Embracing change and leading through influence

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) is marking an important milestone in its history this week with a celebration of past and present achievements at its one hundreth Council meeting.

The meeting will take place at St Genevieve’s High School, Belfast, a unique event as it will be the first time that CCMS has held a Council meeting outside its Holywood headquarters.

The Council is the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland.

Frances Butler, principal of St Genevieve’s, said it was an honour to have been chosen as the venue for the meeting, "We are now in our fourth academic year on the Trench House site and continue to appreciate the magnificent accommodation and resources now available to us.”

Established in 1989 in response to underachievement in Catholic education, CCMS has the statutory responsibility to raise standards, coordinate the provision of school planning and provide an upper tier of management for Catholic maintained schools.

Donal Flanagan, chief executive of CCMS said, "Without doubt, we now exist within a changing educational environment and new challenges do lie ahead. However, CCMS will continue to be a progressive organisation, embracing change and leading through influence. ”

The Council plays a central role in supporting:

1. teachers - through its welfare service
2. trustees - in the provision of school buildings
3. governors and principals- in the effective management and control of schools.

Celebration dinner and speakers

To mark the one hundreth meeting, past and present Council members have been invited to attend a dinner to celebrate the achievements of CCMS as a flagship educational body.

Guests will hear keynote speakers and have the opportunity to tour exhibitions and displays from CCMS schools.

Bishop McAreavey, chairman of CCMS commented, “CCMS has been instrumental in raising standards in education in NI. Fundamental to our achievements over the last sixteen years has been the organisation’s steadfast belief and commitment to the importance of Catholic ethos. It is this prevailing ethos which underpins Catholic education.”