Boteler's 'outstanding' practice gets national acclaim and features on new website

Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School

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02/06/2009

Boteler's 'outstanding' practice gets national acclaim and features on new website

Assistant Headteacher Wendy Kelly, Canon Mike Finlay, the representative from 'Christian Values for Schools', Rev John Harries and Headteacher John Sharples

Staff and governors from Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School travelled to London last week as special guests at the launch of a new website for schools across the country. Following its ‘outstanding’ inspection last year, the school was invited to feature on the website so that other schools can benefit from its experience. Many staff, pupils and governors appear in video extracts, sharing their good practice.

The project, commissioned by the Church of England’s National Society, is designed to enable the nation’s 5,000 Church of England schools – as well as schools without formal church links – to explore Christian themes.

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, features in an introductory video on the website, explaining that the ethos of church schools runs deep: ‘A Christian school is one in which the atmosphere has that kind of openness about it, that sense that people are worth spending time with, that people need time to grow, need loving attention. The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not.’

‘It doesn’t necessarily mean than everyone involved has to share the same theology or philosophy. It doesn’t mean that everyone knows that they have this relationship with God, and is consciously working at it. But a Christian school is one in which the entire atmosphere is pervaded by the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.’

The Revd Jan Ainsworth, the Church of England’s Chief Education Officer, comments: ‘The website meets the demand from schools for resources that help them articulate what their foundation means today. As well as being rooted in the Christian vision, the values we’ve identified are appreciated by people of other faiths and none, reflecting the fact that most Church of England schools have an inclusive intake across a range of faiths and backgrounds. Building a truly distinctive ethos is something that involves the whole school, led by governors and staff, and this resource will help them begin to explore these themes in a profound way, and in a way that can be lived out across the school.’

See for yourselves at www.christianvalues4schools.co.uk

Posted at 10:16 AM by Mr M Frodsham | Category: News | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

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