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Schools and the Church of England: Church schools

School ImageThe Church of England Schools' Strategy

The General Synod debated the Church of England Schools' Strategy in February 2007. The document 'Achieving the First Two Hundred Years' reviews achievements against the recommendations of the Dearing Commission, The Way ahead (you can read this on the National Society web site, link below) published in 2001 and develops the strategy for the period up to the bi-Centenary of the National Society in 2011. Synod members endorsed the strategy overwhelmingly.

How many Church of England schools are there?

  • 25.3% of all state primary schools in England are Church of England schools - that's 4,470 schools.
  • 5.8% of all state secondary schools in England are Church of England schools - 220 schools.
  • 18.6% of all primary pupils and 5.8% of all secondary pupils attend these schools and these percentages in each case are growing.

An Opinion Research Business Survey in 2008 showed that, of those who agree that church schools are different to other state schools:

  • Eight in ten (79 per cent) agree that church schools help young people develop a sense of right and wrong
  • 75 per cent think that church schools help young people grow into responsible members of society
  • 78 per cent agree that they promote good behaviour and positive attitudes
  • 85 per cent agree they have a caring approach to students.

For information on the Church of England Education Division's partner, the National Society, follow the links below.

  • The National Society web site offers support and guidance for all Church of England schools, governors and diocesan education teams.
  • See also the web site of Church House Publishing, who publish books and resources in conjunction with the National Society.

Distinctiveness of Church schools

There are three distinct kinds of Church of England school in partnership with local authorities (LAs):

  • voluntary aided: the school is owned by the church, a majority of the governors are appointed by the Church, the teachers are appointed and employed by the governing body, the cost of repairs and capital projects is raised by the governing body with 90% grant from the DfES, religious education and worship are distinctively Anglican, the governing body is the admissions authority;
  • voluntary controlled: the school is owned by the Church, the Church appoints governors, but there is no Church majority on the governing body, the teachers are employed by the Local Education Authority, the LEA funds repairs and capital projects, religious education follows the local agreed syllabus, the worship is Anglican;
  • foundation: the foundation owns the school, the governing body employs the staff and is the admissions authority, the Church appoints a minority of governors, religious education follows an agreed syllabus and the worship is Anglican.

There are in addition two main kinds of Church of England independent schools:

  • Academies: some academies are designated as having Church of England character. Academies are independent schools, owned by their trustees, governors employ the staff and are the admissions authority. The church appoints a minority of governors, religious education and worship are distinctively Anglican, set up capital is provided partly by the trustees. Revenue, and continuing capital funding are provided by the DfES. No fees are charged.
  • Other independent schools: approximately 1,000 of the 1,300 fee-paying schools in England have a Church of England ethos. (the independent schools information service).
    Independent schools may also now be formally designated as having a Church of England character, in which case the powers of their governors will be broadly those of voluntary aided schools. Fees are charged by these schools, but they offer scholarships of various kinds.

A Church school's trust deed and its instrument of government are the main reference points when checking the religious character of the school. Many schools have lost track of their trust deeds (many of which date back more than 100 years) but instruments of government are held at the school. Help in tracing lost trust deeds can be obtained from: The Archivist at the Church of England Record Centre. Email: archivist@c-of-e.org.uk.

Development of Church of England schools

Following a report by the Dearing commission in 2001, the General Synod of the Church of England embarked on an ambitious development of 100 additional secondary schools. By October 2004 over 25 have been opened or expanded, a further 15 are scheduled to open in the next two years and 36 more are at various stages of planning. The commission's report, "The Way ahead", also challenges the Church by a further range of related proposals to extend its work in education. For further information about the work of The Way ahead implementation group, contact Email: rob.gwynne@c-of-e.org.uk.

Admissions to Church schools

Church of England schools welcome all pupils from their local neighbourhood, including members of other faiths. If there is a shortage of places in the school, the admissions policy set by the governing bodies of voluntary aided, academies and foundation schools will give an order of preference to categories of pupils. Admissions policies are set by the governing body and differ from school to school: some ask for evidence of active involvement in the local church, others look at pupils' travelling distance from school or at medical reasons for needing a particular school. Voluntary controlled schools have their admissions determined by the Local Education Authority.

Working with government and national agencies

The Church of England Education Division works with the DCSF and other national agencies to support Church schools and to collaborate in the development and improvement of standards and provision in schools generally. Other agencies and web sites of interest.

For information on Church of England Schools, contact:

For guidance papers on a range of school governance, management and legal issues see the National Society web site.

Other schools pages available are: RE, Collective Worship and Support for professionals