The Church School and the Local Church

It's the quality of the relationship between a school and its local church(es) that counts. They belong together in the same family. Like in any family, it's vital to know and love one another, spend time with each other and do things together.

Some time ago, we produced a list of 55 Practical Ideas to strengthen the relationship. They have been compressed to 25 now, but the ideas are substantially the same. See how many you are doing already, wheher there are new ones to try and if you've developed some we haven't yet thought of!. Remember, they are not all just about 'activity' - at the heart is relationship.

25 Practical Ideas for developing the link between School and Parish

The Governing Body

The local priest ("principal officiating minister" in the jargon) is normally an ex-officio foundation governor of the school unless unable or unwilling.

The Archdeacon has the power to appoint a substitute if needed. Contact the Schools Office in such a case.

Every church school also has has a number of foundation governors apppointed by the church. The School's Instrument of Government sets out how many and who appoints them. Every governor should be given a copy of the Insrument and the Clerk to the GB has extra copies.

In a VA school, the foundation governors form a majority.

In a VC school there are usually 3 or two foundation governors.

Foundation governors are full members of the governing body but have special resposnibilities to develope the school's Christian ethos as well as their normal governing body responsibilities. These include ensuring the Christian ethos of the school is developed, collective worship is of a high quality and church school inspections are properly conducted.

Pastoral and Curriculum Support

A church school is at the centre of a church's local mission. The school is an important focus for pastoral ministry, supporting the whole school community and linking with whole families.

The church and its ministers can also contribute to its spiritual life and help it to reflect theologically. This can include help with day to day activities as well as worship and RE. Many ministers - ordained and lay - become regular leaders of school worship, in their local schools and act as 'chaplains' and 'special visitors' for RE.

Most Church schools also receive pastoral support from a Bishop's School Visitor as well as members of the Diocesan Schools Team. It is important that the church school subscribes to the diocesan Service Level Agreement to make best use of the resources available.

Best Practice

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 Schools Bulletin publishes the dates when each school is being prayed for.

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 share news. School and church can't support each other if they never hear about each other!

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