What are the Board’s responsibilities?
The functions of the DBE are:
- to promote or assist in the promotion of education in the diocese consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England;
- to promote or assist in the promotion of religious education and religious worship within church schools;
- to promote or assist in the promotion of church schools within the diocese, and to advise the governors and trustees of church educational endowments and any other body or person concerned on any matter affecting church schools within the diocese;
- to promote co-operation between the Board and bodies or persons concerned in any respect with education within the diocese.
The powers of the DBE are:
- the organisation of church schools (eg, opening/closing schools, acquiring faith designation, change of category, converting to academy status)
- consent for physical alterations and work to premises for specific categories of church school
- to provide direction to governing bodies and trustees in specific circumstances
- to provide consultation procedures for admission arrangements
What is the role of a DBE Member?
To seek to serve and equip our schools, academies and churches to ensure:
- a generous and excellent Christian education which is both distinctive and inclusive;
- sustainability and growth;
- partnership working to transform communities.
To take seriously their responsibility to ensure high quality:
- leadership, management and governance;
- curriculum innovation with ambitious standards;
- inspirational school buildings and facilities;
- sustainable community transformation.
A commitment to working in partnership with others to:
- provide world class education that is aspirational and motivational;
- ensure that every child, young person and adult within the diocesan family receives; every opportunity to flourish and fulfil their God given potential.
To contribute to the DBE as the ‘foundation body’ which:
- holds statutory responsibilities;
- appoints Foundation Governors;
- offers advice and guidance in relation to significant areas including governance, admissions, Christian distinctiveness and ethos.
Declarations of Interest and Eligibility
Charities law requires trustees and managers to declare any conflicts of interest or other business interests. Below are the declared interests and eligibility of the DBE Members:
Bishop Sophie Jelley: Trustee, Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance
Mr Mike Draper (Chair): Finance and Investment Committee, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
Revd Tim Cockell: Trustee, Coventry Diocesan Trustees
Ven Barry Dugmore: Director, Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance Limited; Trustee, Together for Change
Revd Greg Bartlem: Member, FOSSE Multi Academy Trust; Trustee, Reverend Richard Boyse’s Educational Foundation; Trustee, The PCC of St Peter’s Church, Wellesbourne
Mrs Emma Griffiths: Reconciliation Learning Lead, Coventry Cathedral; General Manager, PYROLEC Ltd (Fire Engineering Solutions)
Revd Andy March: Committee, Coventry Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship; Trustee, The PCC of St Christopher’s Coventry
Mrs Janet Pringle: Chair of Governors, St Paul’s CofE School
Revd Kate Pellereau: Governor, St Laurence’s CofE School; Trustee, Wycliffe Hall Oxford
Ms Sharon Jones: Self-employed education consultant and specialist teacher/assessor
Mr Peter Merrylees: Vice-chair and Foundation Governor, Blue Coat CofE Academy and Music School; School Business Manager, Discovery Academy
