The Church of England has been involved in education for hundreds of years. However, Church of England Primary and Secondary schools began to be established as part of the National Society for the Promotion of Education which was founded in 1811.
All Church schools are committed to follow national guidance in providing a high standard of education for our pupils and they are also expected to establish and promote Christian Distinctiveness. This is subject to a separate inspection from SIAMS. The Diocesan Board of Education is dedicated to support all of our 52 schools here in Birmingham in this mission!
Vision
At the heart of each school will be its vision. Schools are expected to create and re-visit its vision to ensure that it is theologically rooted and relevant to its pupils and the community it serves.
The Church of England centrally has its vision statement: ‘Our vision for education is deeply Christian, with Jesus' promise of 'life in all its fullness' at its heart.’ This is based on the Bible passage John 10:10.
Here in Birmingham, we have our own vision statement:
To read the full statement for Birmingham Diocesan Board of Education outlining their vision for education, please click here.
Our Education team are keen to support schools in the re-creation or review of a school’s vision. Please get in touch to discuss this with us.
A useful starting point for writing a distinctively Christian vision is available. Click here
Values
To add structure and guidance for everyone in the school’s community, schools will identify key values to underpin their vision. Where these values are linked to Bible stories or teachings, they provide a strong framework for living well together. Important Christian values, such as love, hope, joy, and forgiveness, are essential in learning how to flourish in God’s kingdom on earth.
To appreciate what pupils can gain from being part of a school with clear Christian Distinctiveness, click here.
To appreciate a deeper understanding of the Church of England vision for education, click here.
To ensure that your school website clearly demonstrates your distinctive Christian vision and values, follow the guide by clicking here.