Headlines – 22 March 2024

Easter Message from Revd April Gold, Diocesan Director of Education

Dear friends,

Another term has passed, the academic year marches on at pace! After such a long Winter term the spring terms seems to have skipped along a bit more quickly but has been punctuated as always with inspections, training, school visits and continued concern about funding particularly for those children and families with the most need. Through all of this your shared passion to create learning communities where children learn the skills to live full lives whilst enabling those around them to flourish continues to inspire me.

I have been pondering through Lent one thing Jesus says to his disciples “deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). I have always struggled with interpretations of this as being a need to lay aside our hopes and dreams and to be prepared to suffer for the sake of the greater good. However, this year I have heard a completely different take on what Jesus may be saying and I find it compelling.

Crucifixion was the most terrible torture and execution that the roman Empire could come up with. It was reserved for people who were not just to be killed, but those who should be exposed, humiliated and discredited before they died. It was reserved for slaves, disgraced soldiers, foreigners and political activists. Crucifixion was a public reminder to not follow the example of these people. It was the ultimate in ensuring the status quo.

When Jesus died upon the cross the Romans thought that his followers would disperse. But through his resurrection, Jesus turned the cross into an instrument of hope. Instead of being afraid, his followers are transformed. Instead of scattering the disciples begin to build a movement which continued to challenge the status quo, which modelled love, belonging and the promise of a full life. That movement is the Church of today and our collective mission to be salt and light to our communities. To seek justice for the least and the lost and to love each other.

So when I hear “deny yourselves, pick up your cross and follow me” I now see a group of people commissioned by Jesus to do what you do every day. Instead of taking the easy route, instead of accepting the limitations of the system we work in and the society we live in, you speak out about the injustice of unmet needs and modify your practice to include as many children as possible. You pick up your cross of hope and seek another way. It is a call to a stoic revolution of love.

All this takes energy, and we need to take good care of ourselves and those who journey with us. I hope that you will find time over Easter to rest and re-fuel. To ponder the Easter story and be re-inspired.

With many prayers and blessings,

April

SIAMS List for 2024-25 Published

The Church of England has now published the list of schools who will expect to have their SIAMS inspection in the academic year 2024-25 (which is mostly schools last inspected in 2017). You can find the list on the Church of England website here although the relevant schools have already been made aware.

Headteacher Termly Briefing – Tuesday 23 April

 Don’t forget to join us for the Heads’ Briefing on Tuesday afternoon 23 April 14.00-15.30 on Zoom.

Book a place here.

iSingPOP Classroom Worship for Next Term…

Guidance notes and prayer activity templates have been sent out to schools this week. If you’ve missed the email contact us and we will resend it.