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.
Also for information about CofE NPQs.
Courses 2024-2025
An overview of our training provision for the summer term 2025, by subject and date, is available below:
Courses by subject | PDF
Courses by date | PDF
Also available:
Courses for Governors (Governor training will be free from April 2025) | PDF
Courses on RE and CW | PDF
| New to church schools | November TBA, 4.00 - 5.00pm |
Courses for the summer term (all via Zoom unless stated)
April 2025
| Being a Governor in church schools | Monday 28 April, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
May 2025
| New to Teaching RE | Tuesday 20 May, 9.30am - 12.00pm |
June 2025
| Inspirational Collective Worship | Tuesday 3 June, 9.30am - 12.00pm |
| SIAMS: are you ready? | Wednesday 11 June, 9.30am - 3.00pm |
| Leading a church school: Part 2 | Tuesday 10 June, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
| Annual RE Subject Leader Update | Wednesday 25 June, 9.30am - 12.00pm |
| Monitoring for Governors | Tuesday 1 July, 4.00 - 5.30pm |
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 Heads' Forum in the summer term will be on:
- 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 Chairs' Forum in the summer term will be on:
- 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 and CW leaders and teachers are invited to join this free termly network to discuss RE and Collective Worship. The next network meeting will take place on
- Monday 30 June at 4pm at Great Finborough CEVCP school.
For any queries, 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 next forum will be in the autumn term, date to follow.
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 summer term's Forum takes place on:
- 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.
Annual Church School Leaders' Conference
A highlight of our year is our annual church school leaders’ conference for Headteachers, Deputies, Chairs and Governors. Last year's Conference held on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at the Salvation Army, Stowmarket had a great line-up of speakers. Cathy Priest from the Faraday Institute https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/ spoke 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/ spoke 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 spoke about the impact of coaching on leadership and teaching.
The date for this year's conference is Thursday 13 November 2025 at Ip-City, Ipswich. Further details to follow.
This is 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 Big Spring Sing took place on Tuesday 1 April 2025 and over 500 pupils and adults from 15 church primary schools filled the cathedral. This special service was organised by the Diocesan education team in partnership with Christian Aid. The theme was Easter hope. The children sang songs specially commissioned by Christian Aid to raise awareness of issues of global justice. Pupils from six of the schools also spoke how they are taking action to tackle injustice, some leading prayers and some singing a special rap! Alex Cassidy from Christian Aid spoke about the charity’s vital work in creating a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. Founded 80 years ago in the aftermath of the Second World War, Christian Aid continues to provide long term development support as well as emergency relief across the world.
Further information about the Big Sing is available from: Big Spring Sing landing page - Christian Aid. The date for next year's Big Sing will follow shortly. For any queries, please contact Rachel Cutts, rachel.cutts@cofesuffolk.org or Jacqui Studd, jacqui.studd@cofesuffolk.org
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. For any queries, please contact Rachel Cutts, rachel.cutts@cofesuffolk.org or Jacqui Studd, jacqui.studd@cofesuffolk.org
For any queries about our courses or events, please contact Jacqui Studd.