10th April 2025
Easter Message from Revd April Gold, Diocesan Director of EducationDear friends, I hope this finds you well and enjoying the longer days of Eastertide. I’m sure it’s been a busy time with Easter services, activities, and excited children and staff looking forward to a well-deserved break. In our weekly huddle, the DBE team reflected on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18, which I believe encapsulates our shared vision as Christian communities in today’s world:
I’ve been re-reading Stephen Covey’s ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ to remind me of his concept of the circle of concern. Covey encourages us to focus on what we can control, and let go of what we can’t. Before you head off for Easter, consider making a list of your worries and sorting them into “circles” of control and influence. Trust that what’s outside your circle will be inside another’s leaving them in God’s hands through prayer. Leave your list of what you can do to equip the next generation for their future roles in the world at school knowing that it will be there neatly curated when you have recharged. I wish you a joyful and restful Easter, with many prayers and blessings, April.
Message to the Diocese from Bishop Sophie Read it on the Diocesan website here.
iSingPOP – Summer Term Classroom Worship The iSingPOP summer term classroom worship episodes were emailed to Heads and RE leads yesterday. Do let us know if you need it again.
Recently Recorded CPD Now Available on the DBE Website Introductition to SIAMS part 1 and 2 Spirituality Short Part 4 – Nature and the World Spirituality Short Part 5 – God and Beyond Find them on resources page of the DBE website and accessible with the usual password. Your governors should also have received information about eight short (10 mins) CPD recordings they can access called ‘Governor Bites’. They are:
They can be found on the resources section of DBE website under governance.
Message from Jen Jenkins… We are saddened to share the passing of Dawn Cox. Dawn was a shining light in the RE world and will be very much missed by all who champion the subject, as well as count her as a friend and beloved colleague. Dawn’s work is peppered through the local RE syllabus, most noticeably in her DIALOG model for looking at sacred texts and her use of the magnifying glass when exploring personal worldviews. We are grateful for her generosity of spirit in sharing her RE resources with us. Thoughts and prayers are with Dawn’s partner Roy and her whole family at this sad time. Read a further memorial to Dawn on the Culham St Gabrilel’s website here
For the full Headlines newsleter contact joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org
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This week, I had the chance to sing the “World Changers” song with the children of St Gabriel’s CofE Academy as part of their iSingPOP Easter project. It reminded me that changing the world starts with helping our young people think beyond themselves and work together for the common good. As I visit schools and read SIAMS and OFSTED reports, I’m inspired by the passion of our school communities to both help children succeed academically and prepare them to be part of a generation of World Changers.