Introducing church schools

The Church of England and the Church in Wales make a major contribution to the education system of the two countries by providing a significant number of schools (around 5,000). Most of these are primary schools but a growing number are secondary. Almost 25% of all primary schools are either Church of England schools or Church in Wales schools. Between 5% and 6% of all secondary schools are Church of England schools. There are church schools in most parts of the country, although for historic reasons there are often fewer in suburban areas than in inner-city or rural locations. They vary in size from small village primary schools with fewer than fifty pupils to large comprehensive schools with 1,500 or more pupils. All share a commitment to providing the best possible education for their students within the context of a strong commitment to be a serving Christian community.

There are three main types of church schools, as follows.

Voluntary aided schools:

In these schools the governors employ the staff, are responsible for the admissions to the school, and determine the content of the religious education syllabus. The daily worship within the school will follow the Anglican tradition of school worship and will be one of the key activities contributing to the sense of community and strong Christian ethos that is a feature of Anglican schools. The governors also have to find 10% of the cost of all major building work carried out on the school building. The governing body of these schools includes governors nominated by the Church and the LEA, and others elected by the parents and the staff; the governors nominated by the Church are always in the majority.

Voluntary controlled schools:

In these schools the LEA employs the staff, is responsible for the admissions to the school, and determines the content of the religious education syllabus. The daily worship within the school will follow the Anglican tradition of school worship and will be one of the key activities contributing to the sense of community and strong Christian ethos that is a feature of Anglican schools. The LEA funds the costs of all major building work carried out on the school building. The governing body of these schools includes governors nominated by the Church and the LEA and others elected by the parents and the staff, with no single group of governors in the majority.

Foundation schools

In these schools the governors employ the staff and are responsible for the admissions to the school, but the LEA determines the content of the religious education syllabus. The daily worship within the school will follow the Anglican tradition of school worship and will be one of the key activities contributing to the sense of community and strong Christian ethos that is a feature of Anglican schools. The LEA funds the costs of all major building work carried out on the school building. The governing body of these schools includes governors nominated by the Church and the LEA and others elected by the parents and the staff, with no single group of governors in the majority.

In all three types of church school there are special arrangements for the inspection of those aspects of the school that are directly the governors' responsibility as a result of church school status. These have been known as "Section 23" inspections, because they are governed by Section 23 of the School Inspection Act 1996. Changes are happening during 2005 with the inspection process, the timing of inspections and the framework/guidance for the school inspection. The Anglican Church has a national scheme for these inspections, which is organized by the National Society.

Further information

Diocesan Education contacts
Applying for a place
Appeals
Parent governors
PTAs / Friends