Our Vision
Vision Statement
A family of Catholic schools, inspired by Jesus, to love learn and achieve.
Strategic Plan 2020 -2023
Introduction
Welcome to Romero Catholic Academy Trust. We are one of three multi academy trusts established by the Catholic Diocese of Salford. We serve the schools in the north of the diocese which includes diocesan schools within the local authorities of Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Calderdale.
As a Catholic academy trust, our first duty is to maintain and develop our schools as living faith communities inspired by the gospel. However, each will brings its own individual context, character and ethos and we welcome and celebrate this uniqueness.
The trust includes some schools with directive academy orders but most are voluntary convertors who have taken the decision to become an academy. However, all are inspired to work more closely within our family of schools to achieve the best outcomes for our pupils and to support, and gain support, from each other. Our shared outlook is reflected in share policies, where appropriate.
Effective governance lies at the heart of our trust. The professional board of directors, with a wide and relevant skill set and who are approved by the bishop, support and challenge our schools. In addition, local governing bodies play a highly important role providing scrutiny and decision-making at an individual school level. However, fundamental to the success of our schools are the headteachers and their staff. We believe that headteachers are central to thriving and successful schools. Our role is to support and challenge and provide the resources for this to happen.
It is through our central team that the main support for schools is provided. With the CEO, there is a finance officer, school improvement lead, HR support and policy development. We also have strategic partnerships with legal support, payroll and recruitment as well as strong links with the diocese.
Our Mission
Within Romero Catholic Academy Trust learning will take place in communities inspired by the Gospel, where Christ’s commandment to ‘love one another as I have loved you’ creates an ethos which is expressed in positive relationships within and beyond our schools. All our schools promote the kindness, dignity, self-esteem and full development of each person who is made in God’s image and uniquely loved by God.
Our schools are living communities of faith, service, prayer and worship. Our schools are inclusive; we have a culture of love where people of diverse identities are recognised, welcomed, respected and cherished. We seek to make a difference to all groups of children, especially the most vulnerable in our society.
Our schools within the trust will work in partnership with each other to provide deep levels of support to staff and to expand the opportunities for our pupils
We work with families and parishes to promote strong, positive relationships. Every school in the Trust is on a journey of continual improvement, aspiring to be more, not have more.
Core Values
• All pupils have access to academic, physical and spiritual development.
• Participation in worship and prayer within the school.
• A range of educational experiences and learning beyond the classroom.
• Opportunities to make sustained progress gaining knowledge and understanding.
• Recognition of personal skills and expertise that have been acquired and applied thus preparing young people for the next stage of their life.
• Exceptional learning in all areas of the curriculum and a desire for further learning.
• Excellent role models who are leaders in schools.
• Resilience and independence to meet challenging situations with confidence and determination.
• A safe, positive learning environment where everyone understands the importance of good behaviour.
• A safe nurturing experience and an understanding how to keep everyone safe.
• Opportunities to celebrate achievements and successes.
• A collective responsibility for all our children.
Our Academies
Primary
St Augustine’s of Canterbury RC Primary, a Voluntary Academy. Burnley
St John the Baptist RC Primary, a Voluntary Academy. Burnley
St Joseph’s RC Primary, a Voluntary Academy, Todmorden
St Mary Magadalene’s RC Primary, a Voluntary Academy, Burnley
St Mary’s RC Primary, A Voluntary Academy, Bacup
Secondary
All Saints Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy. Rawtenstall
Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, a Voluntary Academy. Burnley
Strategic Aim 1: Mission and Ethos
Through our Catholic faith, promote the academic, spiritual, emotional and social growth of the individual child and young person
OBJECTIVES
1.1 To ensure strong links between school and parish
1.2 To ensure all academies are well prepared for the Diocesan Section 48 Inspection
1.3 To enable schools to participate in the wider life of the Trust and the Diocese
1.4 To provide opportunities for all pupils and staff to deepen and explore their faith
1.5 To ensure that Religious Education is a high priority core subject in schools
1.6 To ensure Catholic social teaching is embedded in the curriculum and the life of the school including our responsibilities for the environment and care for our common home.
Strategic Aim 2: Teaching, Learning and Assessment
To ensure that all our academies provide the very best teaching in order to promote and provide high quality learning for all our children and young people and ensuring that there is support in place for teachers to achieve this. We aim to develop ‘life-long learners’ who have a thirst for knowledge as a result of high quality teaching and assessment.
OBJECTIVES
2.1 To implement a CPD programme that ensures that all our staff have the right skills to raise standards further, deliver good teaching and learning and disseminate good practice to ensure rapid improvement
2.2 To secure high quality teaching and learning
2.3 To ensure every academy has a relevant, rich and broad curriculum
2.4 To ensure that all vulnerable groups make at least good progress
2.5 To use assessment proportionately to inform and progress children’s learning.
Strategic Aim 3: Academy Improvement
To establish a self-sustaining, system-led, collaborative approach to improvement that enables rapid improvement where required
OBJECTIVES
3.1 To establish a self-sustaining, system-led collaborative approach to improvement that enables rapid improvement when required
3.2 To develop school-to-school support for leadership
3.3 To build effective links to outstanding providers outside of the Trust to support continuing improvement
3.4 To ensure all schools operate effective quality assurance and self-evaluation
3.5 To ensure that all schools have effective development planning leading to improvement
3.6 To enhance the Trust’s ability to develop the next generation of school leaders in both phases
3.7 To ensure all schools are well prepared for Ofsted inspection