Diocese is learning to help parishes develop stronger school links
By Canon Peter Hartley, Diocesan Director of Education
MANY church members visit schools regularly and many Christian parents work hard for their
local schools too.
Difficulties sometimes arise when a large secondary school or college serves a wide area with many
parishes.
A church and its congregation may have young people going to this school, but it is not in their parish so the links to the school are left to the next parish which, perhaps, does not get involved.
Links between parishes, schools and colleges are the responsibility of every parish and the whole diocese.
If it is a Church school, one of the diocesan school advisers, Rob Fox, Rosemary Privett or Lyn Hillier, may be closely involved, as it fits with their work with that school.
However, with many Community or Foundation schools or colleges, it is no one parish's responsibility.
To develop a way forward, a pilot project has been set up for Chelmsford South and Chelmsford
North providing a new person to encourage links between the parishes and the schools.
Revd Susan Ives has taken on this work since September and is exploring ways of developing these
links. This project is being funded through Hockerill Educational Foundation. The lessons and good practice learned from this pilot will help other deaneries and parishes see how they can develop a link
between their children's school or college and their parish.
Interested deaneries and parishes are welcome to contact the diocesan schools advisers and Revd Susan Ives through the education administrator at the diocesan office on 01245 294440.
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