There are 100 Church of England schools in the Diocese, educating approximately
22,500 children and young people across Dudley and Worcestershire. All schools ensure
they offer a curriculum that is rich, broad, deep and engaging, whilst church schools in
particular ensure that they have a focus on spiritual growth and character development.
Diocesan Director of Education, Dr Margaret James, said: “Church schools have been
reaffirmed over the last two decades as being at the heart of the Church’s service to
the nation. The call for church schools is for them to serve local communities in such a
way that brings hope and aspiration, within an ethos characterised by respect. Inspired
by the words of Jesus in John’s Gospel, church schools are places in which every child
is helped to live an abundant life.”
Parishes can support local church and non-church school communities in many ways.
You could take part in the pray, bake, read initiative (praying intentionally for your local
school, baking a cake for staff each half term and offering to read with a student).
Perhaps you could help with worship, assemblies, or confirmation preparation? Or
maybe support the staff and children pastorally, or the school strategically, by becoming
a church school Foundation Governor. What else could your parish realistically begin in
order to nurture relationships with your local schools? Why not talk to other parishes
within your deanery, perhaps even working together to engage several local schools in
one worship event.
For help and advice on working more
closely with your local school, contact
the Diocesan Education team on
education@cofe-worcester.org.uk.
This Education Sunday, please pray
for growing faith between churches,
schools and households.
Upton Deanery – Rural Dean: Chris Moss; Lay Chair: Maria Toman
Salisbury: Bishop Nicholas Holtam, w Bishop Andrew Rumsey (Ramsbury), Bishop Karen Gorham (Sherborne)
St Asaph (Wales): Bishop Gregory Cameron
Episcopal Church of Sudan: Archbishop Ezekiel Kumir Kondo
Ribe (Denmark): Bishop Elof Westergaard
