In November 1998 the General Synod of the Church of England passed a resolution recognising that church schools stand at the centre of the Church's mission to the nation. In response, the Archbishops' Council has set up a Church Schools Review Group, which met for the first time on 11th January under the chairmanship of Lord Dearing.

This is the first major review of church schools in over a quarter of a century. The Review Group is keen to build on the current success and high standing of church schools, establishing a vision for their future that takes accounts of the opportunities provided by recent changes in legislation.

"Anyone coming new to the world of Church of England schools," said Lord Dearing, "must be surprised to see their very uneven geographical spread and the big disparity in the provision of places between primary and secondary schools."

Currently one in four English primary schools is a church school, but only one in twenty secondary schools. This imbalance is one of the areas that the Review Group hopes to address, along with increasing vocations to teach and the role Church Colleges might play in meeting the demand for Christian teachers.

"No time could be better than the present for a Review," Lord Dearing explained, "in the light of the recent Schools Standards and Framework Act and the unsatisfied demand by parents for places in church schools. The Church of England has a renewed confidence in its distinctive mission in education."

"I am fortunate in having a strong committee and I hope that we can discharge this remit within 18 months rather than in the three years initially envisaged," concluded Lord Dearing.

Item from: Church of England