How can our church be involved with local primary schools?Esther Chilvers |
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As Christians, we are people with a real, active faith in God that impacts on the way in which we choose to live. This means that we have something unusual and special to offer to our local schools. We are ‘experts’ in what it’s like to believe in Jesus and how this influences our lives. We are primary sources about the Christian faith! Our local church communities therefore have a very real opportunity to be of service to our local schools. What a privilege! It is true that many state schools have become increasingly secular over the years. The school day no longer begins and ends with prayer. However, contrary to the rumour that children are no longer to be taught about Christianity, there are many opportunities and requirements for children in primary schools to find out about the Christian faith. We need to be aware of these requirements and of the sensitivities that surround Religious Education and Collective Worship. (Guidance from the government has been set out very clearly in Circular no 1/94 Religious Education and Collective worship (DFE).) The
non-statutory framework for RE in England states that:
We should be encouraged by the emphasis that the framework puts as it highlights the importance of RE in the development of the whole child. You can find more information here. See also the website Better RE. Collective Worship is also seen to be integral in this development. ‘Daily collective worship is a legal requirement for England's schools’ , ‘Government guidelines suggest just over half of the year's worship should be Christian, with the remaining 49% concerning other faiths. However, schools can opt out of the Christian aspect if the background of pupils would make it inappropriate. Likewise, parents can withdraw their pupils from collective worship without giving a reason.’ (See School Standards and Framework Act 1998) Is there a community who is better equipped to lead school communities imaginatively and sensitively in Christian acts of worship than Christians? Of course not! How can this be done well? How can we get involved? How can we develop good links between the church and local schools? How are positive relationships formed? How can we help children to develop in their understanding of Christianity and our faith without upsetting teachers and ruining the reputation of the church and other Christians?
What should I find out about before contacting a school? How do I make my first contact with a school? How can I get involved in the school community? How can I plan an effective collective worship time? Some useful resources:
Barnabas in Schools has an ‘ideas’ section
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