Diocesan Vision Statement

Shortly after my arrival the Diocesan Consultative Forum – a Diocesan wide group of representative headteachers – were invited to continue the work initially requested by Bishop John to consult with colleague headteachers and prepare a draft for discussion on the vision for Catholic education across our Diocese.

The initial phase of this exercise was completed during the conference for all headteachers which I attended in York during early October.

Discussion that day led to detailed examination of the approach our schools should seek to adopt to fulfil their mission in the early decades of the twenty first century and to how best a vision statement for the Diocese could be further refined to express this intention.

The final vision statement which has been formally approved by me for use in our schools is below. Each governing body will be examining how best it can be used to fulfil the mission of their school.

Bishop Terry Drainey

Vision Statement for Catholic Education

in the Diocese of Middlesbrough

To fulfil the Church’s mission to evangelise and make Christ known to all, the Diocese of Middlesbrough is committed to providing schools and colleges that:

• provide education with Christ at the centre and a strong sense of Catholic identity meeting the spiritual needs of all
• are welcoming, compassionate communities, in which all are equally loved and valued for who they are
• are affirming, challenging educational communities committed to the search for excellence for all
• work together as a Diocesan family of Catholic schools and colleges in order to ensure the best possible Catholic education for all young people 3 to 19
• work in partnership with other local schools, education providers and stakeholders in order to enhance the quality of provision for all
• live out the social teaching of the Church, and thereby promote community cohesion
• contribute in joyful hope to the creation of a society which is highly educated, skilled, fundamentally loving and generous.