Church Schools – Leadership and Spiritual Development
One of the distinctive characteristics of Church schools is their particular concern for the spiritual development of the pupils in their care. In an era when the vast majority of parents of these pupils were practicing Christians, the school could rely on support in this area, both from home and parish. Today, the situation is very different. Many schools currently exist as ‘outposts’ of the Church in that for many pupils and parents this is their only contact with a Christian community.
This new reality places great pressure on the adult members of these educative communities. If only by default, they are being looked to for spiritual leadership in an increasingly isolated ecclesial landscape.
Through INSET days, retreat experiences, consultation and training, this Consultancy is offering Church schools opportunities designed to support the development of the spirituality of the Christian Teacher.
Spiritual Development Planning
As many teachers and governors realise, such is the importance of the spiritual dimension to life in Church schools that it should find its way into the process of whole school development planning.
While the measurement of ‘progress’ with regard to either personal or collective spirituality is notoriously difficult, there are other things we can measure. What opportunities are made available to different groups within the school community to explore personal spirituality or to grow in personal faith? How relevant or effective are they?
For many Church schools, development planning in this regard is focussed almost exclusively on the children and yet the adults associated with the school community may have specific needs, the response to which could bring benefits to all concerned. What provision is there for teachers, parents and ancillary staff to engage in this way?
As a head teacher or governor in a Church school we can help you to plan and deliver a coherent spiritual development plan for your community.
Recent Work
Conferences and Inset Days – A number of Inset Days and Conference Input for the staff of Church Schools has taken place in various parts of England. RE Coordinators, Heads, Deputies and School Chaplains have been involved in the different locations. The dominant theme is the difficulty adult Christians have in speaking freely of their own experience of life and faith. Evaluation comments suggest both a welcome for the conversational approach and a need for training in facilitation. The following constituencies have availed themselves of the work of this consultancy:
Northampton R. C. Diocese; Shrewsbury R. C. Diocese; Plymouth R. C. Diocese; Exeter Anglican Diocese; Worth School; Edmund Rice Schools Education Office;
Retreats – Most recently for the staff of St. Joseph’s College, Stoke-on-Trent, delivered under the title ‘Love Tenderly’.