Month: February 2025

School News

On 6 February, Blue Coat CofE School & Music College celebrated its Diamond Anniversary with a special service at Coventry Cathedral. The service looked back on the 60 years since the school was established on its current site in 1964.

The Cathedral was packed with students, staff and special guests. It was a heartfelt celebration, featuring memories from past students, a look back with a history video and beautiful performances from the different school choirs, worship band and gospel choir. The service included the commissioning of Mrs. Lisa Henden as Headteacher by Revd. April Gold and preaching from Pastor Luke Williams (ex-student and Assistant Pastor at CLM Church) and rededication liturgy written by School Chaplain Lou Peet.

The morning concluded with a special ringing of the cathedral bells which coincided beautifully with sunshine streaming through the West Screen.

 

Bishop Sophie Confirmed as Bishop of Coventry

The Rt Revd Sophie Jelley has been confirmed as the new Bishop of Coventry by the Bishop of London in a service at Lambeth Palace in London on 14th February.

Read more on the Diocesan website here

 

New Prayer Resource

The DBE has produced a bank of collected prayers that would be useful in school for:

• For the Start of the New Academic Year
• Prayers and Blessings for the School
• Times of the School Day
• Times of the School Year
• Special Times and Difficult Times
• Action Prayers
• Staff and Governors’ Meetings

Find it on the DBE website under general resources and access with the usual password.

 

For the full Headlines newsletter contact joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org

 

School News

Lucy Jackson, Headteacher at Hampton Lucy CofE Primary School writes:

“As part of the RE curriculum the children have to investigate how beliefs and ideas are both shaped and expressed through text and art.  Our year 3 and 4 class took the opportunity to use Hampton Lucy Church to find out how views can be both shaped and expressed through art and architecture in our place of worship.

Our vicar, Reverend Linda Mac Dermot was on hand to answer questions from the children and the Verger, Mr Ali Speller shared his many years of knowledge.  This was a wonderful experience for the children with adults from the PCC adding support.

The children also had the opportunity to sketch parts of the church on a second visit to the church, look at artefacts and photographs.  These sketches will be used back in the classroom to illustrate the impression our church had on the children in a final piece of art work. Awe and wonder.”

 

News from the Diocese

 Read Bishop Sophie’s latest letter to the diocese which confirms the date of her Service of Installation and Welcome to be held at Coventry Cathedral.

Tim Sewards, churchwarden and school teacher, has written an article for the Diocese about the relationship between St Peter’s Church, Barford and their local school which he describes as a vital part of their church health. Read it here.

The process for the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury is underway and an extensive consultation exercise that will take place in February and March. Find out more here.

 

A Half Term Family Project to Help the Royal British Legion?

Later this year The Royal British Legion will be marking the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, as well as other key battles which brought an end to the Second World War.

They are in the process of developing learning content for schools and would like your help. They would like teachers to ask children in their classes to research their family stories and submit them to the RBL by 28 February.

What they are looking for:

• A description (maximum 50 words) explaining who the story is about (name, rank or role in the Armed Forces, what they did and where they were during the war.)
• A good quality photograph of the person the story is about. (This could be in their uniform, or after the conflict in their civilian life)

They are especially interested in hearing about where these people were on VE or VJ Day 1945.

A selection of the stories will be used in free teaching resources throughout the year, so please ensure the young people have permission to share the stories/photos before they submit them. Send your stories on a word document to teachingremembrance@britishlegion.org.uk by Fri 28 Feb

 

Are You Exploring the Role of AI Within Religion and Worldviews Education?

Culham St Gabriel’s is hosting an online symposium to bring together researchers and practitioners who are actively exploring the intersection of AI and religion and worldviews education. The event will be held on Monday 17 March, 2.00 –5.00pm.

Find out more here.

 

For the full Headlines newsletter contact joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org

 

 School News

Blue Coat CofE School, Coventry sent us this great photo of their year 7s engaging with the DBE’s termly pupil voice question…

 

Recorded CPD Now Available on the DBE Website

Just a reminder that this recently delivered and recorded CPD is available with the usual password on the DBE website resources page:

• Collective worship in a CofE school refresher (and ‘bite size’ version for staff meetings)
• Spirituality Short part 3 – ‘Others’
• SIAMS IQ5 – A Culture of Justice & Peace
• Implementing the New Agreed Syllabus with Understanding Christianity

 

Free Lent Collective Worship Resource from the Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust

This new free collective worship material for Lent ‘Living Hope’ is available now.

With 6 weeks of collective worship material, ‘Living Hope’ will take pupils on a journey through Lent reflecting on Jesus’ ministry and his message of hope for all people. This flexible resource can be used in the classroom, or in a church setting and you can use and adapt the material as best fits your school context.

It has been designed to run from the 24 Feb, in the 6 weeks before the school Easter holidays. However, Lent starts on Weds 5 March. The resource is flexible and you may wish to do all 6 weeks condensed into 4 weeks, or choose only 4 themes to deliver.

You can find out more and sign up here: www.abyyt.com/lent

 

To read the full Headlines newsletter contact joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org