DOCSLIB.ORG

Church School Inspection Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Church School Inspection Report National Society Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools Report Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Christ Church Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8AY Diocese: Lichfield Local authority: Staffordshire Dates of inspection: 22nd March 2012 Date of last inspection: 27th March 2009 School’s unique reference number: 124457 Headteacher: Mrs Sheila Gaffiney Inspector’s name and number: Mrs Helen Gilbert 633 School context Christ Church VC Primary is a two form entry school with 396 pupils on roll serving an area of Lichfield. There is an average proportion of pupils with special needs and disabilities but the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals in below average. The original accommodation has been extensively extended and refurbished. The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Christ Church as a Church of England school are good The school has a strong Christian ethos which has a demonstrable effect upon the behaviour, attitudes and self-belief of pupils. The strong links with Christ Church and with Lichfield Cathedral ensure that children experience and understand the significance of Christian teaching and of Anglican traditions. Established strengths The strong Christian ethos creates a community where everyone cares and every child really does matter. The attitudes and behaviour of pupils are outstanding. Pupils have a secure knowledge of Bible stories. Pupils engage enthusiastically with worship. Focus for development Further enhance pupils’ spiritual development by creating more opportunities for prayer during the school day. Build the evaluation of the impact of worship upon pupils into the school self review cycle. Build on the good start made by the new Foundation Governors in evaluating the impact of the school’s work upon pupils. The school, through its distinctive Christian character, is good at meeting the needs of all learners The school’s Christian status is made explicit in the prospectus, school aims and on the website. Christian symbols are evident around the school and include the cross and Ecuadoran cross in the entrance, the wall-hanging in the hall, the worship table and reflective areas in the classrooms. The head and deputy model Christian values which are demonstrated by all staff in their attitudes and demeanour towards pupils. As one child said, “We have a very caring head teacher and teachers.” All pupils say that staff help them to improve, have high expectations and treat them fairly. As a result the school is very calm and peaceful, pupils feel safe and show care and respect towards each other. Pupils listen to their peers and there is a good climate for learning. Most pupils can talk about what makes a church school special. “It makes a difference.” “It has a big effect - it helps you believe in God.” A number of pupils said that hearing what they did in school would make them want to be Christians after they left. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school and spoke with gratitude about provision for an SEN pupil, support for a family during a difficult time and the increased social confidence discovered by a child who had transferred from another school. They appreciate the connection with the church and feel the Christian ethos and values makes a difference to their children. They believe the school gives their children a moral grounding that will stand them in good stead in later life. Pupils are involved in a number of fund raising initiatives and can explain the importance of the work of charities like WaterAid to provide clean drinking water for children in African countries. They also value the importance of learning about other faiths. As a result community cohesion is good. The impact of collective worship on the school community is good Pupils are very positive about worship and the majority say that it helps them to “think about God, respect God and respect others.” They enjoy Bible stories and children of all ages can talk about a range of stories from both the Old and New Testaments and about the lessons that these teach. Children believe that the focus on Bible stories during worship influences attitudes, behaviour and relationships throughout the school. Worship is planned around PSHE themes and also incorporates the main events of the Anglican Calendar. Throughout the week pupils experience whole school, phase group and classroom worship. The two acts of worship observed were lively and engaging and included opportunities for children to participate through song, prayer and reflection. Key Stage 2 worship built on pupils’ previous knowledge of Passover incorporating role play and a powerpoint presentation and ended with a reminder of God’s faithfulness to his people and of the importance of obedience to God. Through regular visits to Christ Church and to Lichfield Cathedral pupils are developing a good understanding of Anglican festivals and symbols. Pupils are able to explain the significance of Lent as well as the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection at Easter. Each classroom has a reflection area which pupils are free to use if they wish and staff are encouraged to use them as part of classroom worship. Pupils say the Lord’s prayer regularly, recognise that there is also a place for more informal types of prayer and enjoy writing their own prayers. Prayer for personal needs or for others during the school day through the use of prayer corners or a prayer tree is an area for development. Evaluation of worship is in its early stages. The co-ordinator has collected some written feed back from staff on specific acts of worship and this now needs developing systematically to be evaluative rather than descriptive. There has been some feedback from individual children but this now needs to be incorporated into the school’s annual evaluation cycle and include a wider sample of pupils. The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school as a church school is good The head teacher demonstrates strong leadership and is ably supported by the deputy. They are effective role models of care and nurture and staff follow their example. There has also been a tradition of strong support and leadership from the clergy. Although this was interrupted during the interregnum, the new priest-in-charge already articulates a clear vision for supporting the school pastorally and also for making the small church more available for each year group to enjoy a quality visit each year. A new chair of governors, who is a parent governor and a member of the church, was appointed this year. There are also two new foundation governors who clearly recognise their role in supporting and evaluating the spiritual development of pupils. They have already initiated action to further develop the links between church and school which includes involving the church worship committee and including news of school events in the church’s bi-monthly magazine. All members of the School Council value their role and fulfil it with pride. They believe they are listened to and have been able to effect improvements - notably the change to lunchtime routines and the drive to save energy. The school has made some progress in addressing the development issues from the last inspection. Work has begun to create an outdoor area for quiet reflection and prayer and there are plans to complete this and hold a dedication service in the summer term. Clergy have provided opportunities for older pupils to learn about the Eucharist and they are able to explain its significance. School leaders and foundation governors recognise the need to incorporate the evaluation of worship and the wider work of the school as a church school into the annual self-review cycle. SIAS report Christ Church VC Primary School, Christ Church Lane, Lichfield,WS13 8AY, 22nd March 2012. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • First Evidence of Farming Appears; Stone Axes, Antler Combs, Pottery in Common Use
    BC c.5000 - Neolithic (new stone age) Period begins; first evidence of farming appears; stone axes, antler combs, pottery in common use. c.4000 - Construction of the "Sweet Track" (named for its discoverer, Ray Sweet) begun; many similar raised, wooden walkways were constructed at this time providing a way to traverse the low, boggy, swampy areas in the Somerset Levels, near Glastonbury; earliest-known camps or communities appear (ie. Hembury, Devon). c.3500-3000 - First appearance of long barrows and chambered tombs; at Hambledon Hill (Dorset), the primitive burial rite known as "corpse exposure" was practiced, wherein bodies were left in the open air to decompose or be consumed by animals and birds. c.3000-2500 - Castlerigg Stone Circle (Cumbria), one of Britain's earliest and most beautiful, begun; Pentre Ifan (Dyfed), a classic example of a chambered tomb, constructed; Bryn Celli Ddu (Anglesey), known as the "mound in the dark grove," begun, one of the finest examples of a "passage grave." c.2500 - Bronze Age begins; multi-chambered tombs in use (ie. West Kennet Long Barrow) first appearance of henge "monuments;" construction begun on Silbury Hill, Europe's largest prehistoric, man-made hill (132 ft); "Beaker Folk," identified by the pottery beakers (along with other objects) found in their single burial sites. c.2500-1500 - Most stone circles in British Isles erected during this period; pupose of the circles is uncertain, although most experts speculate that they had either astronomical or ritual uses. c.2300 - Construction begun on Britain's largest stone circle at Avebury. c.2000 - Metal objects are widely manufactured in England about this time, first from copper, then with arsenic and tin added; woven cloth appears in Britain, evidenced by findings of pins and cloth fasteners in graves; construction begun on Stonehenge's inner ring of bluestones.
    [Show full text]
  • Lichfield Cathedral School STATEMENT of BOARDING PRINCIPLES and PRACTICE
    Lichfield Cathedral School STATEMENT OF BOARDING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE Introduction The School was re-founded in 1942 (as St Chad’s Cathedral School) principally as a boarding school for the choristers of Lichfield Cathedral. However, non-chorister pupils have been admitted from the beginning. Until 1981 the School was owned and governed by the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. However, since that date it has been a fully independent, coeducational preparatory school, known as Lichfield Cathedral School, until the decision was taken to move into secondary education in 2005. The school opened the Sixth Form in September 2010. Boys and girls are admitted at any time from the age of 3, choosing either to move on to other Schools at age 11, 13 or 16, or remain at the Cathedral School for their secondary education. There are presently 460 children in the School aged 3 – 18. School Mission Statement Lichfield Cathedral School is committed to creating and maintaining an educational environment which nurtures, nourishes and stimulates young minds and talents; where children may gain a thorough academic foundation; and where daily life is conducted according to Christian values and the experience of Christian worship. The School is determined to provide a secure and ordered framework within which children and young people may grow in self-esteem and confidence, discover the riches of successful participation and achievement, and develop a spirit of generosity and service to the wider community. Boarding at Lichfield Lichfield Cathedral School currently provides a maximum of 24 boarding places for boys aged 8 – 13 accommodated within the Grade 1 listed building known as The Palace in the Cathedral Close.
    [Show full text]
  • Peter Walker CV
    PETER WALKER f.r.s.a m.r.b.s a.r.b.s.a sculptor 07968 277610 www.sculptorandartist.com pwalkersculptor@ msn.com 7 The Close / Lichfield / Staffs / WS13 7LD Current ongoing public art / commissions St Chad Commission for a 9ft Bronze Statue / Lichfield Cathedral (completion 2021) Pity of War 7ft bronze sculpture commemorating those who have lost their lives as a consequence of war - National Memorial Arboretum (circa 2021) Shirebrook Mining Memorial 15ft artwork / memorial to the Shirebrook miners and families - in development 2020-2022 ‘The Spirit of Tamworth’ 9ft bronze sculpture of Mercian King - to celebrate the towns history – exp completion 2022 Lichfield Cathedral 5 year placement as sculptor and artist in residence (2016-21) Lichfield Cathedral Artistic Director - ongoing - overseeing the Thematic and Cathedral annual vision and developing annual programming and implantation of visual arts and extended arts practice Sheffield Cathedral Artistic Director (consultant role) (2020-2023) Liverpool Cathedral Artistic and Creative Advisor - 2021-2023 Current and future installation artworks Solo Exhibition Liverpool Cathedral - major sculpture and fine art exhibition 2022 PEACE DOVES Major 25m installation artwork at Liverpool Cathedral 2021 PEACE DOVES Installation at Derby Cathedral Sept 2021 The Leaves of the TreesA touring reflective memorial to the Cornovirus Pandemic - touring to - Exeter Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, Carlisle Cathedral, Rochester Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Southwell Minster, Winchester Cathedral,
    [Show full text]
  • ACFEA Newsletter 97/98
    To ur N o t e s PERFORMING ARTS NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD 1997-1998 Highlights Trinity Church Traces its Roots Duquesne Wins at Marktoberdorf Alaska Children in Europe Rutgers Women Explore Ireland California Youth Orchestra in Britain and Ireland Spreading Goodwill in the Baltic Republics Missa Gaia on the Riviera Honor Band at WASBE Portland Girlchoir in Australia Festival Sir Simon Rattle conducts The Damanation of Faust in Birmingham Opportunities in the Pacific Northwest ‘VOICES IN For nine days in July, Morrell in the Sheldonian Theatre, Ox- THE CITY’ A the City of Birming- ford. To celebrate the 100th birthday of Alabama Choir Does Europe! ham (England) rang the recording company EMI, the Cleve- HUGE to the sounds of land Orchestra Chorus then joined forces Amherst in Spain and Portugal SUCCESS superlative choral with the City of Birmingham Symphony singing. More than Orchestra and Chorus to give a stunning 2,000 singers from Great Britain, the USA performance of Walton’s Belshazzar’s and Canada took part in over 20 choral Feast, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle in concerts, workshops and master classes, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. They then thrilling the large audiences which filled recorded the work for release by EMI later Symphony Hall and other venues. this year. It was the first major choral festival The final concert of ‘Voices in the in Birmingham since the great triennial City’ proved to be another blockbuster, festivals of the 19th century, which saw with over 300 singers sharing the plat- the first performances of Mendelssohn’s form with a much enlarged CBSO to Elijah and Elgar’s The Dream of perform Berlioz’s dramatic oratorio, The Gerontius, among others.
    [Show full text]
  • Cathedral Statistics 2019
    Cathedral Statistics 2019 Research and Statistics Church House Great Smith Street London SW1P 3AZ Tel: 020 7898 1547 Published 2020 by Research and Statistics. Copyright © Research and Statistics 2020 All rights reserved. This document is available on line at https://www.churchofengland.org/researchandstats Any reproduction of the whole or any part of the document should reference: Church of England Research and Statistics, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ Email: [email protected] Twitter: @cofestats The opinions expressed in this booklet are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the General Synod or National Church Institutions of the Church of England. 1 Summary This report presents information about worship and other activities taking place in Church of England cathedrals from 1st January to 31st December 2019. Data are collected from all 42 mainland Church of England cathedrals and from Westminster Abbey, through an annual cathedral statistics survey. Among other things, the survey asks about attendance at Sunday and midweek services; Easter and Christmas services; school visits; baptisms, marriages, and funerals; musical activities and volunteering. For reference, the survey form and guidance notes can be found in Appendix 2. Worship attendance (page 7) • A total of 37,300 people per week (82% adults and 18% children aged under 16) were reported attending usual cathedral services in 2019, a similar number to 2018 (37,100). Total weekly attendance is 13% larger in 2019 than it was a decade ago in 2009. • Weekly attendance at usual cathedral services is split fairly evenly between Sunday (47%) and midweek (53%) services.
    [Show full text]
  • Memorials of Old Staffordshire, Beresford, W
    M emorials o f the C ounties of E ngland General Editor: R e v . P. H. D i t c h f i e l d , M.A., F.S.A., F.R.S.L., F.R.Hist.S. M em orials of O ld S taffordshire B e r e s f o r d D a l e . M em orials o f O ld Staffordshire EDITED BY REV. W. BERESFORD, R.D. AU THOft OF A History of the Diocese of Lichfield A History of the Manor of Beresford, &c. , E d i t o r o f North's .Church Bells of England, &■V. One of the Editorial Committee of the William Salt Archaeological Society, &c. Y v, * W ith many Illustrations LONDON GEORGE ALLEN & SONS, 44 & 45 RATHBONE PLACE, W. 1909 [All Rights Reserved] T O T H E RIGHT REVEREND THE HONOURABLE AUGUSTUS LEGGE, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF LICHFIELD THESE MEMORIALS OF HIS NATIVE COUNTY ARE BY PERMISSION DEDICATED PREFACE H ILST not professing to be a complete survey of Staffordshire this volume, we hope, will W afford Memorials both of some interesting people and of some venerable and distinctive institutions; and as most of its contributors are either genealogically linked with those persons or are officially connected with the institutions, the book ought to give forth some gleams of light which have not previously been made public. Staffordshire is supposed to have but little actual history. It has even been called the playground of great people who lived elsewhere. But this reproach will not bear investigation.
    [Show full text]
  • Wells Cathedral, but ‘We Had a Very Listed Building Control
    WELLS 01 PROJECT ARCHITECT: CATHEDRAL Martin Stancliffe, New entry cloister, Education and Music Purcell Miller Tritton Resource Centre, chapter house CATHEDRAL ARCHITECT: undercroft, works yard Peter Bird In some ways, the great medieval cathedrals are dinosaurs: creations of another era, fascinating, impressive and inspiring – but ill-equipped for the demands of the twenty-first century. Yet their continued significance is not to be doubted. Wells attracts some 470,000 visitors a year,170,000 of whom attend one of the 1,730 services, concerts, educational visits and other events organised by the cathedral. That’s almost five events a day, each with its own logistical demands, each attracting a different public. So it is easy to understand why the chapter at Wells had, by the late 1990s, begun to feel as if they were reaching a kind of evolutionary crossroads. There was no safe accommodation for visiting school groups, no disabled access to many areas of the cathedral church itself, and no covered route to the visitors’ toilets. The cathedral shop and restaurant occupied one walk of the medieval cloister; part of the Song School filled another. Girl choristers practised in the chapter house undercroft, which had otherwise become a large storeroom; choirs of both sexes robed here, too. Child protection legislation and the Disability Discrimination Act increased the imperative for change. The status quo was untenable. It took some time for the right solution to emerge. The first scheme was opposed by several consultees. It took all the negotiation skills of the cathedral authorities and planning advisors, including English Heritage and the CFCE, to arrive at the eventual answer – a design which balanced the building’s extraordinary significance with the needs of modern users and which was capable of attracting consent and funding.
    [Show full text]
  • 11 the Close Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 7LD
    11 The Close Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 7LD 01543 306 200 [email protected] April 2016 Dear Headteacher, Curriculum Singing Days with Lichfield Cathedral Music Share funded by Arts Council England via the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Hub My name is Cathy Lamb and I am the Director of Music at Lichfield Cathedral, working with the Cathedral Choir and directing the Lichfield Cathedral Girl Choristers. We have been running singing outreach projects we call “Music Share” since 2003, most recently in partnership with the Entrust Music and Performing Arts Service and Stoke-on-Trent City Music Service. We have worked with over 10,000 children over these years. As part of our partnership with the services we have developed some ‘Curriculum Singing Days’, which we have been running for a number of years. Our aim is to continue to improve young people’s enthusiasm for singing by providing quality training to help both staff and children improve, have fun, learn new activities and songs which they can take back to school and teach to others. These are core objectives of the National Music Plan to 2020. We hope that you will want to bring some children and staff along to participate in one or more of the workshops. Please note that these sessions are directed at all pupils to encourage a love of singing. You will find further details and a booking form following. If there is any other information or help you need, please don’t hesitate to contact me, either by phone or e-mail, as above.
    [Show full text]
  • Safeguarding Handbook April 2021
    Safeguarding Handbook A pril 2021 Introduction Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 4 2. Child and adult safeguarding policy context ...................................................................... 5 Church of England’s Safeguarding Policy Statement .............................................................. 5 Lichfield Cathedral’s Mission Statement ................................................................................ 5 Lichfield Cathedral and the Lichfield Diocese ......................................................................... 5 Responsibilities of churches and faith-based organisations ................................................... 5 Lichfield Cathedral’s Safeguarding Policy Statement ............................................................. 6 3. National and local guidance links ....................................................................................... 7 Statutory and local authority guidance .................................................................................. 7 Church of England policy and practice guidance links............................................................ 8 Lichfield Cathedral policy and practice guidance links ........................................................... 8 Children and vulnerable adult at Lichfield Cathedral ............................................................. 9 4. Understanding safeguarding ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • British Art Studies April 2017 British Art Studies Issue 5, Published 17 April 2017
    British Art Studies April 2017 British Art Studies Issue 5, published 17 April 2017 Cover image: Francis Alexander Skidmore and Sir George Gilbert Scott, Hereford Screen (detail), 1862, painted wrought and cast iron, brass, copper, timber, mosaics, and hardstones. Collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Given by Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry (M.251:1 to 316-1984).. Digital image courtesy of Justin Underhill PDF generated on 21 July 2021 Note: British Art Studies is a digital publication and intended to be experienced online and referenced digitally. PDFs are provided for ease of reading offline. Please do not reference the PDF in academic citations: we recommend the use of DOIs (digital object identifiers) provided within the online article. Theseunique alphanumeric strings identify content and provide a persistent link to a location on the internet. A DOI is guaranteed never to change, so you can use it to link permanently to electronic documents with confidence. Published by: Paul Mellon Centre 16 Bedford Square London, WC1B 3JA https://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk In partnership with: Yale Center for British Art 1080 Chapel Street New Haven, Connecticut https://britishart.yale.edu ISSN: 2058-5462 DOI: 10.17658/issn.2058-5462 URL: https://www.britishartstudies.ac.uk Editorial team: https://www.britishartstudies.ac.uk/about/editorial-team Advisory board: https://www.britishartstudies.ac.uk/about/advisory-board Produced in the United Kingdom. A joint publication by Contents “A triumph of art” or “blatant vulgarity”: The Reception of Scott and Skidmore’s Screens, Alicia Robinson “A triumph of art” or “blatant vulgarity”: The Reception of Scott and Skidmore’s Screens Alicia Robinson Abstract This essay provides a broad narrative of how the screens designed by architect and designer George Gilbert Scott and made by metalworker Francis Skidmore for the cathedrals of Hereford, Lichfield, and Salisbury, have been regarded since they were produced.
    [Show full text]
  • St Chad's Volunteer Programme
    St Chad’s Volunteer Programme Co-ordinator: Michael Carding Director of World Mission: Revd Philip Swan 10, Mayfield Park, PA: Susanna Somerville Shrewsbury SY2 6PD. c/o St Peter’s House, 4 Exchange Street 01743 369325 Wolverhampton WV1 1TS [email protected] 07857 703303 [email protected] [email protected] December 2017 Dear Friends, FESTIVE GREETINGS FROM ST CHAD’S VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME REPORTING ON 2017: A BUSY YEAR OF DEVELOPMENT After the various changes last year, 2017 has been a year of growth and development. One statistic aptly illustrates this: On 31st January 2017 we had no volunteers in situ, neither in Lichfield nor overseas; by 31st January 2018, God willing, we will have seven. This, together with changes and updating of some of our procedures, has meant that we have been busy! Most of the activity, although not all, has been with our partners in West Malaysia where they have been busy too. They appointed a new SCVP coordinator, Ching Li Yit, who was herself a St Chad’s volunteer in the Peel parishes in Lichfield in 2014/15. I was pleased to meet Ching Li in October at St Paul’s church Petaling Jaya together with three prospective volunteers. In this world of electronic communication we must continue to value and thank God for real face to face encounters. Our Bishop agrees! He made it very clear, soon after his installation in September 2016, how much he valued Lichfield’s links with it’s Companion Dioceses and he pledged to visit all four within the first eighteen months.
    [Show full text]
  • Cathedrals Working Group Response to Consultation Feedback
    CATHEDRALS WORKING GROUP RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION FEEDBACK CHURCH OF ENGLAND CATHEDRALS WORKING GROUP Consultation Summary 14 June 2018 1 CATHEDRALS WORKING GROUP RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION FEEDBACK CONTENTS Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 3 Summary of Consultation Feedback and CWG Response ................................................................. 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Types of responses received ................................................................................................................ 5 Overall response .................................................................................................................................... 5 Shape of the questionnaire ................................................................................................................... 6 The consultation analysis process ....................................................................................................... 7 Main themes emerging .......................................................................................................................... 7 “Cherry-Picking”: Points Raised ........................................................................................................ 8 “Cherry-Picking”: CWG Response ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]