Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year – a bit premature you may think, but I am of course referring to the start of the Church’s year. Advent Greetings to you all. I love Advent and the services that prepare us for the Christmas story. If you are hurrying Advent over (because the holidays are finally arrived, and who can blame you) may I encourage you to stop for a moment and dwell on the opportunity we are given in Advent to think about how ready we are for the arrival of Jesus and all that he could mean in our lives and work. If you’ve rarely attended an Advent service do pop along to one of our churches or Cathedrals and take that moment to ponder – all are welcome.
The autumn term is always a long one and this year it has felt no different – even if you took two weeks at half-term! Quite a number of our schools have experienced ‘new framework Ofsted’ this term and I think it is fair to say there are very mixed reactions. We will do some reviewing and will share our thoughts and findings in the Spring term. SIAMS has also been in evidence and we continue to ‘grow into’ the schedule.
My thanks is to all those schools who are now working closely with the DBE through our ESP and for the positive and generous feedback we are receiving on our work with you. It is good to be able to report over 83% of schools are now in that deeper relationship with us. The benefit of course is mutual and it is a delight to be able to share your good practice with others wherever we find it.
Finally, in whatever capacity you work or volunteer, thank you for all you have done for our schools this term. You continue to make a tremendous difference to the lives of our young people and their communities.
Happy Advent and when we do eventually get there a blessed Christmas and peaceful new year.
Diocesan Director of Education
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'Developing Challenging and Engaging RE' Conference 2020
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'Developing Challenging and Engaging RE' is a conference for all who teach RE and a significant fixture in our events program for 2020. With two outstanding keynotes delivered by Stephen Pett and Bob Hartman, as well as practical workshops from our additional speakers Mashuda Shaikh and Irfan Chishti for both Primary and Secondary sectors, this conference offers staff a wide range of ideas and strategies to develop excellent and inspiring RE.
The conference will be held at St. George's Conference Centre in Leeds city centre.
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We wish to appoint a highly motivated, talented and effective education professional to the post of School Adviser: Leadership (Primary). The successful applicant will contribute positively to our dynamic team, promoting educational excellence in our family of 241 Church schools and academies.
Your work will contribute to the furtherance of the Diocesan Strategy to support confident Christians, grow churches and to help transform all communities, underpinned by the values of loving, living and learning.
The post will offer opportunities for career development and the post holder will be encouraged to take a leading role in the formulation and delivery of Diocesan education policy and practice. The deadline for this vacancy is January 8th 2020.
For more information and to apply please
click here
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Does your school serve a multi-faith community?
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A number of our schools serve multi-faith communities and some serve a school population where the majority of pupils are from other world faiths. These schools are positively responding in different ways to their different communities but many of the questions raised or issues faced are the same.
In response to a request from schools we are inviting school leaders from these schools to come together
to a meeting on Monday 20th January at 1.30pm at Church House. This will be an opportunity to meet colleagues in similar contexts from across the Diocese and to share how schools are facing issues such as RSE, attendance matters and community cohesion.
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Hand to Mouth helps schools in various ways. They enable children to explore the Christian faith and values for themselves and give children the opportunity to reflect and take steps on their own spiritual journey – whatever faith they may have. Hand to Mouth provide a wide range of educational experiences that all tie into the Understanding Christianity syllabus, which will inspire and stimulate your children - covering Bible stories, moral issues, Christian celebrations, worship and more. From their Amazing Journeys, RE lessons, Collective Worship (led by puppets) to Godly Play, they have over 20 years of experience leading sessions which will cater for all needs. If it’s your adults who need spiritual direction and encouragement, Hand to Mouth run staff training too and if you need something a bit different, do get in touch.
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Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Education Resources
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Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2020 marks the 75
th
anniversary of the end of the Holocaust. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust provides excellent free resources for primary, secondary and SEN teachers to assist in leading assemblies, lessons, tutor time activities or creative projects. They include everything you need to get involved with Holocaust Memorial Day, whether you’ve marked it before or not.
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Bowes Hutchinson Named Teesdale School of the Year
Congratulations have been given to Chris Matthewman and the staff at Bowes Hutchinson Endowed Primary School who took home the award for Teesdale School of the Year 2019 at a ceremony in November. The annual awards, organised by the Teesdale Mercury in conjunction with Durham County Council, aim to recognise the unsung heroes of the dale. The Community Pride of Teesdale awards are sponsored by local businesses and voted for by the general public.
Trevor Brookes, editor of the Teesdale Mercury welcomed guests and said “We are here to brighten a winter’s evening by putting the spotlight on some of the unsung heroes in our community – their good deeds, kindness and determination... Teesdale has a wealth of people making a real difference to the communities around them.”
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School Recognised for Contribution to Raising Awareness of Environmental Issues
St Francis Xavier School, a joint Catholic and Church of England School for students aged 11 to 16, is educating its children in promoting eco-policies and a greener environment. Led by the School’s Business Manager, Mrs Land, there is an ever-growing body of students who call themselves ‘Eco-warriors’ and make up the school’s successful Eco-team. These young environmentalists have gained the attention of local Councils, the community, the Richmond (Yorks) MP Rishi Sunak, the Guardian newspaper, and most recently, have achieved the Sustainable School Project award from the Department for Education. Mrs Land, who picked up the award in Manchester was thrilled.
“I am so proud of these young people, who have been inspired to take forward the green agenda. We started in small ways such as litter picking, then worked towards making the school ‘plastic free’, and now have the Green Flag flying outside the school here in Richmond for all to see. There is also ‘Ronnie the Recyclist’ on display at the main roundabout in the town centre, made from disposable drinks bottles filled with plastic wrapping. Whilst we’ve achieved a lot, there is still more to do, and we are currently planning a green meadow space and have been invited to address the local council’s scrutiny committee.".
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Archbishop of York Visits Award Winning Cathedral Academy
Staff and students were delighted to welcome the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, to Cathedral Academy on 14th November. The Archbishop opened the day with a memorable Collective Worship as part of our Interfaith Week celebrations. He then had the opportunity to tour the school and engage in a number of lessons, including a singing lesson with CAPA Juniors, our unique performing arts provision.
Students taking part in the Archbishop of York Youth Trust's Young Leadership Award programme had an opportunity to ask the Archbishop a range of challenging and thought provoking questions about his daily life, personal challenges and his reasons for establishing the Young Leaders Award.
When reflecting on his visit, Iram said: “It was a great opportunity to be able to meet the Archbishop. The Archbishop taught us to persevere no matter what challenges we face. We should be the change we wish to see". “We learnt about the sacrifices you have to make to become an important leader said Ayesha. The Archbishop inspired us to keep chasing our dreams. He encouraged us to have faith in ourselves and to be ourselves.”
The Principal of the Academy, Rob Marsh said: ‘It was such a privilege to welcome the Archbishop to our academy. He was so engaging with students and staff. We all thoroughly enjoyed being in his presence and sharing in worship and other key activities – a fantastic and memorable experience for us all.’
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Stirling Fundraising Efforts at Todmorden J, I & N School
Todmorden J, I & N School, in the centre of Todmorden, West Yorkshire, has been growing in success for over 175 years, since it first opened in 1845. The school is situated between the park, cricket field and Christ Church graveyard. Because the school yard sits lower than the water table of Todmorden and the River Calder, it is often flooded and since September 2017 the school has flooded five times. It was also heavily hit in the 2015 Boxing Day floods. The amount of flood water over time has left the school yard looking tired and worn.
Like many schools Todmorden has an ever tightening budget, but they are keen for their children to have an inspirational, fresh, lovely playground. Their aim is to have a playground with safe drains, new tarmac, safe gates, nice seating areas, dry areas under canopy and playground furniture that makes it a fun place to be.
In September 2019 the school launched a fund-raising campaign to support a bid for grant funding for the playground and have asked the community and parents to support them with this. The Headteacher, Alice Leadbitter, says they have been totally blown away by the support they have received with over £3,800 raised in the space of a term. This has been achieved through some school events such as a portrait sale, a school disco and market stall but has also been really well supported by families arranging their own events outside of school. Two children have sold honey from their family’s honey business, four children have undertaken a sponsored walk to Stoodley Pike and one child has even donated their birthday money to the cause. We will continue to endeavour with our fund-raising and hopefully our dream for a new playground will become a reality! We send our congratulations to everyone involved at Todmorden for their sterling efforts and wish them well in achieving their dream.
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Ilkley Schools Engage with Rewind to Christmas at All Saints Church
Last week the annual Rewind to Christmas event was held as All Saints church in Ilkey. This in an event which has ran for many years and has always been a fantastic, shared experience within the community. Rewind is a schools based event where all Year 5’s from local primary schools are invited to take part. This year a staggering 160 children from 4 schools joined in for the event, where the story of the first Christmas and what it all means was retold. The beauty of Rewind to Christmas is that it is a high energy event, with a mixture of leader led, video led, drama, and group activities all contributing to the telling of the first Christmas story and what it means for us now.
Rewind is a great opportunity for bringing the school communities together to learn and enjoy the Christmas story together in this wonderful time of Advent. This mix of schools coming together is fantastic. There is something special about bringing schools and children together and engaging with the story of Christmas, it is what makes Rewind a brilliant experience and really adds to the event of the whole day.
If you would like to know more about events happening at All Saints church please
click here.
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If you have examples of best practice you would like to share, please
email
them to us.
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For a full list of training, events and professional support please see your Enhanced Service Plan booklet, available
online
.
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RE Matters Networking: Primary Schools
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15th January 2020 - Afternoon - Baildon Church of England Primary School, Baildon
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Governor Development Programme
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15th January 2020 - Church House, Leeds
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Crossing the Threshold: Collective Worship Development Day
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22nd January 2020 - Church House, Leeds
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RE Matters Networking: Primary Schools
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23rd January 2020 - St. Andrew's Church of England Junior School, Brighouse
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Subject Knowledge Series: Teaching Islam
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30th January 2020 - Church House, Leeds
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New SIAMS Framework for Senior Leaders & Governors
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13th February 2020 - Church House, Leeds
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RE Conference: Developing Challenging and Engaging RE
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27th February 2020 - St. George's Conference Centre, Leeds
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"
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord
"
Luke 2:11
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During a recent trip to London, I visited St Martin-in-the-Fields, which has a very prominent location by Trafalgar Square. All of life is there! I happened to descend the stairs to their crypt area where there is an excellent café, other gathering spaces and the inevitable shop (I didn’t see any evidence of so-called ‘Black Friday’ thankfully). When you reach the bottom of the stair-well you immediately encounter their nativity scene, which is quite large but interestingly it is most effectively viewed from the perspective of a child (as an adult you have to bend down or get on your knees to see it). I was in the process of taking a photograph of it, when I was joined by a group of people, possibly a family who were delighting in seeing it. A woman asked the question: ‘where’s Jesus?’ (the crib was empty). I turned to them and said, ‘he hasn’t been born yet, but he’s on his way!’ We all laughed together.
I do find myself thinking every year that we are in such a rush in the run-up to Christmas. I’ve even seen hot cross buns for sale in some supermarkets! Stories have a powerful way of enduring however, and I have no doubt that over Christmas our churches and Cathedrals will once again fill with people seeking to engage with the mystery and wonder of Jesus’ birth once more. But before Christmas Day, it is mostly in our schools that the Christmas story will once more be proclaimed with nativity plays and carol services aplenty. I wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas, and a peaceful and purposeful 2020.
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The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley
Bishop of Ripon
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© Anglican Diocese of Leeds, 2019
Diocesan Education team
Church House, 17-19 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2EX
0113 200 0540
info.ed@leeds.anglican.org
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