Author: Joanne Evans

DBE News – Vacancy for Interim Church School Foundation Officer

The DBE are looking to recruit someone who will help our church schools flourish in a deeply christian foundation, serving the common good through a vision of wisdom, hope, community, and dignity.

Do you know an experienced church school middle leader who has a good understanding of the SIAMS framework? 

Are they passionate about holistic education and spiritual development? 

Do they have a vision for collective worship as the heartbeat of a Church school? 

Do they want to make a meaningful impact across the Diocese? 

Please do pass on this link to colleagues who you think may be interested in the role to find out more and how to apply.

Contract: 1 year in the first instance (01.09.26 to 31.08.27)

Hours: 14 hours per week, term time only. Working pattern negotiable.

Salary: L5 0.4 FTE

Location: Wolston, Coventry

Closing Date: 13 May 2026 at 9.00am

Interviews: 19 May 2026

Start Date: 01 September 2026

 

New RE Resources from the National Society – Christianity as a Global World Faith

• Weds 20 May – 09:30 – 12:00
• In person event at a venue near Wawick
• For primary and secondary RE Leads
• Resources are free once the training is complete

This National Society resource aims to work together with Understanding Christianity to challenge the Eurocentric vision of Christianity and celebrate the infinite translatability we can find in the diversity that exists within the Christian Faith. Through this session you will be able to access both the excellent training programme for schools as well as all the resources. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese.

Find out more from the NSE here. Book your place here.

 

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

 

 

Senior Leaders’ Wellbeing Lunch

“Opting to pause and reflect is a necessity, not a luxury.”

Wolfe, 2025

Weds 10 June – 09:30 arrival for a 10:00 start.

Coombe Abbey, Coventry.

These facilitated lunch meetings are for Headteachers to have a safe space over lunch where they can talk to each other in confidence and in a spirit of collegiate support. If you can’t attend, please do send a senior colleague to take advantage of this space.

Booking is essential – please register here by Friday 08 May.

 

Chorister Open Evening at Coventry Cathedral

Tuesday 19 May 2026

We encourage families to attend our Chorister Open Evening to find out more and experience cathedral music first‑hand.

Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026

Time: 16:30–18:30

Venue: Coventry Cathedral

Who can attend: Boys & Girls currently in school Years 2–6

For children who love to sing, becoming a chorister at Coventry Cathedral can be a truly life‑shaping experience. Our choristers receive outstanding musical training, sing regularly in the Cathedral’s worship, and grow in confidence, teamwork, and leadership – all within a welcoming and inclusive community. We warmly welcome children of all backgrounds, schools and faiths. You do not need to be ‘religious’ to apply – only a love of singing and a commitment to the life and values of the Cathedral.

More information here and on the Cathedral website.

 

Year 6 Transition Resources

Year 6 Transition sessions are available on the DBE website under general resources accessible with the normal password.

‘Growing Beyond Your Roots: Transitioning from Primary to Secondary’ has 9 hour-long sessions, teacher notes, PowerPoint presentations and a pupil reflective journal with a church school focus.

 

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

 

School News

From ‘Banter’ to Belonging

Kim Ballard, Fosse MAT’s Inclusion Lead and SENDco for Wellesbourne CofE Primary shares how they transformed ‘banter’ into belonging through honest conversations, anti‑racism workshops, and courageous staff leadership through a microgrant from the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative.

Read the full story here. Find out more about how your school can apply for a grant here.

 

Wolvey CofE Primary Unveils Community-Crafted ‘Wolvey Wolf’ Sculpture

On 24 March Wolvey CofE Primary School was proud to celebrate the unveiling of its unique Wolvey Wolf sculpture – a powerful symbol of identity, inclusion and community collaboration.

The striking piece was created in partnership with Jake Bowers, a well-renowned Gypsy artist and filmmaker, who worked closely with pupils to bring their vision to life. Back in September, children had the opportunity to take part in a hands-on creative process, including using a forge to help design elements of the sculpture. This immersive experience enabled pupils to connect with traditional craft techniques while expressing their own ideas and heritage through art.

The sculpture is also rooted in the school’s Wolvey Wolf Values, which underpin daily life at Wolvey CofE Primary:

• W – Work hard
• O – Outstanding behaviour
• L – Learning new things
• F – Friendship and kindness

These values are embodied in both the creative process and the final piece, reflecting the dedication, curiosity and strong relationships seen across the school community.

The project reflects the school’s deep commitment to celebrating its diverse community and its Christian Vision ‘…Among us you are all equal…’ Galatians 3:28. Wolvey is particularly proud of its strong representation of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children. The school’s GRT cohort accounts for 65% of Rugby District’s GRT pupils and 32% of all primary-aged GRT children across Warwickshire – a significant and valued part of the school’s identity.

The importance of this work has also been recognised nationally. Representatives from the DfE visited the school to film and showcase how Wolvey is supporting children and families from GRT backgrounds. The visit highlighted the school’s inclusive ethos, its focus on building strong relationships with families, and its commitment to ensuring every child feels valued and supported.

The sculpture now stands as a lasting reminder of the creativity, heritage and unity that define Wolvey CofE Primary School.

 

Getting Ready for SIAMS 

• Weds 29 April – 09:30 – 11:30
• In person at a venue near Warwick
• For all leaders involved with SIAMS and Christian Distinctiveness
• A recorded version of this training will also be available.

This training will be particularly helpful for those schools who are expecting a visit from SIAMS in the next 2 years. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese and will explore the key inspection questions as well as the latest updates from the annual report. Keith will focus on key preparation such as what your website should contain and creating an effective SIAMS SEF.

This training replaces the previously advertised sessions that were scheduled for March. Book here.

 

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

 

School News

Sandra Sutherland, the Headteacher at All Saints CofE Junior in Warwick and colleague Liz Garrett have just come back from visiting link primary schools in Bo, Sierra Leone.

Liz, the RE Lead, has visited several times as part of the One World Link (OWL) charity. OWL schools in Leamington and Warwick fundraise to pay the salary of a worker who is employed through Educaid to develop teaching and learning in schools.

Whilst there, they shared friendship from schools in Warwick and Leamington as well as the message of the Coventry Cross of Nails. This included a trip to St George’s Cathedral in Freetown which is also a member of the global community of Cross of Nails.

 

Congratulations to staff and governors at Wolvey CofE Primary who had their SIAMS inspection last month. It was found to be living up to their foundation as a Church school, enabling pupils and adults to flourish. You can read their report here.

Wolvey has a unique and diverse pupil cohort with a third from Nepalese families based at the local military base, Gamecock Barracks, and a quarter of all Gypsy/Roma/Traveller children in Warwickshire attending the school. Their Christian vision is ‘…Among us you are all equal…’ (Galatians 3:28) which means that respect and celebration for diversity and difference is a way of life, and new pupils quickly establish a deep sense of belonging. One of their notable strengths was that “Leaders are inspirational in their vision to be a beacon of ‘equality and excellence’. This empowers staff to be relentless in their support for a richly diverse school community, enabling pupils to flourish.”

 

Do You Need to Develop Pupils’ Understanding of Christianity as a Global and Diverse Faith?

This CPD session from the DBE will explore a bespoke training package that can then be used to train your teachers. ‘Christianity as a Global World Faith’ is a brand-new resource that aims to work together with Understanding Christianity to challenge the Eurocentric vision of Christianity.

The session will look at how this might fit within your current curriculum that meets the expectations of SIAMS and the new Statement of Entitlement. There will be time to go through the resources to consider an action plan for your school.  It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese.

• Weds 20 May – 09:30 – 12:00
• In person event at a venue near Warwick
• For primary and secondary RE Leads
• Free to DSA subscribers
• Resources are free once the training is complete

Book your place here.

 

Growing Faith Foundation – Do You Have a Story of an Amazing Young Leader?

The CofE Growing Faith Foundation is in the development stage of The Flourishing Young Leaders Award (FYLA) which is a new pupil leadership programme in development at the NSE. As part of these resources for schools (at KS2 & KS3) they want to include inspiring real-life stories of children and young people as leaders.

Do you know of any young leaders who took initiative, started something new and brought positive change to their school, church or community?

If so, please let them know here where more details are provided. (Link closes on Friday 27 March)

 

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

 

School News

Harris CofE Academy has banned mobile phones to change school life for the better.

ITV News spent two days at the school at the beginning of the year to find out how transformative the ban has been.

At 08.50am everyday students must lock their phones away in lockable pouches and the phones must remain locked away until the end of the school day. Random checks using a metal detector are carried out throughout the day to ensure the phones remain locked away. Assistant Head, John Naylor, says that the ban has had a “huge impact” and “allowed students to get their childhoods back.”

The students themselves agree. One student said, “Everyone’s got a big attachment to their phone, so no one really wanted to get rid of it. But overall, no one’s complaining now it’s settled down, and everyone’s starting to really enjoy the phone ban, because it increases everyone’s social interactions.”

The students themselves agree. One student said, “Everyone’s got a big attachment to their phone, so no one really wanted to get rid of it. But overall, no one’s complaining now it’s settled down, and everyone’s starting to really enjoy the phone ban, because it increases everyone’s social interactions.”

Since the ban, the lunch hall is filled with the sound of laughter and talking, with students playing board games or doing crafts together. It has also led to a dramatic decline in the number of phone and social media-related incidents needing intervention from staff, and student behaviour has overall improved.

 

Getting Ready for SIAMS

 Weds 29 April – 09:30 – 11:30

• In person at a venue near Warwick
• For all leaders involved with SIAMS and Christian Distinctiveness
• A recorded version of this training will also be available.

This training will be particularly helpful for those schools who are expecting a visit from SIAMS in the next 2 years. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese and will explore the key inspection questions as well as the latest updates from the annual report. Keith will focus on key preparation such as what your website should contain and creating an effective SIAMS SEF.

This training replaces the previously advertised sessions that were scheduled for March. Book here.

 

New RE Resources from the National Society – Christianity as a Global World Faith

• Weds 20 May – 09:30 – 12:00
• In person event at a venue near Wawick
• For primary and secondary RE Leads
• Resources are free once the training is complete

This National Society resource aims to work together with Understanding Christianity to challenge the Eurocentric vision of Christianity and celebrate the infinite translatability we can find in the diversity that exists within the Christian Faith. Through this session you will be able to access both the excellent training programme for schools as well as all the resources. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese.

The training will allow opportunities to understand the significance of providing a diverse approach to Christianity in your school. This will be explored in a bespoke training package that can then be used to train your teachers. Keith will look at how this might fit within your current curriculum that meets the expectations of SIAMS and the new Statement of Entitlement. There will be time to go through the resources to consider an action plan for your school.

Find out more from the NSE here. Book your place here.

 

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

 

School News

Revd Steve Gold was at St Gabriel’s CofE Academy last week for collective worship with the pupils. Every week he meets with the whole school for a short act of worship.  Last week’s visit was a little different to the norm, with Steve providing a late Ash Wednesday ashing to those children who wanted to take part. He ashed around 200 children – nearly half the school!

SIAMS News

Congratulations to staff and governors at the following schools who had their SIAMS inspections recently. They were both found to be living up to their foundation as a Church school, enabling pupils and adults to flourish.

You can read the reports here:

The Dassett CofE Primary

Wolston St Margaret’s CofE Primary

 

DBE News – Office Move

The DBE team have now moved offices to:

Wolston Priory, Priory Road, Wolston, Coventry CV8 3FX

Our telephone numbers and emails addresses will all remain the same but please bear with us next week if our responses are slower than normal.

Free Clearance Items from the DBE Office in Rugby

We have cleared our cupboards of resources, books, stationary and other sundry items that are available free of charge for schools and churches that can put them to good use. Do feel free to come and look and take whatever you like after 1pm on Friday 20 March – there is parking on site.

 

iSingPOP – what is available FREE for your school as part of the Diocesan Partnership

Many of our Church Schools and their parish churches are now seeing the benefit of having iSingPOP come in and work with your pupils…

There are three offers available FREE for this last year of the partnership:

Bespoke Main Event – 3 days teaching in your school with a professional live production/concert on day 4 (ideally in your local church) to involve families and the community.

POP Box Training with the NEW Belonging Box (Summer Term)

iSingPOP are piloting a new resource called The Belonging Box. The Belonging Box can be used as a follow on from the Difference course for schools, or as a stand-alone resource in school or Sunday school. Each session has been designed to give opportunities of pupil voice and creativity and the elements of each session have the windows mirrors doors framework in mind.

Emma Kenyon 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 18 May onwards.

Joy Seekers Workshop (Mental Health and Wellbeing)

A whole school workshop day where the children will learn 2 catchy songs, have a prayer activity and celebrate at the end of the day with an assembly.

Any of these iSingPOP activities are available FREE until the end of 2026 for CofE schools in Coventry Diocese so do make the most of this opportunity.

Contact Emma Kenyon to discuss needs, availability and booking. If you have any specific requirements (e.g. to fit around a specific school celebration or event, do talk to Emma to see what she can do to tailor some of the songs/content).

emma.kenyon@isingpop.com

 

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

 

 

School News

On 11 February All Saints CofE Primary, Coventry held a Spirituality Day based on the theme of Love. Creative and reflective activities were organised both in school and at the church, with older children being tasked with supporting younger children through the activities. The day culminated with a whole school collective worship in church led by Revd Pam Howell to reflect on God’s love. The school reported that “it was a special day for our whole school community.”

 

Invitation to Headteachers from Bishop’s House

All Diocesan Headteachers and Leaders are invited to share in the reaffirmation of ministerial vows and the blessing of oils in the Maundy Thursday Chrism Service at Coventry Cathedral on Thursday, 2nd April 2026 – 10.30am in Coventry Cathedral. Book via the link on the Headlines email.

 

DBE News – Office Move

The DBE team are moving and will no longer be in the Rugby Offices from 04 March.

Our new office is based at: Wolston Priory, Priory Rd, Wolston, Coventry CV8 3FX

Our telephone numbers and emails addresses will all remain the same but please bear with us next week if our responses are slower than normal.

Free Resources Available from our Downsizing!

We have cleared our cupboards of resources, books, stationary and other sundry items that are available free of charge for schools and churches that can put them to good use. Do feel free to come and look at them after 1pm on Friday 20 March – there is parking on site.

 

Church of England Welcomes Government’s Schools White Paper Announcements

Ahead of Monday’s publication of the Schools White Paper and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consultation, the National Society for Education welcomed the announcements, recognising the opportunity they offer to secure long‑term improvements for children, young people and families. Interim Chief Education Officer Andy Wolfe welcomed the child‑focused approach and emphasis on improving inclusion and standards as “two sides of the same coin” but said “complexity of implementation should not be underestimated.” Read the full press release here.

 

Diocesan Director of Education Vacancy

Are you a senior Christian leader who sees education as mission and wants to make a lasting impact on children, communities, and the Church?

The Diocese of Coventry is seeking a Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) to lead and sustain Christian education across 76 Church of England schools. As Director and CEO of the Diocesan Board of Education, you will provide strategic leadership, working with the Bishop, parishes, schools, MATs, local authorities, and national partners. This influential role requires theological depth, educational credibility, and strong system leadership.

Start date: September 2026

Salary: £84,699

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Role Description Application Form

Closing Date: 2 March 2026 12 noon  Interviews: 16 March 2026

For more information and an application pack please contact pa@bishop-coventry.org

 

Still Time to Book – Unpacking the New CofE RE Statement of Entitlement

Tues 03 March 15:45-16:45 Online on Teams

For RE and SIAMS Leads

The new CofE Statement of Entitlement for RE 2026 was published in January this year. It replaces the previous document created in 2016. This is a key document that provides important guidance for all Church of England Schools on the expectations of providing quality RE. It will be referenced in all SIAMS inspections from September 2026.

This live online update is provided in partnership with Birmingham Diocese and will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese.

 

Christianity as a Global World Faith – New RE Resources from the CofE National Society

• Weds 20 May – 09:30 – 12:00
• In person event at a venue near Wawick
• For primary and secondary RE Leads
• Resources are free once the training is complete

This National Society resource aims to work together with Understanding Christianity to challenge the Eurocentric vision of Christianity and celebrate the infinite translatability we can find in the diversity that exists within the Christian Faith. Through this session you will be able to access both the excellent training programme for schools as well as all the resources. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese

The training will allow opportunities to understand the significance of providing a diverse approach to Christianity in your school. This will be explored in a bespoke training package that can then be used to train your teachers. Keith will look at how this might fit within your current curriculum that meets the expectations of SIAMS and the new Statement of Entitlement. There will be time to go through the resources to consider an action plan for your school.

Find out more from the NSE here. Book your place here.

Keith will outline the main elements of this document and highlight the changes. This will provide key information in ensuring your RE curriculum serves the purpose in your church school. There will be an opportunity for Q&A.

Book your place here.

 

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

 

School News

Last week’s Headlines featured one of our schools who had proudly achieved Makaton Friendly school status. The Canons CofE Primary School in Bedworth got in touch to say that they too had been awarded this status so it is fantastic news to have another great example of inclusive and welcoming practice. If you want to find out more about how to achieve this in your own school, find out more on The Makaton Charity website here.

 

SIAMS News

Congratulations to staff and governors at Berkswell CofE Primary who had their SIAMS inspection last month. They were found to be living up to their foundation as a Church school, enabling pupils and adults to flourish. You can read their report here.

 

Diocesan Director of Education

Following Rev’d April Gold’s resignation, the advert for the Director of Education role is now live, linked here. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please forward the link.

 

Upcoming CPD This Term…

 Unpacking the New CofE RE Statement of Entitlement

• Tues 03 March 15:45-16:45 Online on Teams
• For RE and SIAMS Leads

The new CofE Statement of Entitlement for RE 2026 was published in January this year. It replaces the previous document created in 2016. This is a key document that provides important guidance for all Church of England Schools on the expectations of providing quality RE. It will be referenced in all SIAMS inspections from September 2026.

This live online update is provided in partnership with Birmingham Diocese and will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese.

Keith will outline the main elements of this document and highlight the changes. This will provide key information in ensuring your RE curriculum serves the purpose in your church school. There will be an opportunity for Q&A.

Book your place here.

Headteacher Wellbeing Lunch

Thurs 05 March to be held at a venue in South Warwickshire – for more information and to book click here.

Salt and Light Retreat

Salt and Light Retreat – 24-26 March. Further details and booking link can be found here.

DBE Training on School Admissions and Appeals

• Weds 18 March – 16:00-17:00
• Cost: £25 for DSA subscribers
• For – Presenting Officers, Governors and Office Administrators

This online training session is led by Joanne Evans, the DBE’s Admissions and Appeals Officer. It aims to ensure an understanding of the admissions and appeals process within a school that is responsible for its own admissions. Book here.

Getting Ready for SIAMS

 Weds 29 April – 09:30 – 11:30

• In person at a venue near Warwick
• For all leaders involved with SIAMS and Christian Distinctiveness
• A recorded version of this training will also be available.

This training will be particularly helpful for those schools who are expecting a visit from SIAMS in the next 2 years. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese and will explore the key inspection questions as well as the latest updates from the annual report. Keith will focus on key preparation such as what your website should contain and creating an effective SIAMS SEF.

This training replaces the previously advertised sessions that were scheduled for March. Book here.

 

Christianity as a Global World Faith – New RE Resources from the National Society

• Weds 20 May – 09:30 – 12:00
• In person event at a venue near Wawick
• For primary and secondary RE Leads
• Resources are free once the training is complete

This National Society resource aims to work together with Understanding Christianity to challenge the Eurocentric vision of Christianity and celebrate the infinite translatability we can find in the diversity that exists within the Christian Faith. Through this session you will be able to access both the excellent training programme for schools as well as all the resources. It will be led by Keith Farquhar, Church Schools Distinctiveness Advisor for Birmingham Diocese.

The training will allow opportunities to understand the significance of providing a diverse approach to Christianity in your school. This will be explored in a bespoke training package that can then be used to train your teachers. Keith will look at how this might fit within your current curriculum that meets the expectations of SIAMS and the new Statement of Entitlement. There will be time to go through the resources to consider an action plan for your school.

Find out more from the NSE here. Book your place here.

 

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

 

School News

Knightlow CofE Primary School has proudly announced that it has become one of the first primary schools in Warwickshire to achieve Makaton Friendly status – a significant milestone for the whole school community.

Guided by its vision for every child to “let their light shine,” Knightlow is committed to providing a welcoming, nurturing and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. Over the past two years, staff and pupils have worked together to embed Makaton signs and symbols into everyday school life, helping all children to communicate effectively, make choices and express themselves with confidence.

Makaton is brought to life across the school through a range of exciting initiatives. Each class has two dedicated Makaton Ambassadors who attend weekly meetings to learn new signs, including the popular Sign of the Week, which they model in class and share with families through the school newsletter. The much-loved Makaton Choir, open to pupils and staff, adds an extra layer of fun, offering opportunities to rehearse and perform at school events.

Knightlow is delighted to be recognised as a Makaton Friendly School and looks forward to continuing to work with local schools and the wider community to promote the power of inclusive communication.

The school thanks Mrs Betteridge for all of her hard work, dedication and enthusiasm in leading this initiative in school.

 

Sheila Mellor, Deputy Headteacher of Dunnington CofE Primary School writes:

“Our new SRP, The Oversley, was officially opened on Friday 30th January by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Mr Tim Cox. He brought with him three young, female cadets who represented each of the armed forces.

As a Church of England school, we know that our resource provision is another living, breathing example of our Christian Vision ‘Encourage one another and build each other up’ 1, Thessalonians 5: 11. Our vision states that

‘we are determined to create an inclusive culture of learning where all children are challenged in their thinking, discover their talents, achieve to the best of their abilities and become motivated and resilient life-long learners.’

We were pleased to also welcome Rev. Helen Smith from St Lawrence’s church in Bidford on Avon who blessed our new provision.

The Oversley is a key part of our provision for inclusion and we can already see its wide-ranging benefits having a positive impact on our young people and our staff.”

DBE News – Jen Jenkins

Jen Jenkins left the DBE team on 31st January to pursue new challenges and we wish her all the best for the future.

During her time at the DBE Jen’s work has equipped schools to deepen their Christian foundations and develop their understanding of spirituality. She also co-created and launched the new SACRE RE Agreed Syllabus enabling children to understand a wide perspective of world views.

Jen’s upcoming CPD sessions will be delivered by colleague associates and we’ll be in touch with those rescheduled dates and arrangements shortly. In the meantime, if you require any support regarding RE, collective worship or SIAMS do get in touch in the first instance with Joanne Evans joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org

 

Salt and Light Retreat – Booking Date Extended

Find out more and book here.

 

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