The National School of Formation

Tabor Programme

Growing as a Catholic leader. Bringing mission into daily practice.

Tabor brings middle and senior leaders together to explore the person they are becoming and the difference their leadership makes to others.

Inspired by the Transfiguration, the programme connects prayer and reflection with the responsibilities of leadership in a Catholic school. Residential gatherings, coaching, visits and research help delegates examine their practice and take their learning back into school.

Registration for the 2026–2027 cohort is now closed.

The National School of Formation programmes have begun. Early registrations and expressions of interest are now welcomed for 2027–2028.

Early registration: 2027–2028 Open the NSF Tabor & CTT form · opens in a new tab Current delegate resources Workspaces, downloads and visit bookings

Who is it for?

Leadership formation across Catholic schools

Tabor welcomes interest from middle and senior leaders across school phases and areas of responsibility. It also offers formation for those new to governance in a Catholic school.

Looking ahead · 2027–2028

Express your interest in the next programme

Are you considering Tabor for yourself or a colleague? Complete our early registration and expression of interest form for the 2027–2028 National School of Formation programmes.

The form covers both Tabor and Christ the Teacher. Select the programme you are interested in, or indicate that you would like to explore both.

Open the 2027–2028 form NSF Tabor & CTT early registrations · opens in a new tab

This form records your interest in the next intake. Programme dates, fees and full arrangements for 2027–2028 will be confirmed separately.

Current cohort recruitment is closed. Existing delegates can continue to access their workspace and book programme visits below.

Current delegates · Cohort 6 · 2026–2027

Programme information

These dates and fees relate to the current cohort. They are not the arrangements for the 2027–2028 intake.

Residential 1

15–16 October 2026

Optional early arrival:
14 October 2026

Residential 2

24–25 June 2027

Optional early arrival:
23 June 2027

Concludes at 4.15pm on 25 June.

Venue

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Brinklow Road, Binley,
Warwickshire, CV3 2AB

2026–2027 programme fee

£1,075

Invoiced to the participating school.

Registration for this cohort is closed.

Optional early-arrival accommodation: night-before stays are booked separately. Delegates should quote EducareM Tabor when contacting the hotel, or discuss arrangements with Sue Riley.

The formation journey

Informed. Formed. Transformed.

The Tabor formation journey: Informed, Formed and Transformed

The programme experience

Learning that reaches into your leadership

Residential formation

Two residential gatherings create time to step back from immediate demands, explore Catholic leadership and reflect with colleagues from other settings.

Conference slides and supporting materials are available to delegates through their cohort workspace.

Open the Cohort 6 workspace

Research coaching

Online group sessions help delegates examine their questions, discuss emerging learning and consider the effect of their leadership.

Cohort 6 research support · Zoom

3.45–4.45pm · Led by Bernie Furey

2 December 2026
24 February 2027
21 April 2027
8 June 2027

Zoom links are in the Cohort 6 workspace.

School visits

Delegates attend at least one school visit, encountering leadership through a learning walk and professional dialogue. Each visit offers questions to bring back to their own setting.

Visits include schools connected with the NSF Christ the Teacher programme.

Current delegates: book school visits and transformative projects · opens in a new tab

A research project in your own setting

Explore a question connected with your school’s priorities and your area of responsibility. Consider what changes, whose experience matters and what the enquiry teaches you about leadership.

Open the action research interactive document · PDF · opens in a new tab

Current cohort · Formation through encounter

Transformative project days

Meet people whose work raises questions about service, dignity and the common good. What will these encounters change in the way you lead?

Tuesday 9 March 2027 · 10.30am–2.45pm

Caritas Projects, Manchester

Cornerstone, Morning Star and Lalley Caritas Centres

Explore practical service and the experiences of communities facing disadvantage. Reflect on how Catholic Social Teaching shapes decisions and action.

Led by: Kathryn Ansley, Caritas Formation Co-ordinator.

Friday 23 April 2027 · 9.30am–4.00pm

Bar Convent, York

Explore Mary Ward and Ignatian spirituality, considering how charism, equality and aspiration influence a community’s life and leadership.

Led by: Jane Beever and Sr Bernadette Turtle CJ.

Additional visit: Ignite Youth, Harrow

Thursday 5 November 2026

Joint Christ the Teacher and Tabor visit, led by Sr Judith Russi SSMN.

Arrivals from 10.00am. Starts at 10.30am. Anticipated finish between 2.30pm and 3.00pm, and no later than 3.00pm.

View the visit details

Current delegates: book your visits School visits and transformative projects · opens in a new tab

The programme community

Leadership and contributors

Programme Lead

Martin Johnson

EducareM Leadership Team

Keynote contributors include

Martin Johnson, Sr Judith Russi SSMN, Dr Maureen Glackin, Richard Woods and Fr Gavin Landers.

Continuing your formation

Accreditation and the graduate community

Full completion of the programme enables delegates to apply for 30 credits towards Master’s-level study at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

Graduates are invited to remain connected through the NSF annual re-focus, continuing the relationships and reflection begun during their programme.

Programme reference · 2026–2027

Tabor Programme overview

This overview relates to the current cohort, for which registration is now closed.

Overview of the Tabor Programme for the 2026–2027 cohort

Next intake · 2027–2028

Begin the conversation about your next step

Tell us about your interest in Tabor, Christ the Teacher or both programmes using the shared National School of Formation form.

Register your interest for 2027–2028 Early registration and expression of interest · opens in a new tab

Registration for the 2026–2027 cohorts is closed. Dates, fees and arrangements for the next intake will be confirmed separately.

For existing Tabor delegates

Resources and cohort workspaces

Access your programme documents, shared resources and cohort workspace below. Use the password supplied to delegates where required.

Cohort 6: useful links

Download your programme dates and book your visits below. Residential slides, research coaching Zoom links and programme resources are available in the Cohort 6 workspace.