Our courses – and we run about forty every year focus around those aspects of education that are distinctive within a Church school setting.
Please see below for further details about our training provision, Forums and Events planned for the next academic year. Also for information about CofE NPQs.
Courses 2024-2025
An overview of our training provision for 2024-2025, by subject and date, is available below:
Courses by subject | PDF
Courses by date | PDF
Also available:
Courses for Governors | PDF
Courses on RE and CW | PDF
Courses for the autumn term (all via Zoom unless stated) - please click on the course title for further details:
September 2024
| New to admissions | TBC, 4.00 - 5.00pm |
| Being a Governor | Monday 30 September, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
October 2024
| New to church schools | Tuesday 8 October, 4.00 - 5.00pm |
| Friday 11 October, 12.30 - 4.00pm | |
| New to teaching RE | Thursday 17 October, 9.30am - 12.00pm |
| Leading a church school: Part 1 | Tuesday 22 October, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
| RE and Collective Worship Network | Wednesday 23 October, 3.45pm (see below) |
| Administrators' wellbeing | TBC - further information to follow |
November 2024
| SEND for Governors | Tuesday 19 November, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
| Ofsted | Thursday 28 November, 4.00 - 5.30pm - further information to follow |
December 2024
| Monitoring for governors | Wednesday 4 December, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
Headteacher Recruitment - Wednesday 15 January, 4.00 - 5.30pm
RE and Collective Worship for foundation governors - Thursday 6 February
Assessment for Governors - Wednesday 26 February
Spiritual development in primary schools - Wednesday 12 March
Inspirational CW - Tuesday 3 June
Effective HT PM - Thursday 19 June
Annual RE Subject Leader Update - Wednesday 25 June
Headteachers' Forum
The Forum is held termly and aims to provide an opportunity for Heads to meet to discuss issues and challenges in schools. The dates for Heads' Forums in 2024-25:
- Monday 23 September 2024
- Tuesday 14 January 2025
- Thursday 1 May 2025
Forums are held 1.30 - 2.30pm via Zoom.
For any queries or to book on any of the above, please contact Jacqui Studd, tel:01473 298570.
Chairs of Governors Forum
The Forum is held termly and aims to provide an opportunity for Chairs to meet to discuss issues and challenges in schools. The dates for Chairs' Forums in 2024-25:
- Tuesday 26 November 2024
- Wednesday 19 March 2025
- Thursday 26 June 2025
Forums are held 4.00 - 5.00pm via Zoom.
For any queries or to book on any of the above, please contact Jacqui Studd, tel:01473 298570.
RE and Collective Worship Network
RE leaders and teachers are invited to join this free termly network to discuss RE and Collective Worship - the next network meeting is Wednesday 23 October at 3.45pm via Zoom. To book, please contact Jacqui Studd
Admissions Forum
This forum is usually held in the autumn and spring terms and provides an opportunity for those involved with school admissions to meet to discuss issues and be kept updated. The dates for Admission Forums in 224-25:
- Thursday 10 October 2024
- Thursday 16 January 2025
Forums are held 4.00 - 5.00pm via Zoom.
For any queries on admissions, please contact Jacqui Studd, tel:01473 298570.
Small Schools Forum
This Forum is aimed at Heads, Chairs and Governors in small schools and meets termly. The dates for Chairs' Forums in 2024-25:
- Monday 21 October 2024
- Tuesday 25 February 2025
- Monday 9 June 2025.
Forums are held 4.00 - 5.00pm via Zoom.
For any queries or to book, please contact Jacqui Studd, tel:01473 298570.
Events 2024-2025
Annual Church School Leaders' Conference
A highlight of our year is our annual church school leaders’ conference for Headteachers, Deputies, Chairs and Governors. The date for this year's Conference is Wednesday 6 November 2024 from 9.30am to 4pm at the Salvation Army, Stowmarket. We have a great line-up of speakers. Cathy Priest from the Faraday Institute https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/ will speak about “Integrating science and religion in the classroom”. The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion is a Cambridge-based interdisciplinary research institute improving public understanding of religious beliefs in relation to the sciences. Revd Dr Tom Wilson, Director at the St Philip’s Centre, Leicester https://www.stphilipscentre.co.uk/ will speak about “Refilling the Reservoir of Hope”. The St Philip’s Centre works with communities to help people to live well together, bringing people together and running courses and programmes with churches and schools. Given the divisions in society highlighted by the riots over the summer, the work of the centre has never been more important. Janita Betts, Headteacher of St John’s CEVAP, Ipswich will speak about the impact of coaching on leadership and teaching.
Schools which have subscribed to our subscription scheme are entitled to one discounted place at £60. Additional places cost £120 per person.
The closing date for bookings is 18 October 2024. To book or for any queries, please contact Jacqui Studd. As lunch will be provided, please do advise of any dietary requirements.
Big Sing
A new event, in partnership with Christian Aid, to raise awareness of their work and to help raise funds. It is an opportunity for pupils to come together in our beautiful cathedral to sing together and to share stories of how they are learning about global justice and becoming courageous advocates. The date for the next Big Sing is Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 10.30am. Further details to follow.
Diocesan Service of Celebration for Church Schools
Our annual service to celebrate the work of church schools will take place on Monday 23 June 2025 at the Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds at 1.30pm. Further details to follow.
NPQs
In conjunction with the Church of England, the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi Academy Trust is offering the following Church of England NPQs:
| Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM) | 12 months |
| NPQ for SENCO (NPQSEND) | 18 months |
For further information for each NPQ, please click on the NPQ title above.
Why complete your NPQ with the Church of England?
- Accredited and fully funded by the DFE. In addition, the DfE will now pay £800 to schools with 1-150 pupils on roll for each participant on an NPQ programme.
- Gain a nationally recognised qualification.
- Experience a great balance of sessions with some online to support your workload and some delivered locally in small groups.
- Think deeply about leading in a values-led way, whether or not you work in a church school or currently have links to our diocese.
- Build your local networks and relationships with school leaders near you, who really understand what teaching is like in our area.
All courses are a combination of online webinars, self-study and face-to-face sessions. They are underpinned by recent research, and allow participants to embed this into their own practice and policies. The Church of England NPQs also benefit from small group coaching sessions, which further explore participants' learning.
Face to face sessions are held in either Norwich, Ipswich or Wetheringsett.
The deadline for applications for cohort 7, starting in November 2024 is 27 September 2024.
For more information and to apply, please visit:
Church of England NPQ | Weblink
NPQ Flyer | PDF
For queries about the NPQs, please contact Heather Hann
For any queries about our courses or events, please contact Jacqui Studd.