Why choose a Church of England School?

A Church of England school is not a faith school. Rather, it is a school with a designated religious character. Church of England schools exist for the benefit of their local community and are inclusive of people who have a Christian faith, another faith, or no stated religious faith at all.

At Birchington Church of England Primary School we have a clear Christian Vision that underpins and shapes our work. The impact of our vision on pupils’ and adults’ ability to flourish as part of the school community is inspected approximately every five years by Section 48 inspectors using the SIAMS Schedule. The religious authority for Church of England schools is the Diocese in which the school is located, the Governing Body of which is the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE). Its work is governed by the DBE Measure 2021, section 19 of which outlines the definition of a Church of England school.

What is it like attending a Church of England school?

Church of England schools serve their community and are therefore expected to be inclusive and welcoming, reflecting local need. This is monitored by SIAMS. Entitled, ‘Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good’, the Vision for Education sets out the Church’s understanding of the meaning and purpose of education and summarises this under four strands:

➢ Educating for Wisdom, Knowledge, and Skills

➢ Educating for Hope and Aspiration

➢ Educating for Community and Living Well Together

➢ Educating for Dignity and Respect

The Vision is inspired by the Christian commitment to enabling people to live life in all its fullness (Bible reference: John chapter 10, verse 10).

Life for both pupils and adults at Birchington CE Primary School has this at its heart