Avila
Avila is a partnership between Ursuline High School, Wimbledon and St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls, Carshalton.
Who is the best first point of contact?
Either myself, Collette Farley (NPQ Strategic Lead for Avila) or Nicola Adams (NPQ Administrator)
What was the highlight of your summer?
I went to Croatia and took a boat trip to Venice. It was beautiful and the highlight was the gondola trip around the City.
Which method of contact you most prefer people to use
when getting in touch?
The best method is our direct email addresses at Ursuline High School:
collette.farley@ursulinehigh.merton.sch.uk
Nicola.Adams@ursulinehigh.merton.sch.uk
Tell us a little bit about you as an organisation
The Avila Partnership, formed in 2014, initially as a commitment to sustaining outstanding Catholic Girls’ education through shared practice between St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls and Ursuline High School. Both Schools recognise and value collaborative learning. Together we share good practice, benchmark data and provide collaborations between departments and facilities.
Avila has grown into outreach work offering a programme for Outstanding Catholic schools and collaborative leadership programmes.
We have been delivering NPQs since February 2022 and has currently trained over 120 participants in a range of NPQ’s from NPQH, NPQSL, NPQLBC, NPQTL and NPQLTD.
Avila has embraced all programme for leaders of faith schools.
The Avila Partnership also participated in the Ofsted pilot for NPQ delivery with excellent feedback.
Why did you choose to be a partner with Church of England
and Catholic Education Office?
As a partnership of Catholic schools, we are committed to developing leaders in the London area with a faith-based approach. We work with colleagues in the Diocese and across London to deliver small coaching groups where participants can really develop their understanding of the subjects.
We are also keen for our school leaders to continue to work with CEFEL and become coaches and facilitators on NPQ courses for their own development, both personal and professional.
Which NPQs do you offer?
We offer the full suite of NPQs.
Avila is expanding this provision to include NPQ LPM (Leading Primary Maths) and NPQ SEND in future cohorts.
Which Cohort are you running?
Cohort 5 will run for NPQH and Cohort 6 will be NPQSL, NPQLBC, NPQLTD, NPQLT, NPQLPM
Where will your learning take place?
The face-to-face learning will take place at Ursuline High School in Wimbledon and St Philomena’s in Carshalton. Both are well served by public transport but are also close to the M25 and A3.
The NPQSL face-to-face learning will be at Bonus Pastor Catholic College in Bromley, accessible from the A205 and A21 and public transport.
Is there anything you would like to say to somebody
who's considering an NPQ?
Working through the course with peers from a variety of schools brings different perspectives to your learning and what you then take back to your own colleagues and pupils. I have been a facilitator on our NPQ courses from the beginning and it is wonderful to see the participants grow and support each other throughout.
