Summer Term 2020 SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Diocesan Director of Education

Deborah Smith

I’m writing from my office at home, where I am now currently based. This is indeed the strangest of times. I am missing travelling around our diocese and getting to know you better as I visit as many schools as my diary allows. I look forward to when this will be possible again.

As I said in my letter to schools before Easter as a Diocesan education team we are so proud of you all and how you are continuing to serve local children and families during this period. Although we are in the midst of a pandemic and it has currently May the road rise to meet changed all our lives, we have made a determined effort to present good news stories you, and information to you in this schools’ Summer newsletter.

May the wind be always at The Christian faith is founded on the Good News that God is in control. The Bible is your back, littered with encouraging verses and passages. Psalm 91 is such a passage. It is natural to feel anxious or worried, even as adults, but can I encourage you to focus on May the sun shine warm God’s words when these feelings start to take control? This period of isolation and upon your face, social distancing may continue for a little while yet and we may be tempted to rely on The rains fall soft upon our own strength. The Bible tells us that we can rely on God. your fields and, Many blessings, Until we meet again, May God hold you in the Deborah Follow us on palm of His hand. Twitter

Amen 0161 828 1429 @DbeManchester [email protected]

Primary and Secondary Headteachers Zoom Meeting Annual Manchester Friday 01 May, 2020, 10.30—12.00 Meeting ID: 952 6086 7107 Diocesan School’s Password: ManDio CEOs, Academy Members and Trustees Zoom Meeting Conference 2020 Tuesday 05 May, 2020, 10.30—12.00 Meeting ID: 997 6980 4955 We are sorry to announce that this year’s conference has Password: ManDio been rescheduled for Friday 30 April, 2021. We will send out more information in our Spring Annual Secondary School Newsletter which will be published January Headteachers and Chairs of Governors 2021. Meeting Friday 02 October, 2020, 9.30—13.00 Called Connected Committed Training by Andy Wolfe If you have already paid for your place at this year’s conference you will retain that place and won't need to Primary School Headteachers and re-book. If you would prefer us to return monies, please Chairs of Governors Training Meeting email [email protected] to arrange Friday 02 October, 2020, 13.00—16.00 an electronic refund. Called Connected Committed Training by Andy Wolfe

Deborah Smith invites Primary and Secondary CEOs, Academy Members and Trustees Headteachers and MAT CEOs to a Zoom meeting to Annual Training keep updated until we are able to meet together in Friday 02 October, 2020, 13.00—16.00 October 2020*. *October meetings to take place at Church House, Manchester/Online.

Putting our faith in Education 1 UPCOMINGEVENT UPDATES EVENTS

As we receive new updates from the Government and , we are reviewing our events in accordance with guidance. Wherever possible we wish to honour the commitments we have made, however please note that as the situation develops, these updates may be subject to change. Please check the Diocesan website for the latest information: https://www.manchester.anglican.org/

Diocesan Training Headteachers and Events Chair of Governors Please note that all current training events have been cancelled, however in September 2020 a new Meetings programme of events will be timetabled. These meetings will now be taking place via ‘Zoom’. These currently include: Please see below for dates, times and codes to join these meetings. • God and the Big Bang, Continuing Oldham, Stockport, Rochdale (RAF) and Professional Development Sessions for • Teachers Wigan Thursday 14 May, 10.30-12.00

• Mental Health First Aid Training Meeting ID: 957 2028 5173 Password: ManDio • Governor Training • Manchester, Trafford, Salford and Academy and MAT Trustee and Member • Tameside Training Monday 18 May, 10.30-12.00

• SIAMS Training Day Meeting ID: 938 7710 3922 Password: ManDio

• Blackburn & Darwen, Bolton, Bury and Lancashire Wednesday 20 May, 10.30-12.00

Meeting ID: 945 0864 0695 Password: ManDio

Year 6 Leavers Service

As we are sure you can appreciate, no firm decision has yet been made in relation to Year 6 Leavers services this year. We will let you know as soon as we Following Government advice, Manchester Cathedral are able and we are investigating some alternative have taken the difficult decision to close the ideas. Thank you for your patience and we’ll be in Cathedral to the public with immediate effect. touch soon.

Educational visits to the Cathedral have also been suspended until further notice. Bookings from June onwards will be held for those who have already booked and will be confirmed or, if necessary, cancelled when the situation changes.

Diocesan events being held at the Cathedral over the coming months will be reviewed in due course.

For the most up to date information, visit the cathedral website at: https://www.manchestercathedral.org/news- events/news/

2 MANCHESTER—LAHORE DIOCESAN LINK

currently been put on hold. Despite this, we continue to Deborah’s Flying Visit to develop the links between the two dioceses.

Lahore We are continuing to link schools in Lahore and Manchester Diocese and plan to develop a ‘memorandum of During the February half term, I was privileged to understanding’ that schools can sign up to help fruitful accompany a group of curates from Manchester Diocese to partnerships develop further. Schools that have expressed enjoy a flying visit to Lahore Diocese to meet the Rt Revd an interest in being twinned with a school in Lahore can Irfan Jamil, Bishop of Lahore, local headteachers and local expect to be contacted during the summer term regarding clergy. The visit was part of the diocesan link between further developing this link. We are especially looking for Lahore and Manchester that has developed over many ways to share in the Church of Pakistan’s Golden years. It was great to visit churches and schools together as Jubilee celebrations on 1st November 2020. If you have representatives of Manchester Diocese and I am hopeful this any ideas for how Manchester Diocesan schools could get model can be built upon going forward. involved please do get in touch.

Over the summer, we were hoping to welcome a small group It may also be possible for a small group of representatives of headteachers to Manchester. Unfortunately this has from Manchester Diocese to go out to join in these celebrations at the end of October. This is of course dependant on travel restrictions and is in only the early stages of discussion.

Closer to home, Ruth Gent our Education Senior Administrator is involved in organising a service of commemoration in the Cathedral on Saturday 07 November, 2020. We are hoping the service will involve some input focussing on the education links between the two dioceses. If this is something you are interested in either contributing to or attending please do get in touch with Ruth via email. [email protected]

Praying for Lahore Golden Jubilee!

Col Azim Ilyas, Director of Education for the Diocese of The Rt Revd , , on behalf Lahore wrote to us to say: of the Lahore Link Group would like to invite you on ‘I watch BBC regularly and pray that the situation Saturday 07 November, 2020 to a celebration of the improves in UK soon. We remember all our friends Church of Pakistan’s 50th anniversary at Manchester in Manchester Diocese in our daily prayers’. Cathedral. The celebration will begin at 19.00 with The Revd Dave Thompson has circulated the clip below refreshments and the service will go on until 21.00. (click the photo) about the impact quarantine has had on the pollution in Lahore. We pray that in these difficult This will be a wonderful opportunity to develop the times, positive news like this can reach and uplift us. existing link between Manchester and Lahore Dioceses. If you or your school would like to be involved in the service, please contact:

[email protected]

‘Fantastic video, amazing how the world has changed in such a short time.’

The Revd George Reeves, St Andrew’s CE Primary School Levenshulme Governor.

3 CHILDRENS WORK UPDATE From Children’s Officer, Karen Beal

Leicester Visit

In February our colleague Louise Warner, Children and Families Officer, Diocese of Leicester came to visit the Diocese and meet with some of those pupils in different schools who are involved in leading collective worship and ethos groups. Louise was able to spend time at with staff and pupils in some of our schools and also visited the Ethos Market Place event at Bolton parish church.

It was great to have Louise with us because it also meant I got to spend time in school too! We enjoyed being led in collective worship by pupils at St Peter’s CE Primary, Ashton- Under-Lyne and chatting with them afterwards to learn more about how they lead in school. Louise was able to meet lots of different ethos groups at the market place event before going on to Bishop Bridgeman CE Primary School, Bolton to meet with members of the Ethos Group there.

The next morning, we joined St Mary’s CE Primary, Prestwich for school Eucharist and then finally Louise visited St Wellbeing Retreat Day Bartholomew’s CE Primary, Westhoughton to find out more about the children Changing Places Project. A massive thank March 2020 you to all the schools, pupils and staff who hosted Louise and shared their experiences with her – she enjoyed her visit and We enjoyed another beautiful day at Whalley Abbey in picked up lots of ideas! March as a group from our diocesan family of CE primary schools led by the Rt Revd Mark Davies, and Karen Beal, Diocesan Children’s Officer.

It was wonderful to be able to spend time together and individually, in prayerful reflection. Again, having lunch with the opportunity to take time to eat and chat with others was a big hit and the day ended in sharing the Eucharist together.

Rooted in our distinctively Christian way of life, these Retreat Days offer focus on our Christian vocation as teachers and leaders in Church of England schools and give ideas which will inspire similar activities for staff and pupils in school.

If you are booked onto the Retreat in June, we will let you know nearer the time whether it is able to go ahead and we know we already have some bookings for October.

Rainbow Revolution

One of the things I’ve enjoyed on my daily exercise walks near my home are the rainbows in the window and it’s been great to see on social media, many of our schools have joined in too. It’s also been wonderful to see so many pupils from our schools sending messages of support to different key workers. Throughout this newsletter you may see a few more!

At St Margaret’s CE Primary, Rochdale, pupils have been showing their great appreciation of our NHS staff by creating pictures which are now displayed outside the Critical Care Ward at NMGH. An NHS worker told their headteacher Mrs Beresford: ‘They have been getting a lot of attention and making us all smile.’

4 YOUTH WORK UPDATE From Youth Officer, Susie Mapledoram

enormous amount of energy and excitement for the year Isonen on the Road ahead. Alongside them this year has been Graeme Bigg (co-leader), Nathan Reeves (Apuope – senior young leader), 2019 and myself, creating our small but perfectly formed IOTR family. That family grew in the April of last year when we met Its always been a huge joy to celebrate the end of an Isonen our Finnish team and enjoyed a weekend by Lake Windermere on the Road (IOTR) year and normally that would be by where these two groups became one. The newly formed team having a service of thanksgiving and commissioning for our then met again in the summer to help lead the Finnish teams. Unfortunately this year we haven’t been able to Confirmation camp at Scargill which was a magnificent celebrate our team in the normal way, so for the moment I’d success down to them, and our final time together was in like to celebrate them here. Finland in October when we reflected and evaluated on our IOTR 2019 year.

Every year on IOTR is extraordinary and life-changing, and that goes for all of us involved. This year was no different, and these three have had a huge impact on me as they have navigated this year together. They have stepped up to challenges with energy and humour, they have supported each other through prayer, encouragement and friendship, they have dug deep in the difficult times, trusted God and always put others before themselves, they have been creative, hilarious, wise and inspiring, and these three young people have shown such extraordinary courage and determination throughout.

We will celebrate them together at some point - that’s for sure, but in the meantime I’m giving thanks to God for them today and everyday, and praying that they will continue to flourish as Christian leaders in our church today and into the days ahead.

Information and application forms for the 2021 Isonen on the Road cohort will be available from mid June for a This is Daniel, Clarissa and Caimen. They kicked off their year January 2021 start. on IOTR just over a year ago, with a few nerves but an

JOIN US ON @ManchesterDiocese FACEBOOK Keep up to date on everything that is happening across the Diocese of Diocese and be the first Manchester Children to access resources made and Family and recommended by the Resources Manchester DBE.

On the official Manchester Diocese Facebook page, you will also find prayers, video reflections, events and Diocesan wide religious opportunities. Every Sunday there is also a Live Stream service that you can watch as Diocese of it happens. Manchester Youth If you have any great ideas for resources or some Good News to share, you can sent them to our Children and Work Resources Family and Youth Work Resources page. Please note that these pages are carefully moderated.

5 MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Mental Health & Wellbeing Resources for

Uncertain Times

We will all be aware of the implications that this time might have on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Feelings of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety are likely to impact all pupil’s, families and staff in different ways and therefore, more than ever, it is important to be providing care and support for positive wellbeing and tools to cope with the current changes. Below we have outlined a few helpful resources to support the wellbeing of pupils, families and school staff during this time:

Mentally Healthy Schools

Coronavirus: Resources for Mental Health and Wellbeing Toolkit. Mentally Healthy Schools will be bringing out a new toolkit every two weeks with up to Resources for date resources and guidance, so do keep a look out. These toolkits contain a wide range of resources to equip Uncertain Times schools to support pupils, families and staff:

A collection of wonderful ideas for young people, youth workers, churches and communities during these extraordinary days. ‘Resources for Uncertain Times’ is a resource pack produced by Youth Mental Wellbeing Worker, Amy Sixsmith that includes the 30 Day Wellbeing Challenge.

Click here to view the full resource pack.

Supporting Children and Young People Charlie Waller Navigating Loss Memorial Trust Working from Home Wellbeing Action Plan. This A resource developed by the Education action plan can support staff in reflecting on how to best Team to help support you and the manage their wellbeing whilst working from home: children and young people you are with, both physically and virtually, with resources, sessions and advice.

Click the icon to access the full resource.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletter

Amy Sixsmith, Diocesan Mental Wellbeing Youth Worker, will be sending out regular updates with Public Health England resources and information for supporting children and young people’s mental wellbeing at this time. If you Guidance for Parent’s and Carers on Supporting Children would like to receive these updates please do sign up and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing: below:

Sign Up Here Supporting children and young people

6 CHILDREN CHANGING PLACES PROJECT

The resources schools provided for each other covered Marvellous Market everything, from Collective Worship to Prayer Space ideas; all easily replicable and engaging for children and young Place! people. The CCPP team have already felt the excitement of the momentum built from just that one morning, seeing the On Wednesday 12 February, 27 of Bolton’s CE Primary and influence of passionate children, young people and teachers Secondary Schools came together to celebrate the love of echo throughout their Ethos groups, wider schools and God. Bolton Parish Church hosted a ‘Market Place Event’, churches. organised by the Board of Education’s Children Changing Places Project. The CCP team support schools across Bolton To keep up to date on all the new things the CCPP team get in their ‘Ethos’ (faith groups), worship teams and chaplaincy. up to, follow them on Twitter using the handle Student ‘Ethos’ representatives, along with their teachers, @placesproject came to the event to share ideas and faith resources with each other. It was a joyous morning of music, games and an insightful sermon from the Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton. It was felt by to be a ‘truly magnificent event’.

Each school had their own space to showcase their work and activities. Students hosted their own stalls, leading others in prayerful (sometimes edible) activities such as key-ring making, stone decorating, biscuit icing and even dunking heart-shaped strawberries into a chocolate fountain! It was a unique opportunity for students to interact with people of all different ages and backgrounds, united by a common ethos.

“For me, the highlight would be seeing such a mix of children, school staff and church representatives all working and worshipping together so comfortably and positively. And especially the way the children on the individual stalls genuinely 'owned' the activity or resource they were sharing with me”

GOD AND THE BIG BANG Are We Just Dreaming?

From Dorset to Darlington, the God and the Big Bang team have travelled far and wide this term to visit lots of schools and cathedrals and explore many different areas of science and faith. Our speakers have given students in Years 5-13 the opportunity to think about whether terraforming Mars could solve all our problems, consider how we respond to climate change and its impacts and to wonder at what might happen if we broke the rules of science!

Closer to home, two fantastic collaborative days have been hosted by schools in the diocese. St Mary’s and St Hilda’s CE Primary, Prestwich, and St Bartholomew’s CE Primary, Westhoughton, St Thomas’ Chequerbent CE Primary and St Andrew’s CE Primary, Over Hulton, came together to discover, discus and debate how science and faith fit together. Students from Year 5 and Year 6 voiced some fantastic questions, including ‘If God is powerful, why can’t he get rid of climate change?’‘How do we know we exist and are not just in a dream?’

7 GOVERNANCE UPDATES

Service of Celebration for Church of England schools will also be celebrated. Headteachers, to ensure awards are available on the and Thanksgiving to evening, please contact the Education Office with governors details at:

Honour the Long [email protected] Service of CE We would also like to posthumously recognise the service of any governor. Would headteachers please contact Deborah Foundation School Smith, Director of Education directly: Governors [email protected] On Tuesday 10 November 2020 we'd like to invite all If you would like to book a place on this service for Schools Governors to a special service to thank you for your members of your Governing Body, family or friends please service to our schools. We welcome any school governor click here. Please save this date, we are hoping the who wishes to attend with colleagues, family, friends or Cathedral will be full! clergy. All are welcome!

The role of a school governor is a voluntary one and as more and more demands are placed on our Governors we really want to use this opportunity to thank you for your service to our schools and show our gratitude and appreciation.

The service will be lead by the Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton and the guest preacher will be Revd Nigel Genders, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England.

Bishop Mark will be delighted to present a certificate for long service of 20 years or more to any long serving governors. Information about any other extraordinary acts of service

Governor Training Events 2020-2021

The remaining training sessions in the Diocesan Governor Training Programme for 2019/20 have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus and consequent restrictions. We are currently planning for a Governors’ Conference for Summer 2021, further details will appear in our next newsletter. Governor Training Events will run again in the new academic year. Please see below a list of courses, dates and locations—some of which will be suitable for other members of the school community as well as Governors.

Please remember to keep us updated about any changes in your Governing Body and contact details.

Date Time Location Course

29.09.20 16.00 Manchester Admissions in VA Schools, Foundation Schools and Academies 17.11.20 18.00 Bolton Effective Governance in Church Schools— Roles and Responsibilities 02.02.21 18.00 Church House, Training for New and Aspiring Chairs of Manchester Governors in Church Schools

23.03.21 16.00 Rochdale Training for New Governors in Church Schools 22.06.21 18.00 Bury Distinctive Christian Governance

To attend any of these courses, please email [email protected]

If your Governing Body or staff would like bespoke training, please email [email protected] one of our advisors will be in touch to make arrangements. 8 Annual Training Meeting for Academy CEOs, Members and Trustees Friday 02 October 2020, 13.00—16.00 At Church House, 90 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2GH Speakers: Michael Mill, Retired Diocesan Director of Education for Carlisle Diocese and Educational Consultant and Q&A with Jane Monks, Diocesan Registrar. This meeting follows on from the morning annual meeting of Secondary Headteachers and Chairs of Governors. You are most welcomes to join the lunch at 12.00, please contact: [email protected]

Virtual Attendance at Admissions 2020 Governing Body/ Annual report by the Chief Schools Adjudicator Academy Trust As in previous years, the Chief Adjudicator considers that the admissions system works effectively in the Meetings normal admissions round, and that in the normal admissions round the needs of vulnerable children and In view of recent government announcements arising from those with particular educational or social needs are the outbreak of coronavirus (initially advising against non- generally well met. However, there remain concerns essential meetings and non-essential travel, then closing about how well some vulnerable children fare when schools to most pupils, and now social distancing and they need a place at other times. instructions to many people to stay at home) governing bodies may wish to consider whether to make provision for Two particular issues relating to school admissions have "virtual" attendance at meetings (if they have not already arisen as a result of the closure of schools, cessation of put such arrangements in place). church services, and government restrictions/advice... Regulation 14(8) of The School Governance (Roles, To see the full article by Stephen Mercer, DBE Procedures and Allowances) Regulations 2013 allows a Governance Advisor, click here. school governing body to approve alternative arrangements for governors to participate or vote at meetings ... To see the full annual report from the Chief Schools Adjudicator, click here. To see the full article by Stephen Mercer, DBE Governance Advisor, click here.

This response has been informed by the 25 March 2020 update from the Governmental Department of Education. We advise that you refer their website for the most accurate information. School Governance Guidance On Tuesday 14th April 2020, the Government issued a statement about admissions appeals in light of COVID-19. Corona Virus (COVID-19): School Admissions Appeal

background in church school leadership, governance and Church School inspection. Governance Online For more information or to sign up, contact: Training Programme Catherine Greslow at 0151 291 3093 or [email protected] (CSGTP) Improving For the full leaflet, click here Church School Governance The CSGTP is aimed at Governors and Trustees (Directors) in both church schools and schools with a distinctively Christian ethos, providing support for Governors and Trustees (Directors) committed to improving provision and outcomes for children and young people. The programme has been developed by experts and professionals with a

9 STORIES FROM OUR SCHOOLS Crompton House’s

Mental Health Week

Children’s Mental Health Week was celebrated in various ways at Crompton House CE School throughout the week. There was a Cake Bake Sale with lots of cakes baked and donated by students and staff and activities during Form Time such as the ‘Stress Bucket’ exercise. Students took part in a ‘Simply Read’ session which involves taking time out to relax in a calm and quiet environment and just ‘simply read’ with no distractions. Reading for Pleasure is proven to assist with Mental Health and Wellbeing which is something which Crompton House take very seriously and these sessions take place weekly in the school library. The students enjoy the Happy 150th Birthday peace, quiet and relaxation.

St Mary’s Hawkshaw! On Thursday 06 February a ‘Find Your Brave Show and Tell’ activity in the Library took place. The students The school certainly celebrated in style! The week started brought an object into school such as a book, item, photo, with the Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton picture or anything else that symbolized how they or leading Sermons on Sunday. Staff and governors someone close to them had ‘Found Their Brave’. Some received a very special commemorative mug and the examples of how the students related to the ‘Find Your pupils designed personalised tea towels. Brave’ campaign was by explaining to staff and their peers within the group, a new skill they had learned, how The school created an exhibition of historical memorabilia they had overcome something they were scared of and which was open after school. The exhibition was well how they had managed to deal with a particular difficult attended and some past staff and pupils enjoyed a tour of time within their lives. The students enjoyed sharing their the school. Later in the week there was an afternoon tea experience and as a result this is something the school for over 70 past pupils and staff. Entertainment was will repeat again on a more regular basis. provided by Lancashire Belle, the school choir and Hazlehurst’s Brass Ensemble.

A Family Fun Night with over 120 guests also took place. Food was provided by all the families creating a magnificent Jacob’s Join Feast. Everybody had an excellent evening.

On Friday pupils and staff dressed up in Victorian clothing and completed Victorian style activities. Even the school lunch had a Victorian theme! As part of the day they had photographs taken of all the children and staff. It certainly looked as though they had travelled back in time. It was a wonderful week packed with celebrations!

Now, our painted prayers have been turned into textile Five Finger Prayer prayer flags by Gill. They hang from the ceiling in our entrance corridor so our prayers can be a blessing to This half term at St.Peter's CE, Ashton - under - Lyne everyone who walks past we've been working with Gilly Parish, our Artist in them. We love the fact they're Residence, on a 'Five Finger Prayer Project'. She showed us all so different but we REALLY how each of our fingers represents someone or something love the fact we know God has to talk to God about, from our family and friends to the heard and seen them all! wider world. It really helped us focus, and showed us how talking to God helps us, as well as the people we're praying We had a fantastic time for! Some of our prayers were thankful. Some were hopeful. learning about the Five Finger Some were about the people we love and the challenges we Prayer. We'd love you to come face. Others focused on unity and bringing people together, and see them and leave us whatever their beliefs and opinions. with a prayer of your own!

After we'd talked about our prayers with each other - and Huge thanks to with God! - we painted them as a permanent reminder of @gillyparishart for her work the importance of prayer. on the project.

10 NATIONAL CHURCH OF ENGLAND EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2020

“Vulnerability in leadership is ok. Stay connected to your team, let them step up. Pray and step up for them in return. God is working in the vulnerability rather than the shiny achievements.”

To read more about the event, click here. Chorus of Approval for St Paul’s trip to London

‘I will remember this experience for as long as I live and will tell everyone what an amazing day it was’

On Thursday 06 February, the pupils of St Paul’s CE Primary School, Royton, sang as part of a massed choir of 120 children at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, Visionary Curriculum London to spread the Christian values of unity and love to over 900 Senior leaders of Church Schools across the UK Leadership who attended their annual Conference.

The 2020 National Church of England Education Conference St Paul’s was invited to represent the North of England as was organised by the Church of England Foundation for part of a massed choir singing songs led by iSingPop. Over Educational Leadership on 06 Feb 2020 at Central Hall January, the year 5 and 6 choir learned five songs to Westminster. perform collectively in Westminster. In order to attend and travel down to the capital the school put out a request for The document ‘Called Connected Committed: 24 sponsorship. The appeal spread far and wide and following Leadership Practices for Educational Leaders’ was much media coverage, the school managed to fundraise launched and will be the focus of our forthcoming Zoom just over £3000. Heads and Chairs Meetings in 2020 and Annual Conference on 30 April 2021 The school staff were so proud to see the pupils taking part in such an amazing and unforgettable day; to experience the The Education team were inspired by the sense of wealth of history and culture that London has to offer. They community gained from being part of something that reflects able to collaborate with other pupils from across England to the breadth of Church school education across the nation. come together as a community and sing in the universal The Most Revd Rt Hon , language of music, sharing songs expressing Christian values Justin Welby concluded the conference with a Q&A session bringing everyone together to be as one. where he talked honestly and with humility about his own struggles and need to rely on God for strength. For more information about iSingPop, click here.

11 THE TUTOR TRUST

The Tutor Trust is a Dealing with Corona Virus – ongoing tutor support Manchester-based education charity that offers tuition in Although schools are currently closed and all our regular Maths, English and Science tuition sessions have stopped, the Tutor Trust still wish to to pupils between Y5 and offer their support. This could potentially include support Y11. Our mission at Tutor over the Summer holidays. Trust is about ‘transforming Additionally, they are hoping to offer online tuition soon, lives through tuition’ by through a secure, bespoke technology platform. This will making sure every child ensure that pupils can access our tutors from home while who needs additional schools remain closed. academic support can access a tutor. Finally, the Tutor Trust are offering to help pupils catch-up on their school work after the period of home schooling has

ended. Should your school wish to commission the Tutor Partnership with Manchester Diocese Trust to provide this specialist tuition, please contact Alice Taylor for details including costs. This academic year The Tutor Trust has partnered with the Diocesan Board of Education to deliver small group tuition in If you would like any further information on anything schools currently in the Requires Improvement category mentioned above, please get in touch with: across the Diocese. The project was funded by the release of [email protected] monies from the reserves and investments of Manchester Or check out the website: Diocesan Board of Education. The Rt Revd Mark Davies, www.TheTutorTrust.org Bishop of Middleton wished to benefit the pupils of today. So far, the Tutor Trust have worked successfully in 8 schools, Update from Alice Taylor delivering 280 hours of tuition.

CHRISTIAN AID UPDATE

Achievements

Congratulations to the following schools in our Diocese, all of which have been awarded Global Neighbours Bronze Award. Let us know as and when you are given an award!

Global Neighbours Parochial CE Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne

We have a team of volunteer teachers, including St Andrew’s Methodist Primary School, Little Hulton ex-headteachers, who are available to lead collective worship, lessons and workshops with classes, school St Andrew's CE Primary School, Boothstown councils and ethos groups. The Christian Aid teachers can St Andrew's CE Primary School, Levenshulme support you in developing courageous advocacy in your pupils, and in playing their part in making God’s world a St Anne’s C of E Primary School, Edgeside fairer place. St Luke’s C of E Primary School, Weaste Please contact Bex Turner [email protected] St. Peter’s C of E Primary School, Rochdale

Christian Aid Week St Peter's CofE Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne

10-16 May St Peter’s C of E Primary School, Farnworth

Christian Aid Week is moving online! We are building a vibrant, virtual Christian Aid Week so you can take part with our online community. We would love you to join in to show love for our neighbours near and far, as a global family.

For more information about how to get involved, please see refer to their website here.

12 CONGRATULATIONS A huge well done for your achievements

would like to wish all staff an students a huge SIAMS Results congratulations for all of their hard work.

This term, we are immensely proud of all our schools who When schools return to regular scheduling and you are underwent their Statutory Inspection of Anglican and contacted by a SIAMS inspector for your assessment, please Methodist Schools (SIAMS). Every school inspected email [email protected] with the date achieved either a ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ result, and so we of your inspection.

All Saints CE Primary School, Stand, Whitefield Excellent

Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Ashton-Under-Lyne Excellent

St Hilda's CE Primary School, Northmoor Good

St John's CE Primary School, Radcliffe Good

St Peter's CE Primary School, Rochdale Excellent

We recognise that some schools may have had inspections that we do not yet have the certificate for. If this is the case, we will look forward to celebrating your achievements in our next newsletter.

SIAMS Support Resources

SIAMS: A Evaluation Schedule for Schools and Inspectors April 2018

Interpretations of Spiritual Development in the St George’s CE Primary School, Atherton receiving Classroom October 2019 their Excellent SIAMS result (Autumn 2019)

Chester, Liverpool and Manchester Diocesan Boards of Education SIAMS Handbook Autumn 2018

Inspections Update As you may already be aware all routine Ofsted and SIAMS inspections have been suspended until further notice.

Nigel Genders, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England Education Office, issued a statement to all Headteachers and Governors saying that he has ‘taken the decision to suspend SIAMS inspections until further notice’. Guidance from both the government and the Church of England are informing the decisions made and ‘as things develop and a picture emerges of how schools will operate over the coming weeks and months… will keep assessing the situation’

Ofsted have said that ‘urgent inspections where specific concerns have been raised can still go ahead… to prioritise the immediate safety of children where necessary.’ St Mary’s CE Primary School, Hawkshaw receiving For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19, their Excellent SIAMS result (Autumn 2019) please check the Church of England website here.

13 KEY DATES CONTACTS May Deborah Smith 01 Primary and Secondary School Head Diocesan Director of Education Teachers Zoom Meeting 0161 828 1429/07854816639 [email protected] 05 CEOs, Academy Members and Trustees Zoom

Meeting

14 Oldham, Stockport, Rochdale (RAF) and Wigan Karen Beal Heads and Chairs Zoom Meeting Children’s Officer 01618281433/07967657587 18 Manchester, Trafford, Salford, Tameside Heads [email protected] and Chairs Zoom Meeting 20 Blackburn & Darwen, Bolton, Bury, Leona Brooks Lancashire Heads and Chairs Zoom Buildings Administrative Assistant Meeting 01618281406 [email protected]

June Ruth Gent Senior Administrator 09 Pentecost 01618281408 10-19 Y6 Leavers Service or Alternative [email protected]

Lois Hall September Project Support Worker Children Changing Places and External Communications Administrator 29 Governors Training Event 01618281460/07776993301

[email protected]

October Susie Mapledoram Youth Officer 02 Annual Secondary School Headteacher and 01618281435/07967657587 Chair of Governors Meeting (09.30-13.00) [email protected] 02 NEW Primary School Headteachers and Chair of Governors Training Meeting (13.00-16.00) Vaneeta Patel Financial Administrative Assistant 02 CEOs, Academy Members and Trustees Annual 01618281438 Training (13.00-16.00) [email protected] 14 New Headteacher Evensong at Manchester Cathedral (17:30) Amy Sixsmith Mental Wellbeing Youth Worker 01618281456/07384254262 November [email protected]

07 Jubilee Celebration for the Church of Helen Tyler Pakistan at Manchester Cathedral Schools Administrative Assistant 10 Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for 01618281436 School Governors at Manchester Cathedral [email protected]

17 Governors Training Event Enquires

Applications for building project December [email protected] 10 Retiring Headteacher Evensong General administration enquiries [email protected]

Autumn Newsletter 2020: School at Home

We are particularly interested in stories Deadline for article submissions: about how creative your school has Friday 17th July, 2020 been in your community and church, positive stories about promoting Please send articles to: wellbeing and supporting others. [email protected]

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