Church Schools Handbook

Introduction

This handbook is designed to help staff and governors of all the Church of England Schools of the Diocese of Ely to understand the distinctive features of their schools and their responsibilities.

The leaflets are deliberately brief. They are intended as introductions to their subject matter. They have been prepared with the busy headteacher, staff member or governor in mind. The ring binder format has been deliberately chosen. You are invited to freely photocopy individual leaflets and to distribute them to staff and governors as and when appropriate. Some are especially appropriate at different times (eg. before Inspection or Headteacher/Deputy Appointment). Some are more appropriate for senior managers and some for governors and clergy. You may wish to consider photocopying a complete set for each governor and using the material for governor and staff induction.

This is not a comprehensive collection of leaflets. We have started with leaflets which cover some of the more often asked questions and issues. Our intention is to regularly produce more leaflets and updates on different topics as they are requested or as the need arises. Legislation moves forward apace and from time to time replacement leaflets will be produced.

The Schools Team will continue to send your school a supply of termly 'Schools Update' Bulletins with news and notices. You should also be receiving a termly copy of 'Manna', the news magazine of the whole Diocesan Education and Training Department, which includes valuable information for Schools. In due course we are planning for much of our material to be available on the Web. A copy of the current Diocesan Schools Work Development Plan is also available (on request) to give you a flavour of the developing service we seek to offer all our schools and parishes. We can but send out information and hope that it gets passed on to the colleagues who need it most. In doing this we ask you to help us. Your feedback and suggestions will also be of great value.

We have checked the material for inaccuracies and errors as carefully as we can; please note, however, that none of the information contained herein constitutes formal legal guidance or is legally binding. You should continue to consult primary legislation and DfEE guidance etc. where necessary.

The Diocese of Ely is fully committed to supporting our Church Schools. We take great pride in the work you do and in the commitment with which you do it. We hope this resource will prove a modest help to you, your staff and governors.

With best wishes

Canon Tim Elbourne

Diocesan Director of Education and Training