School chaplaincy

Chaplaincy in Anglican schools

There has been an increasing interest in chaplaincy in Anglican schools. This has been focused largely on secondary schools but chaplaincy, in its broadest sense, is also a concern of primary schools. A group of chaplains met over a period of several months to draw up a generic person and job specification for a chaplaincy in an Anglican school. What follows is aimed at helping schools draw up appropriate job descriptions for chaplains.

A generic person and job specification for a chaplaincy in an Anglican school

The following could be adapted to meet the needs of a particular school.

The Chaplain should:

• have the ability to initiate and motivate;
• be both sensitive and creative;
• be a good communicator;
• have a sense of humour;
• be organized, energetic and outgoing;
• have the ability and willingness to delegate;
• be able to involve others in worship;
• relate easily to staff, pupils, parents, governors and clergy;
• take an interest in, and respond to, educational initiatives;
• have experience of working with young people;
• be creative in facilitating acts of worship;
• demonstrate a willingness to develop the skills needed to work in educational institutions;
• have the courage to plan for leaving.

What does chaplaincy offer to a school?

• A focus for the planning of collective worship.
• A focus for preparing special acts of worship.
• Facilitation for creating a variety of forms of worship.
• A means of promoting the presence of God in the school.
• The development of a sense of liturgy - one that is modern and relevant to the lives of the pupils.
• A 'critical friend'.
• An agent for creating good links with parishes.
• A distinctive presence (normally Anglican) in the school.
• A bridge between the school and the communities it serves.
• An oversight of the care and nurture of the whole school community.
• Support for the spiritual and moral development of pupils.
• A guide and support for staff.
• An opportunity to meet the different needs of pupils at different stages of development.

What are the key issues?

• Who pays - the school, the parish, the diocese, or a combination?
• Who appoints the chaplain?
• To whom is the chaplain accountable within the institution?
• Where does the authority of the chaplain lie?
• How can the chaplain discuss confidential matters with staff and pupils if he/she is accountable to diverse bases of authority?
• How best can the chaplain draw upon the support of the diocese?
• There can be a tension between the function of the chaplain and the pastoral structures of the school. These need to be made very clear at appointment and reviewed regularly.
  Is counselling regarded as different from chaplaincy but having some relation to it?
• What is the relationship between the headteacher and the chaplain? The chaplain should have direct access to the headteacher.
• Should the chaplain be lay or ordained? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
• Can targets (or preferred indicators) be developed to evaluate progress and success?
• Is the chaplain provided with time for recreation?

What is the focus of the chaplain's role?

• A spiritual director.
• Facilitating groups to meet.
• Holy hanging around.
• Supporting preparation for confirmation.
• Prayer for the whole school and its communities.
• To have ideas regarding worship, special occasions, liturgies for schools, collective worship, etc.

What decisions need to be made?

• To teach or not to teach?
• To be a link governor and be a part of the hierarchy of responsibility, or not?
• What targets need to be set for the chaplain and will the governing body seek a termly/half-yearly/annual report?
• To what degree can the chaplain be an agent of cross-curricular activity?
• Who sets the boundaries of confidentiality? How are these maintained? Is there a policy statement?
• Does the statement of confidentiality, if there is one, relate to diocesan policy? Is it shown or available to parents, staff and pupils?
• Should the school prepare pupils for confirmation? If so, is there an agreement with the parishes from which the pupils come? What and where are the pupils' worshipping communities?
• Who cares for and supports the chaplain?