Wednesday 19 October 2011

The Carlile Report

The following has appeared in the latest edition of the Headmaster's Newsletter.
The Carlile Report
Fr Abbot expects to receive the final report in the next two weeks. Initially, he will be sharing the report with both the Monastic Community and the Board of School Advisors, but he is keen to publish the report in full as quickly as is practical.

The report will be presented to parents at the next Parental Forum on Tuesday 8th November at 7.15pm. Fr Abbot and I will set out the main findings of the report and its recommendations and how we will go about implementing them. We will be happy to take questions at the meeting.

The report will then be made public on Wednesday 9th November. A Clarion Call will be sent to parents alerting them that it will be available on the School’s website. It will also be sent to the ISI, the DfE and the Charity Commission. An official press statement will be made at this time.

Please note that the Parental Forum will be a closed meeting and entrance will be restricted to current parents and members of staff. Refreshments will be available from 6.45pm, so do come along early.


This is all rather dreadfully transparent. The report will be provided to parents at the Parental Forum on 8th November. They won't have had time to read it and so won't know what questions need to be asked. But questions will be invited at the forum, and then the report will be made public. The Parental Forum is going to be a closed meeting. What this means is that there will be security on the gates with the specific intention of keeping me out so I can't ask awkward questions and embarrass the Abbot. And the wine they will serve at 6.45 and which they encourage you to arrive early for will put you in a good mood and dull the edge of your concentration.

No subsequent meeting has been scheduled, or at least no subsequent meeting has been announced. As far as we know, there will be no opportunity for parents to ask questions once they have had an opportunity to read and understand the report. It seems that you're going to have to accept the Abbot's proposals for how they are going to implement whatever reforms they intend, and then you're supposed to shut up and accept it without further ado.

I can think of lots of very good questions that need to be asked. The most obvious and important one is to ask whether there will be a further opportunity to discuss the report with the headmaster and Abbot and ask questions about it once parents have had a chance to read and understand it.

I don't think the Abbot or headmaster should have too many of the questions telegraphed to him in advance. If you are a concerned parent and want to be as well-prepared as possible for the meeting, feel free to email me, and I can provide you with a few more questions to ask.

12 comments:

  1. I no this is irrelevant but St.Augustine's is in todays Times, its there for all to read, what do you have to say now Gumley Mason?

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  2. In the Times article on St Augustine's, it states that lawyers said etc .....
    It appears that yet again Mrs Gumley Mason is lining the pockets of lawyers in an attempt to cover up her own dreadful failings. This is not what we pay fees for. Governors did you authorise her to waste school funds like this?

    It is now very evident to all why she has "resigned".

    Tomorrow is the centenery mass at Westminster Cathedral, how sad she had spoiled what should be a happy time for the school.

    The woman is a disgrace to the school, its staff and pupils.

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  3. Glumley-mason is giving a talk this evening entitled 'Catholic education at a crossroads'
    How apt!!

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  4. The woman Is more than a disgrace she should not be allowed to attend the Centenary Mass or the Centenary Ball. She has done nothing but bring shame upon the school, how she can show her face is beyond me, and why is she still at the school.
    Governors stand up and do your job.

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  5. Lord Carlile's report should be put on the School's website at least two days before the Parental Forum on 8th November. This would ensure that parents had time to read and digest the report so as to be in a position to ask informed questions at the meeting.

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  6. That woman should give a talk called,' I'm incapable of telling the the truth',
    it would be much more apt.

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  7. Where is she giving her talk? Would be interested in what she has to say.

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  8. I think it would be nice if she gave a talk to pupils past and present and their parents on how she has lied to us. She can answer all the unanswered questions that have been raised, come on Gumley we all know you like the sound of your own voice.

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  9. In his latest newsletter the Headmaster says, "please note that the Parental Forum will be a closed meeting and entrance will be restricted to current parents and members of staff".

    I believe that an exception ought to be made for Jonathan West as he is probably better placed than anyone else to ask the most pertinent questions.

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  10. 16:04 - That is precisely why I won't be allowed in!

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  11. I've just read the article, why is she still there? It's unbelievable she should be made to stand down with immediate effect before embarrassing and damaging the school any further.

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  12. Mr West, please post your questions here so we parents may put them forward. They may not let you in but we can pose the questions and report back. I have children in both schools and am horrified by all of this. You probably know by now that Mr Cleugh has announced a further forum a week after the report is being released, but I would be keen to get some clarity at the first forum. What a dpressing cover up of an institution that is rotten to the core.

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