Church of England as educator - an overview

Transformation for Children, Students, Young People, Families and the Church

The Church of England Education Division’s mission is to promote Education and Learning that: nurture people within the church and the community; encourage the faith, vocation and participation of all; equip those engaged in all forms of ministry and service and provide opportunities of the highest quality.

The Church of England and the National Society

For nearly 200 years the National Society (www.natsoc.org.uk) has been the specialist agency of the Church of England for its work in church schools.  In the first half of the 19^th Century it oversaw the establishment of universal state-funded education.  Today it is still the Education Division’s close partner in the everyday provision of support and resource for schools.  Some officers are shared between the Division and the Society, and the Society’s charitable funds extend the range and quality of the Division’s work.  Revd Janina Ainsworth is the Chief Education Officer of the Education Division, and General Secretary of the National Society.

Together the Division and the Society offer strategy, support and resources for:

• All schools, including 4,670 Church of England schools with nearly 1 million pupils
• 28 Church of England Academies opened, and more being planned
• Further and Higher Education, including 11 Church Universities and University Colleges
• Informal community-based learning
• Religious Education and collective worship in all schools: teaching and learning
• National quality assurance and administration for S48 (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools) and Ofsted protocol
• Work with children and young people in Church and community
• Nurturing and resourcing Christian formation
• Training and development for clergy and laity
• Links with Government and other agencies

They do this by:

Engaging with National Institutions

• Leading the national debate education and lifelong learning
• Working with government, ecumenical and voluntary agencies
• Developing policy for the Church and education

Growing the Church’s Mission

• Increasing the Church’s stake in schools, HE, FE
• Re-envisioning the Church’s encounter with children and young people (Going for Growth)
• Maintaining and developing international educational visits
• Being an advocate for all in education and a prophetic voice for the Church

Professional Support and Nurture

• Working in partnership with Diocesan formal and informal education staff
• Stimulating and supporting networks, initiatives and programmes
• Providing resources and training (Christianvalues4schools)
• Producing appropriate resources and regular publications, disseminating good practice
• Managing and developing inspection services

Research, Development and Evaluation

• NCSL Succession Planning (Diversity)
• Jerusalem Trust (Christian Leadership)
• RE Development Programme
• Community Cohesion (Strong Schools for Strong Communities)

Read the Education Division’s plans

For a description of the work of the teams, and each team member, click here