The Church School and the Local Church

Every church school has very special links with the local ecclesiastical parish in which it is situated and those from which it draws its pupils. Some schools in this diocese relate to as many as six parishes (although these parishes may all be one benefice, under one incumbent). Other schools may encompass only two or three villages in their normal catchment area, and find themselves relating to the same number of incumbents and churches.

This important relationship can be fostered in many different ways

Here are 55 Practical Ideas for developing the link between School and Parish:

The Governing Body

The "principal officiating minister", or incumbent, of the parish in which the school stands is automatically an ex-officio governor of the school unless unable or unwilling. For many years the parish priest was automatically the chair of governors at a church school; this is no longer the case, although the incumbent may be nominated for the office of chair or vice-chair of governors, just like any other governor.

In the case of a parish inter-regnum, or where a priest is over committed and unable to take up his place on the school's governing body, the ex-officio seat may be filled by a person nominated by the Archdeacon. Contact Sarah Sheffield on 01353-652724 for details.

Every church school has a number of foundation governors nominated by the Diocesan Board of Education & Training or the local church (PCC). In a Voluntary Aided school these governors will form the majority group on the governing body. See the section on Foundation Governors for full details of their role and recruitment. Foundation governors are an important link between the church and the school.

Pastoral and Curriculum Support

Clergy are encouraged to see their local church school as an important focus for their pastoral ministry, both in supporting the members of the school community, and as a way of establishing links with local families.

The incumbent or members of the local church community should be prepared to act as "liturgical or theological consultants" in matters to do with collective worship and RE. Many incumbents are happy to be included in the collective worship rota as a worship leader, or to be available to the school as a "special visitor" for RE, diary constraints permitting. In some parishes lay members of the community may also be encouraged to share in this role e.g. by welcoming pupils to the church building on visits, or visiting classrooms and attending assemblies.

An additional "friend of the school" who offers both pastoral and curriculum support is your Bishop's School Visitor who has been nominated by the Diocesan Board of Education & Training and commissioned by the Bishop of Ely. (See separate leaflet.)

Good Practice and Prayer

Share good news. The church and school could figure on each other's newsletter/magazine mailing lists, and each contribute articles to the other's publication as appropriate.

Share venues. The school should be encouraged to use the church regularly for special services if space permits. The school may also, on occasions, offer hospitality to the church.

Co-operate over dates. School and church should liaise over significant dates (e.g. festivals, fund-raising activities) to avoid competing with each other.

The church community should be asked to support the school in prayer on a regular basis in its Sunday services (and why not vice versa?). Schools appear, with their parish, each day on the Diocesan Prayer Diary and people across the diocese uphold each school regularly in this way.

The church school should also appear on the PCC's agenda as a matter of course, perhaps the headteacher could even be co-opted onto the PCC to facilitate this. Foundation governors could be given regular slots at PCCs and Governing Body meetings, to facilitate the exchange of news. School and church cannot support each other if they never hear about each other!

Music is an important element of worship in which schools and churches can support each other by the exchange of musical ideas and musicians.