Support for Church of England schools

 

What does the Diocesan education team do?

 

Statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools (SIAMS)

  • support with developing a distinctively Christian vision
  • training and support prior to SIAMS inspections for staff and governors
  • a SIAMS support visit midway between inspections
  • reviewing SIAMS SEFs
  • pupil perception interviews on RE /Collective Worship /Christian distinctiveness to inform planning.

For more information, please see our SIAMS Inspections page | Weblink

Sustaining a church school ethos

  • annual service of celebration of church schools at the cathedral in Bury St Edmunds
  • supporting work between the school and the parish church
  • helping the school to articulate and embed their Christian vision
  • creating and brokering link opportunities across the diocese
  • supporting the spiritual development of pupils.

RE and Collective Worship (CW)

  • supporting a network of RE subject leaders
  • termly courses on RE and collective worship for heads, SLTs and governors
  • training and resources on RE, Collective Worship and distinctive Christian values
  • induction of Early Careers Teachers (ECTs) and SCITT trainees in RE and CW
  • in-depth support for RE and CW elements of SIAMS
  • strategies for strengthening SMSC / British values
  • developing links with local clergy and faith communities
  • support for the implementation of the Emmanuel Project for RE (EYFS to Y6), including the creation of a FaceBook page with children’s work and padlets for teacher and subject leader support
  • Knowledge Organisers for RE and assessment resources
  • training, resources and support on implementing the new Suffolk RE Locally Agreed Syllabus 2023 (NEW for 2023)
  • workshops with Christian Aid on their Global Neighbours Scheme (NEW this year)

For more information, please see our:

Religious education pages | Weblink

Collective Worship pages | Weblink

Admissions (VA Schools)

  • advice on admissions policies 
  • attendance at admission appeals and advice on writing the statement required
  • termly Admissions Forums
  • admissions advice on any ongoing admissions issues/ queries

For more information, please see our Admissions page | Weblink

Buildings

  • managing DFC on behalf of aided schools
  • researching school site ownership
  • support at academy conversion
  • assistance in dealing with changes in property interests, site acquisitions/disposals, licences and leases
  • support with annual academies land and buildings collection tool
  • liaison with site trustees over proposed capital works and school site trusts
  • support towards net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and environmental sustainability.

For more information, please see our School Buildings page | Weblink

Leader well-being/resilience

  • wellbeing support including an annual resilience day for church school senior leaders (Friday 7 July 2023) 
  • wellbeing events for governors and administrative staff
  • one to one meetings with Headteachers to support wellbeing

Leadership and management

  • Headteacher forums to share information and ideas
  • aided school meetings for Headteachers and Chairs of Governors
  • attending headship shortlisting meetings and interviews and providing advice to governors
  • support with succession planning
  • “Leading a church school” training for aspiring Headteachers and those new to church schools
  • mentoring and coaching new Headteachers
  • handling the appointment and resignation of foundation governors
  • governor training including on monitoring and assessment
  • termly Chair of Governors’ forum
  • supporting partnerships between schools
  • general management advice to Headteachers on school improvement, staffing and wellbeing
  • support in working effectively with parents
  • annual church school leaders’ conference (1 November 2023)
  • supporting the Suffolk Learning Improvement Network through Sue Todd’s membership of the Programme Board.

For further information, please see our:

Foundation Governors page | Weblink 

Training and Events page | Weblink

Small schools

  • a Small Schools Forum for Headteachers and governors, meeting termly
  • advice on sustainability for small schools.

Training and Events page | Weblink

School effectiveness

  • training on Ofsted for Headteachers and governors
  • attendance at Ofsted feedback sessions where possible
  • classroom observations and work scrutiny, learning walks
  • advice on school improvement strategies
  • work with individual teachers to improve their quality of teaching
  • advice on Self Evaluation
  • brokering school to school support
  • action planning and School Improvement Planning
  • pupil perception interviews to inform strategic planning.

For more information, please see our:

Ofsted page | Weblink 

Academisation and federation

  • information and advice for those schools which are considering academisation and federation.

For more information, please see our:

Becoming an Academy | Weblink

Diocesan Multi Academy Trust | Weblink

Communications

  • newsletters twice a term for information
  • opportunity through newsletter to share good news and high profile stories
  • RE and Collective Worship newsletters.

Or visit our Diocesan website | Weblink

Page last updated: Friday 9th June 2023 10:46 AM
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