Month: May 2025

Service of Welcome and Installation of Bishop Sophie Jelley

Just a reminder that Headteachers are invited to attend Bishop Sophie’s Service of Welcome and Installation which will take place at Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 7 June at 2pm.

 

Flourishing for All: Anti-Bullying Guidance – Update

The National Society’s Curriculum and Inclusion team have published Part C to add to the existing Anti-bullying Guidance for CofE schools document.

This addition has focused on how schools can be both proactive and reactive towards race-based bullying. The guidance provides a theological, legal and social basis for work towards building cultures that celebrate rather than erase difference.

 

A Richer Encounter with Parables of Jesus – RE Subject Knowledge CPD – Coming up after Half Term

Two sessions- Tues 10 June and Weds 25 June – 16.00-17.00

Live and Recorded. (Community Schools can attend at a cost of £30 and will also receive the recordings).

Session 1 – 10 June

In this CPD session Jen Jenkins will share some helpful teacher subject knowledge around the parables of Jesus that are included in the new Coventry and Warwickshire RE Agreed Syllabus. This will support teachers in understanding the historical-social context of the parables, as well as some important points regarding theology and hermeneutics for anybody teaching these as part of their RE lessons

Session 2 – 25 June

Too often when exploring the parables, primary pupils are directed to a single, incontestable ‘correct’ meaning. In this session Dr Ryan Parker will share principles and an exemplification of a richer, more scholarly approach to teaching the parables which helped students grapple with diverse interpretations of a parable and consider why different people, including themselves, interpret these texts in different ways. This session will give time to consider how we might use these principles to inform high-quality engagement with sacred texts in primary RE.

Ryan Parker is a Diocesan RE adviser, following a number of years in primary and middle school settings. He recently completed a PhD at the University of Birmingham, focussing on knowledge-rich textual enquiry in primary RE. He also hosts the ‘Flourishing Together’ podcast series which has a focus on high-quality RE.

Book here to attend live or just receive the recordings (or both).

 

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

 

Next Week’s Headteacher Termly Briefing – Book Now to Attend or Receive the Recording  

Thursday 22 May – 14.00-15.30 on Zoom

Agenda

• Opening Reflection and DBE Update – Revd April Gold
• Beacon School Support – Simon Currigan, Founder
• Update from the Deputy Diocesan Director of Education – Georgina Newton
• Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) at St Paul’s CofE Primary, Nuneaton – Lindsay Eardley Headteacher
• Spotlight slot for top tips and best practice – Beacon 2 project – Lindsey Oscroft and Kim Ballard, Fosse MAT
• Closing Comments and Prayer

Book here.

 

CEO Recruitment News from Fosse MAT

Fosse MAT are delighted to announce the appointment of David Briggs as Chief Executive Officer of Fosse Multi-Academy Trust. David will take over from Lindsey Oscroft in September following her retirement. David is currently the Director of Primary Education at the Discovery Schools Trust in Leicestershire and has held previous roles as Headteacher at Clifton upon Dunsmore Church of England Primary School in our Diocese and Executive Headteacher at Kibworth Church of England Primary School.

 

‘God and the Big Bang’ for your Year 5/6 Pupils – Coventry Cathedral Tues 08 July

Watch the 2 min video promo here.

To find out more about the work of God and the Big Bang go to their website here: https://gatbb.co.uk/

To book places email: contact@gatbb.co.uk

 

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

 

This Term’s DBE Pupil Voice Question…

If you want to take part, we are using the ‘Smart Schools Council’ programme to email this question for your pupils to answer:
“What does it feel like to pray?”

Forward the class meeting link to the lead teacher and follow the prompts!

 

Still Have Questions About the New Agreed RE Syllabus? Pre-Recorded RE CPD Available

Do look out for the RE CPD sessions on the DBE website resources page. Accessible with the usual password. You’ll find the slides, recording and associated resources.

 

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

School News

In the last week of term before Easter, St Gabriel’s CofE Academy in Rugby had a 3 day bespoke main event hosted by Emma Kenyon from iSingPop. Emma worked with the Head, RE lead, Clergy and Foundation Governors to produce an Easter themed event which focussed on the school’s Christian Vision, “Communicating love, inspiring our community to flourish”.

Teaching sessions with the Year 3 and 4 Classes delivered the Easter story infused with the values of Love, Community and Flourishing. Sessions were supported by the local clergy and foundation governors. The local parish provided prayer stations focussed on the 3 values within the school vision and all children in the school had the opportunity to spend some time in the week reflecting and interacting with the prayer stations. The photos here show the completed boards. On the Thursday and Friday evening Years 3 and 4 performed for parents and carers, singing, dancing and re-telling the story of Easter.

If you would like to have a bespoke event tailored to your values and vision please get in touch with Emma Kenyon to discuss.

SIAMS News

Congratulations to staff and governors in the following schools on their recent SIAMS inspections. They were all found to be living up to their foundation as Church schools, enabling pupils and adults to flourish.

Alveston CofE Primary
Southam St James CofE Academy
Tysoe CofE Primary

Upcoming CPD This Term…

RE Clinic – live event 06 May 16.30-17.30 on Zoom
These half-termly sessions facilitated by Jen Jenkins are not recorded purposely to allow RE teachers to freely ask questions or raise any particular challenges in the implementation or teaching of the New RE Agreed Syllabus. No need to stay for the whole hour if you wish to just ‘drop in’ to ask a question.

Headteacher Termly Briefing – live and recorded event
22 May – 14.00-15.30 on Zoom

SIAMS Termly Update – Live and recorded session – 04 June 16.30pm to 17.30
These termly sessions, lead by Jen Jenkins, are intended to support those schools who are due for inspection in the next two years.

RE Leads Celebration Event Weds 18 June – Venue near Stratford upon Avon – 14.00-16.00
Come for tea and cake and join in sharing good practice at the end of a year of Implementing the New Agreed Syllabus.

A Richer Encounter with Parables of Jesus – RE Subject Knowledge
Live and Recorded – 10 June and 25 June – 16.00-17.00
In these CPD sessions Jen Jenkins will joined by Dr Ryan Parker to share some helpful teacher subject knowledge and practical application around the parables of Jesus that are included in the new Coventry and Warwickshire RE Agreed Syllabus.

See Professional Development Page to book

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