Mike Simmonds gave a presentation to the Coventry Diocese Governors’ Conference on March 5th, 2011 about the role of church schools. The presentation discussed the history of church schools, the importance of building relationships between staff and students, and encouraging spiritual and moral development. It also addressed current issues facing church schools such as academy chains and how governors can help church schools continue their mission.

2. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front

3. Mike Simmonds Education Consultant #HOPEGOV

4. 1833

5. 1833

6. 1833

7. Joshua Watson, Clapton 1811

8. 2011

9. Logo in use by 1840 1811

10. Logo in use by 1860 1860

13. Built circa 1770

14. “there is nothing more vitally important than the inculcation and the apprehension of Religious Truth” #HOPEGOV

16. PROJECT REPORT Chris James, Steve Brammer, Michael Connolly, Miles Fertig, Jane James and Jeff Jones UNIVERSITY OF BATH The ‘hidden givers’: A study of school governing bodies in England

18. The role of the chair – a significant educational and community leadership responsibility.

19. Scrutiny, scrutiny, scrutiny . . . .

20. The lack of a capable governing bodyis a substantial disadvantage #HOPEGOV

21. “it is the task of the Church in every century to serve its generation according to the will of God.” Canon Charles Smyth, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on 150th Anniversary of the Foundation of The Society, 12.10.61 #HOPEGOV

22. How do we improvise our role in the current climate of change and as Church School Governors “according to the will of God” ?

23. “Teach them to your children. Talk about them all the time -whether you're at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write them on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates”. Deuteronomy 11 verses 19-20

24. “The Holy Scriptures are story-shaped. Reality is story-shaped. The world is story-shaped. Our lives are story-shaped” E Peterson Eat this Book page 62

26. Act One: Creation Act Two: The Fall Act Three: Israel Act Four: Jesus Christ Act Five: The Church Scene 1: Church Begins Its Mission to the Nations Scene 2: Our Place in the Story: Church Continues ItsMission to the Nations Act Six: New Creation

27. History instructs us, the law teaches us, prophecy foretells, correction punishes, morality persuades; but the book of psalms goes further than all these. It is medicine for our spiritual health. Whoever reads it will find in it a medicine to cure the wounds caused by his own particular passions. Whoever studies it deeply will find it a kind of gymnasium open for all souls to use, where the different psalms are like different exercises set out before him. In that gymnasium, in that stadium of virtue, he can choose the exercises that will train him best to win the victor’s crown.[1]

28. History instructs us, the law teaches us, prophecy foretells, correction punishes, morality persuades; but the book of psalms goes further than all these. It is medicine for our spiritual health. Whoever reads it will find in it a medicine to cure the wounds caused by his own particular passions. Whoever studies it deeply will find it a kind of gymnasium open for all souls to use, where the different psalms are like different exercises set out before him. In that gymnasium, in that stadium of virtue, he can choose the exercises that will train him best to win the victor’s crown.[1] faithful improvisationin Act 5 Scene 2 “Understanding (to the degree the Bible allows us) the purposes of God in his world, we can align ourselves with those purposes and live in a way that anticipates their achievement.” R Baukman, Scripture & Authority Today Grove pg 11 #HOPEGOV

30. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Churches Mission to the Nation

31. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front 'Every Child Matters' to God and to us! It is our pledge to make this real for all the children and young people. #HOPEGOV

32. If the curriculum constitutes the relationship between teacher and student (and of both with subject matter), then it is first a relationship between beings. ... It is thus that the curriculum will be oriented to formation rather than to information, to wisdom as a goal for students (and teachers) ....” Blomberg DWisdom and Curriculum

33. So how can governors encourage the building of relationships between our staff and children?

34. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front The practice of hospitality

35. “For those involved in specifically Christian Schools .... the practice of hospitality (..welcoming and making space for strangers ..) ... should serve as a vital resource in the preparation of students to live lives of human flourishing, lives that genuinely contribute to the flourishing of everyone. ...”Bretherton, L. (2004) ‘Tolerance, Hospitality and Education: A Theological Proposal’ in Studies in Christian Ethics 17:1, 80-103

36. How can governors encourage the building of relationships between staff and children? How does ‘hospitality’ influence the ethos and practice in your school when the gates are locked?

37. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front “education should embrace the possibility of God”

39. “The aspiration to offer distinctively Christian education should not be perceived as a tribal threat but as an opportunity to enhance and enrich education” Cooling T, Doing God in Education, Theos p44

40. House of Commons Education Bill 2011 (5B) In reporting under subsection (5), the Chief Inspector must consider— a) the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school; #HOPEGOV

41. How can governors encourage the building of relationships between staff and children? How does ‘hospitality’ influence the ethos and practice in your school when the gates are locked? How do you monitor the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in your school? #HOPEGOV

43. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Academy Chains

44. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Training Schools

45. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Local or National Leaders

46. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Standing in the gap

48. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front #HOPEGOV

49. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Bible Improvising 5th Act

50. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Relationship Building

51. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Hospitality

52. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Spiritual & moral development

53. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front Carpe diem Seize the day

54. “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long”. Psalm 25:5

56. HOPE RENEWED Church Schools Leading from the Front "And if not now, when?"

57. mike@goministries.org.uk #HOPEGOV