The DEEP Trust is a partnership between the Department for Formation and the schools and colleges in the Diocese of Salford.

The Trust is strengthened by its methods of consultation and communication. The Trust is connected to the realities of working within schools and colleges, developing the provision and responding to needs. Simultaneously, the Trust is a vehicle to express and reflect an organic vision for Catholic Education within the Diocese of Salford.

Consultation

The Trust depends upon:

The Visioning Group – a “grass roots” model of representation, involving colleagues and support partners working with schools and colleges. The group meets every term for a “visioning day”, when it evaluates progress and refines priorities, in light of the emerging and competing school requirements.

The Primary Partnership and Secondary Heads – area representatives of head teachers from across the Diocese. They transmit the aspirations of the schools and colleges to the Trust. These representatives inform the Trust of local needs and at the same time influence its overall direction.

RE Subject Leaders (Co-ordinators) and secondary Heads of Department – there is a very pertinent relationship with the Trust for these leaders who have a very specific responsibility in our schools. Through meetings, the work of the Trust is directed and facilitated by their particular expertise and commitment.

Communication

The Trust depends upon:

Website – the portal on the diocesan website is critical to the functioning of the Trust. This will carry live information about current and future provision with dates & times, personnel, contact details, development work and future initiatives. Access to courses, conferences, meetings and networking is possible. This feature will be available by the end of July 2011.

Good Practice Guide – the Trust will build a “Good Practice Guide”, which will be a collection of first class practice from around the diocese schools and colleges (and the e-world beyond). It will provide support for schools with a common interest.

Champions – The Trust will have “champions” in each area of the diocese who will promote its work and spread the good news in different ways, while ‘listening’ for ideas and suggestions from the “chalk face”.