The natural context for deprivatised teaching is the learning community.

This concept of school-as-a-community is the antithesis of school-as-an-institution.

Its focus is, unashamedly, learning . Its members, who both learn and teach in various ways, share core goals, values and understandings. They work in collaborative partnership and they share leadership functions.

Once developed, the school-as-a-learning-community becomes the organisational model that powerfully stimulates ongoing school reform.

This type of educating community has distinguishing features. Relationships are supportive; structures are flexible and permeable; there is a general stance of openness, dialogue and inquiry; and members see themselves as accountable to each other.

This is the educational model which reflects most accurately our understanding of the contemporary Catholic school which is distinguished by its essential communal dimension.