
1974 - 1975 
1975 - 1976 
1976 - 1977 
1977 - 1978 
1978 - 1979 
1979 - 1980 
1981 - 1982 
1982 - 1983 
1983 - 1984 
1984 - 1985 
1985 - 1986 
1986 - 1987 
1987 - 1988 
1988 - 1989 
1989 - 1990 
1990 - 1991 
1991 - 1992 
1992 - 1994 
1994 - 1996
F J Worswick
W O’Dea
W O’Dea
W J Price
L Conway
J Rigby
W J Fleming
J P Donovan
J P Donovan
J P Donovan
J P Donovan
J P Donovan
W Merrick
J Lorriman
P J Clifford
T Quirke
L de Borne
Miss A M Upton
T Meehan
Miss E Sullivan
M McMahon
J McGovern
R J Hegarty
W Moulding
Miss F Manning
F Walsh
H Wood
P J Doran
P Craig
P J Parker
T Connelly
Miss F McCabe
W Ridge
W Ridge
W Ridge
W Ridge
J Nicholls
H Marra
E C Walsh
R W Iddon
J J Finan
W D Farrell
W E Mitchell
J F Hogan
Miss A V Flynn
J Branigan
R A B Burke
W E Critchley
M R Doherty
T Quick
Miss P McMahon
L J Wells
Miss C Boyce
Miss W Holland
E M Brash
W S Exworthy
T M Hope
J R Doyle
Miss M Edgley
J McGrath
Mrs W Wood
W T Glynn
C N Frank
Miss M Freeman
D Chidgey
C H Sheill
Miss M Hayes
R Hughes
Rev W Timons
W T Igoe
H Mellon
F E Shields
C Curtis
J Murphy
Miss R A Skivington
B Desforges
M Rowlands
H Leadbetter
J Clarke
J Shoreland
M Howells
M R Forster
Miss M Aherne
G Cullen
D McCarthy
Ms B Egan
Manchester
Manchester
Manchester
London
Liverpool
Birmingham
Manchester
London
London
London
London
London
Manchester
Tyneside
London
Liverpool
Leeds
London
Birmingham
Manchester
Tyneside
Liverpool
Cardiff
Preston
London
Tyneside
Cardiff
Brentwood
Salford
London
Middlesborough
Wolverhampton
London
London
London
London
Tyneside
Accrington
Tyneside
Preston
Manchester
London
Bristol
N Staffs
Blackpool
Bradford
London
Oldham
Middlesborough
Liverpool
W Hartlepool
Birmingham
Manchester
Wigan
Liverpool
Southport
Coventry
Hants & Surrey Border
London
Birkenhead
Newcastle - 19on - 19Tyne
Manchester & S
Southampton
Leeds
Cardiff
MCTA
Bradford
Sunderland
MCTA
Birmingham
Coventry
Liverpool
MCTA
MCTA
Birmingham
S Derbys
Birmingham
Coventry
Leeds
Northampton
Cardiff
Southampton
London
Coventry
Arundel and Brighton
Liverpool
Manchester
London
Liverpool
Birmingham
Newcastle
Manchester
Leeds




Liverpool
Birmingham
Manchester
Preston
Bradford

London
Cardiff
Newcastle

Lancaster
Leeds
Middlesborough
Salford

Nottingham
Preston
Birmingham
Liverpool
London
Cardiff
Newcastle



Blackpool
Stockport
Birmingham
Brighton
Manchester
Chester
Southsea
Middlesborough
Bristol
Blackpool
Scarborough
Morecambe
Leeds
Manchester
London
Bristol
Hull
Southport
Oxford
Redcar
Bournemouth
Birmingham
Loughborough
Liverpool
London
Leeds
Southampton
Birmingham
Cardiff
Sheffield
N Staffs (Madeley)
Newcastle-on-Tyne












Cardiff
Southampton

Coventry
Birmingham
Liverpool, Birmingham


Secretaries CTF

1907 - 1917
1918 - 1933
1934 - 1944
1945 - 1948
1949 - 1951
1952 - 1971
1972 - 1984
1985 - 1991
1991 - 1996
W Merrick        
W O’Dea
W Moulding
T Quirke
W Critchley
C H Sheill
P Carney
M Emm
M Philpot
Manchester
Manchester
Preston
Liverpool
Oldham
London
North Staffordshire
Birmingham
Wrexham

Treasurers CTF

1907 - 1933
1934 - 1942
1943
1944 - 1952
1953 - 1960
1961 - 1972
1973
1984 - 1991
H Moon
T Meehan
J Nichols
W Timms
G Travers
J L Wells
W T Glynn
J Burns
Manchester
Birmingham
Tyneside
Manchester
Manchester
Birmingham
Manchester/Salford
Cardiff

Venues of the Conference of:

* approx
Conference of Catholic Secondary Schools
Conference of Catholic Secondary Schools and Colleges
Association of Catholic Schools and Colleges
CCSS
CCSSC
ACSC
1897- 1989*
1989* - 1991*
1991*- 1996
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
Westminster
Stonyhurst
Old Hall
Southwark
Downside
Ushaw
Ampleforth
St. Edward's Liverpool
Oratory School, Birmingham
Stonyhurst
Old Hall
Ushaw
Beaumont
Westminster
Ramsgate
Old Hall
Weybridge
Catholic College  Preston
Oratory School  Birmingham
Vacat
Ushaw
Stonyhurst
Wimbledon
St. Bede's
Ampleforth
Beaumont
Old Hall
Ushaw
Stonyhurst
Wonersh
Vacat
Oxford
St Bede's
Upholland
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
Caversham
Xaverian, Manchester
Stonyhurst
Prior Park
Ushaw
Ampleforth
Ratcliffe
Downside
Old Hall
Beaumont
Mount St Mary's
Stonyhurst
Ratcliffe
Holborn
Upholland
Ampleforth
Holborn
Holborn
Stonyhurst
Ushaw
Prior Park
Beaumont
Ratcliffe
Ampleforth
Prior Park
Cambridge
Downside
Upholland
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Ushaw
Ratcliffe
Strawberry Hill
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Allen Hall
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill
Ampleforth
Downside
Stonyhurst
Old Hall
Ratcliffe
Ampleforth
Digby Stuart College
Rye St. Anthony
Stonyhurst
Strawberry Hill
Ratcliffe
Trinity & All Saints
Newman College
Newman College
Rye St. Anthony
Heythrop, Oxford
Trinity & All Saints
Trinity & All Saints
Trinity & All Saints
Trinity & All Saints
Trinity & All Saints
Trinity & All Saints
Trinity & All Saints
AS CATSC

Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges Presidents

Year

1996 - 1997
1997 - 1999
1999 - 2001
2001 - 2003
2003 - 2005
2005 - 2007
2007 - 2009
President

Ms Bernadette Egan / Mrs Jaquie Reilly
Mr Edward Hayes
Mr Joseph Hughes
Mr Mark Philpot
Mrs Eileen O’Reilly
Ms Mary Mihovilovic
Miss Angela M Whelan

Venue of Conference

Liverpool
Birmingham/Nottingham
Stratford/Harrogate
Liverpool/Chester
Nottingham/York
Peterborough/Stoke on Trent
Stratford/Solihull


Secretaries 

1996 - 1997
1997 - 1998
1998 - 2003
2003 - 2006
2006 - 2007
2007 - 2010
2010 - 2015
Mark Philpot/Willie Slavin
Mark Philpot
Robert (Bob) Shepphard
Angela Whelan
John Lydon
Dawn Casserly
Johann Wood

Treasurers

1991 - 1998
1998 - 2007
2007 - Present
Philip Doyle
Martin Bourke
John Lydon

​Archives

 
For those wishing to undertake research into the history of the Association, and that of its predecessor organisations, the Catholic Teachers Federation and the Association of Catholic Schools and Colleges, the archives are now held with the Archive Department of the Diocese of Salford.

Fr Dave Lannion undertook to care for the archives, in order to ensure that they could be held safely.

The archives consist minute books which go back to 1907, and many publications through the 20th Century.

The archives provide an interesting view of the issues facing Catholic Teachers through the 20th Century, one hundred years of significant change and development. 
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