17th July 2026
Diocesan Service Agreement and CPD Programme 26-27
Thank you to those schools and MATs who have already returned their DSA subscription forms. The CPD programme of events and training can be found here.
Do ensure that the date of the DBE’s Annual Conference in your diaries – Wednesday 25 November at Ashorne Hill Conference Centre. More details will be sent out in the autumn term.
The Legacy of Alive – New Video
It is just over three years since the Alive Praise Party brought together 9,000 Key Stage 2 children from CofE schools across Coventry Diocese. If you would like a reminder, you can find out more here. Since then, the DBE’s partnership with iSingPop has continued to grow and is now entering its fourth year! The impact of this partnership in our schools is highlighted in a new 5 min video filmed with staff and pupils from Radford Semele CofE Primary here.
iSingPop POP Box Training for Pupils – Autumn Term
iSingPOP have 2 POP boxes, ‘The Life of Jesus’ and ‘Heroes of the Old Testament’ and they are starting to pilot a new resource called The Belonging Box.
The Belonging Box can be used as a follow on from the Difference course for schools or in Sunday school. It can also be used before starting or alongside the course.
This resource enables children to cultivate an environment of belonging, through 5 scripture-based sessions. Each session has elements of story, song and discussion to allow your group to explore different values of belonging. The final element is a Belonging Celebration that you can put on in school or at church! Pupils can fully lead this concert-style showcase for friends and family too!
Each session has been designed to give opportunities of pupil voice and creativity. The elements of each session have the windows mirrors doors framework in mind. Looking at the bible, reflecting on the values and thinking about the takeaway action.
Emma Stevens will come in to train 8-12 KS2 pupils over 3 weeks on how they might lead collective worship, using any of the 3 resources you decide.
Availability is from the week commencing the 14 September onwards.
• 8-12 children from KS2 (Less is doable, but these numbers are a ‘sweet spot’)
• 3 sessions across 3 weeks, an hour long across lunch time, eating lunch together before exploring using the resources.
• Week 1: Getting to know the POP Box, what’s it for, what can be done with it, example of an assembly using discussion questions, Bible story and a song or two!
• Week 2: Training on a Class Worship using the POP Box, giving out roles, children start to lead the game, discussion and script.
• Week 3: Training on an Assembly using the POP Box, swapping roles for some variation, practicing leading a collective worship assembly using story, and dance.
• Optional extra: Leading a collective worship assembly in school all with the support of Emma and member from the parish/school.
Contact Emma to arrange your dates (and be quick as Emma is very popular and books up very quickly!) Emma.Stevens@isingpop.com
This is free as part of the Diocesan iSingPop partnership.
National Society for Education – Leaders Like Us – Applications are now open for Participants and Mentors
Launched in 2023, Leaders Like Us is a multi-faceted programme for aspiring senior leaders from UKME/ GMH backgrounds with the aim of enabling them to progress to headship. It is open to UKME aspiring headteachers in all English schools.
The Leaders Like Us programme is an 18 month learning journey which incorporates training, shadowing, mentoring and networking.
Please do pass the link on to colleagues you think might be interested in either participating or mentoring.
More information here: https://www.nse.org.uk/foundation-for-educational-leadership/leaders-like-us