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The Dual System
The Church in Partnership
The current partnership between Church and State in the provision of maintained schools is sometimes described as the 'Dual System'. It has its origins in the 1944 Education Act and has been recently re-affirmed by provisions made in the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.The partnership is given most visible expression by the existence of schools with a religious character within the maintained sector. The Church of England provides one in four of the primary and one in twenty of the secondary schools in England educating more than 900,000 pupils.
Diocesan Boards of Education
The Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 1991 prescribes that each of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England has a Board of Education charged with the promotion of education in general and the promotion of church schools and religious education in particular. Each diocese shall have also a Director of Education.
In the Diocese of Ely the Board is known as the 'Board of Education and Training' and the director is thus 'Director of Education and Training'. This is because various other training functions relating to the work of the parishes are also the Board's responsibility. Adult Education, Youth Work, Children's Work, and also the Continued learning of the Church's Ministers are the responsibility of the Board. Schools work is delegated to a sub-committee of the Board, the Schools Executive.
The Diocese of Ely in Partnership
Local Authorities
The Officers of the Diocese and the Local Education Authorities liaise closely on church schools matters, especially relating to governor support, general school improvement and wider matters of policy
The Diocese is formally represented on several Educational Bodies;
Cambridge County Council
Education, Libraries and Heritage Committee:
The Director of Education and Training is a co-opted voting member. He is also a member of the Schools Service Advisory Group (SSAG) which advises the Committee on school planning issues.
The Diocese also appoints the members of the Church of England Group on:
The School Organisation Committee,
Admissions Forum,
Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)
and is represented on the Care and Education (formerly Early Years) Partnership and Governor Advisory Group.
Norfolk County Council
The Diocesan Director of the Diocese of Norwich leads the Church of England team on official bodies and liaises with Ely.
However the Diocese of Ely has an appointed member of the SOC and SACRE and access to other bodies.
An officer of the Diocese is a member of the Area Working Group/Committees which consider school planning issues for areas in which there are Diocese of Ely schools.
The County Director of Education and Diocesan Directors meet regularly to consider matters of mutual concern.
Peterborough City Council
The Diocesan Director of the Diocese of Peterborough leads the Church of England team on official bodies and liaises with Ely.
A Diocesan Officer is a member of the SACRE and has access to the SOC. Officers of the LEA liaise regularly with Diocesan officers over matters of mutual interest.
National Government
The Diocesan Directors of Education are party to the many legislative consultations carried out by the DfEE. There are examples of legislation modified in the light of comments from Diocesan Directors. The Directors themselves meet together regularly to exchange information and current thinking.
The officers of the national Church of England Board of Education/ National Society consult regularly with the Dioceses and senior civil servants of the DfEE. Regular contact is maintained at Ministerial level. The Church has also a powerful public voice in and beyond Parliament.
Diocesan Schools Team
Church Schools Handbook Links