Regan, DJ; (2015) Catholic Secondary Schools and Community Relations: A Case Study in East London 2000-2010. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis is a case study of Catholic secondary school provision in the Inner London Borough of Tower Hamlets during the period 2000-2010. Its main emphasis is on the school/community relations during the period, indicating the Church’s concern to promote community cohesion while maintaining high standards of education, particularly in an inner-city borough noted for its areas of extreme poverty and the diversity of its immigrant population. By working collaboratively with the statutory authorities, the governors of the existing Catholic girls’ secondary school and its diocese initiated the original idea of school federation to provide for the boys when the local Catholic boys’ school was perceived to have failed. Due to the success of this initiative, the concept gained approval in the Education Act 2002 and is now a significant part of national education policy. The federation was followed by developing a learning village in an urban setting enabling the use of the school’s new education, social and sporting facilities by all communities in the area when new buildings became available. A partnership with the local authority ensued whereby the Catholic school managed a large part of the authority’s youth and community programme, including outreach provision and training for youth leaders, extending use of the learning village and facilitating co-operation with other community organisations. The study considers the school’s leadership in the difficult circumstances of rebuilding. It overcome external problems of death threats to staff, vandalism, a major burglary, a High Court trial initiated by a small group opposed to the school’s policies of inclusion and finally, the bankruptcy of the main building contractor near to the end of the £40 million contract. The study, underpinned with aspects of theory, may form a distinctive contribution to the advancement of community cohesion and educational provision, particularly in a multi-cultural setting.

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