Churches

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Churches Schools Working
TogetherMargaret Nicholson
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We will ..

• Recap national policy review progress
• Consider context
• Share some examples
• Consider some issues
• Share information about some new resources
• Ask questions

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National Policy The Dearing Report
As a general theme throughout our report, we
urge all elements in the church community to look
afresh at how they work together, for in a
community of purpose the work of the church will
be enhanced. We have in mind in particular the
relationship between the parish and the Church
school. (Exec Summary)

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NATIONAL
colleges
DIOCESAN
DEANERY
church
school
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Church
School
Incumbent
School viewed as an add-on
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Church
School
Incumbent
The Church school at the heart of the life of the
parish, integral to the life and ministry of the
local church.. Church schools should see
themselves as a living, collaborating part of the
church community, each knowing that it is
supported by the prayers and ministry of the
other. (7.4)
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Chapter 4

• The distinctive identity of a Church school
  is enhanced by its relationship with a parish
  church (or churches).
• . a partnership between a Church school and a
  parish church has much to offer both.

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• The relationship is at its best when
• Incumbent and other members of the church are a
  welcome and familiar presence,
• The school seeks to involve itself in the worship
  in the church from time to time - festivals, end
  of school year, welcome a new headteacher.
• Parishoners pray for their school regularly

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Chapter 7
Relationships between school parish Church
schools are not an add-on, but integral to the
life and ministry of the local church. (7.4)
church
school
incumbent
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The contribution of the clergy

• Incumbent headteacher discuss possibilities,
  e.g.
• Pastor to staff, pupils and families
• Ex-officio governor
• Leader of collective worship
• Consultant over collective worship RE
• Chaplain (voluntary) teacher (7.9)

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The training of clergy

• Clergy should be equipped for their ministry in
  schools .... in pre and post ordination training.
  

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• All clergy ... will want to demonstrate their
  loving care for their Church school ....
  developing the framework of ongoing relationships
  between church and school . (7.6)

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Worship spiritual growth

• Churches should provide opportunities for the
  worshipping life of the school to be shared
  within the church congregation .. vica versa
• Church school should work together to bring
  life, colour, vigour and rigour to the gospel..
• Children in Church schools . should have
  access to the special way of relating to God
  Jesus provided by the Eucharist. (7.12)

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• will be a special occasion for the
  church community when the presence of a Church
  school in the parish is celebrated, its place
  in the life of the parish recognized and
  promoted. (7.6)
• Church schools will want to provide an
  education in which children see the Church as a
  familiar and friendly place. (7.7)

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Recommendations

• All parishes and all Church schools to reflect on
  their relationship
• Deaneries actively fostering this relationship...
• Parishes schools pray regularly for each other
• Job descriptions for clergy making
  responsibilities towards the Church school clear
• Appointments/welcome/induction of staff

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Progress report

• The close links with the local Church is one
  way in which spiritual development is enhanced.
• One parent said I am not a church goer but I
  go because of school, I love hearing children
  sing. Parents are supportive and enjoy
  attending class worship and the festival times.
• The school is actively engaged in the life of
  the wider community, and well supported by the
  parish.
• Close links with the parish church are highly
  valued and children confidently and ably lead
  acts of worship in church on occasions such as
  Education Sunday, Easter and Christingle.

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Progress report cont

• There are valued and effective links between
  the parish church and the head teacher is a
  member of the PCC.
• Links with the church are very strong staff
  are considered an extension of the church
  family. The children visit the church and are
  invited to a variety of church celebrations and
  festivals. The headteacher is a member of the PCC
  and is welcomed to meetings to ensure church and
  school work together and that school is seen as
  part of the fellowship of church.
• The local vicar other ministers and visitors
  regularly lead collective worship.

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• Faith in the System highlights the importance
  of understanding the contribution faith
  communities and their schools make to education
  young people in England and to fostering
  understanding, integration and community
  cohesion.

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Context

• In the summer of 2001
• Dearing report published in June
• Race riots in northern towns in July/August
• Stand off at Holy Cross Primary in Belfast
• September 11th
• Backlash against faith.

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(No Transcript)
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Schools are being encouraged to collaborate
Extended Schools
National Policies
National Society
Protocols Agreements
School Collaboration
DCSF
The Way Ahead
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Churches are being encouraged to collaborate
Mission shaped children
Mission Shaped Church
Social Cohesion
Ecumenical
Inter-faith
Rural Affairs
Dearing Report
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In Church Schools

• The relationship between the school and the
  church is a given.
• encourage one another build each other up, (1
  Thes. 511)
• It does need to be nurtured.

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•  Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools
•  
• A framework for inspection and self-evaluation
  of Church of England, Methodist and Ecumenical
  schools
•   Revised April 2009

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Both exist to serve the community collaboration
should be

• mutually beneficial
• win /win

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A Church of England School
DCSF agenda

• Parental
• expectations

ofsted
Every child matters
Church expectations
SIAS
league tables
extended services
'Churches Schools Working Together' September
2009
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An Anglican Church
worship
ministry
mission
evangelism
service
fellowship
nurture
care
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Supporting outstanding collective worship
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In religious education (RE) pupils should be
taught about Christianity as a world-wide,
multicultural, living faith that is relevant to
21st century life.
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Other Examples
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Holiday after school clubs
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Gardening Club
Experiential learning
Offer a gift
Voluntary helpers
Prayer
Social events
Education Sunday
Joint sports teams
Prayer
Quest Club
Out of school clubs
Contribute to RE lessons
More Examples
Pupils take part in church services
Holiday club
Welcome of new head/clergy
Chaplain
Fundraising
Use the church building as a resource
Provide Bibles for one age group
School parish newsletter
Prayer
Celebration of paintings
School Choir
Prayer
Play piano for collective worship
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Sally Lamb
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Some issues

• STRUCTURES
• ------------------------------
• RELATIONSHIPS

plans
procedures
policies
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• Who are the key players?

• The church's relationships with the headteacher
  need to be friendly and professional and based on
  mutual support and a shared understanding of both
  parties' commitment to serving the local
  community. (National Society website)

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• Church school should work together to bring
  life, colour, vigour and rigour to the gospel ..
  

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• Education for ?
• Tests?
• An outstanding ofsted?
• Qualifications?
• A good job and material well-being?

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That they may have life, life in all its
fullness (John 1010)

• The reason the Church of England is knee-deep in
  education is because it is committed to helping
  human beings live full and flourishing lives.
• (Jan Ainsworth, Guardian article May 09)
• reading, writing, arithmetic are important
  only if they serve to make our children more
  human. (a holocaust survivor)

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• For the whole child
• Providing an education which stretches the
  mind, strengthens the body, enriches the
  imagination, nourishes the spirit, encourages the
  will to do good and opens the heart to others.

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• The story of the rich fool .. Luke 12

me, me, me
the eternal perspective
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Faith schools

• Serve the people of their faith RC, Jewish,
  Hindu, Muslim, Sikh etc
• BUT most C of E schools serve the community in
  which they are placed.
• NB The maintained education system in this
  country began as church provision.
• RE and CW are statutory because of our Christian
  roots .

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• Let the children come to me and do not hinder
  them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
  these. anyone who will not receive the kingdom
  of God like a little child will never enter it
  (Mark 1014 15)
• Church school should work together to bring
  life, colour, vigour and rigour to the gospel..
• The children and young people can bring colour
  and energy to the church and their way of
  learning about and relating to God can enrich and
  enliven church life. Intergenerational
  relationships can nurture and affirm old and
  young alike.

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Some Resources

• Values for Schools
• www.christianvalues4schools.co.uk
• Jan Ainsworth "....... the information should
  help explain how the C of E name on the sign
  outside a school translates into a difference in
  the classroom, and the playground
• Schools can choose from 15 values to help them
  delve deeper into their distinctive character as
  church schools. This, in turn will enable schools
  to reflect upon how these values challenge the
  prevailing culture in society.

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actionpact
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Youth for Christ

•  
• Over the past year, YFC has
• launched two exciting schools
• resources
• which are now in use in hundreds of schools
  across the country. 

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Supporting Christian groups in schools with
exciting Bible based resources for children and
young people.
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New 2009/10
A community resource for churches and schools
geared for boys and girls of all
ages www.highersports.org
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New 2009
www.christmasjourney.org.uk
Helping churches make positive links with local
primary schools by presenting a Christmas
experience for year 2 children.
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The Clergy and RE website

• http//www.culham.ac.uk/care/index.php is
  designed for clergy who go into schools. You will
  find lots of useful information together with a
  collection of video clips from a wide range of
  people already engaged in this work. 
• Clergy could encourage school staff and governors
  to access this useful resource as a starting
  point for developing successful partnerships.

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Parish Resources
A host of practical suggestions for how churches
can become more involved, both directly and
through encouraging and supporting the many
Christians who work in education in so many
different roles. 
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2011

• 200th anniversary of the National Society
• 10 years since the Dearing Report became national
  C of E policy
• Another national census
• ?

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• By working together the church and the church
  school can be salt and light, bringing out the
  God colours the God flavours, in this
  important part of our local
• national life.