Norfolk conference explores church schools role

Around 60 headteachers from across the Diocese of Norwich, will gather at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday March 26 to explore and celebrate the role and contribution of church schools in educational provision across Norfolk and Waveney.

The conference theme is ‘A Distinctive Offering’ which will be exploring and celebrating the role and contribution of church schools and academies in the general landscape of educational provision in Norfolk and Waveney, explained the diocese Director of Education, Andy Mash.
 
“The event will also be a chance for headteachers to meet and listen to colleagues from The National Society, who can communicate the national perspective.

“The day will be looking at ways in which church schools are distinctive including collective worship; the national perspective; how children view distinctiveness; Religious Education (RE); chaplaincy and SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools,” he said.

Speakers include the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, who will welcome and open the day in a pre-recorded address; Primary Diocesan Schools Support Officer, Juliet Corbet, who will talk on best practice when leading collective worship; the Rev Nigel Genders, chief Education Officer for the Church of England, who will outline the national perspective on church school distinctiveness; and Kathryn Wright, Diocesan RE Advisor, who will speak on The National Society review of Religious Education in Church of England Schools which was published in September 2014.

Pictured above are Kessingland Primary pupils at the school which recently joined the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust.