10th October 2025
School News
Joanne Evans, the DBE’s Services to Schools Officer visited St John’s CofE Academy in Coventry last Friday to chat to the families attending their early morning Family Prayer Space. She then stayed for a truly uplifting and joyful celebratory collective worship.
The focus for the prayer space was ‘ows, wows and nows’. Families were invited to share their ‘nows’ and ‘wows’ and children could write their own separate prayer card or encouragement to anyone experiencing an ‘ow’ moment. This was also mirrored as a permanent feature in the staff room for the team to record their own spiritual reflections. There were other quiet activities including Lego, colouring, activity books, prayer station activities and sharing Bible stories using the books from the prayer space. It is open and welcome to all ages, from pre-school children to grandparents and a valuable space for some calm, reflective time together before the busy school day begins.
Such a privilege to be able to visit and see the school’s Christian vision lived out with families and the wider community.
Worldviews Teacher Knowledge Organiser
This useful one-page knowledge organiser is available on the DBE website resources page under ‘New Agreed Syllabus – CofE School Specific’ – access with the usual password. This has been created by Shannon Clemo, Head of RE at Blue Coat CofE School and has been generously offered in case it is of use to other RE teachers.
Request Free Support to Support Your School’s Climate Action Plan
The DfE funded Climate Ambassadors Scheme will link nurseries, schools and colleges across England with free access to local experts who can provide tailored advice and guidance to help them develop their climate action plan.
Education plays a critical role in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss; an issue that young people consistently say is a top priority for them. The DfE aims for all education settings to have a climate action plan in place this academic year.
Find out more about how you can embed sustainability in all you do and engage young people in a way that inspires hope and action.
For the full Headlines newsletter contact joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org