SPRING TERM 2016 DERBY DIOCESE BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Call to the Light As  a  student  I  earned  a  crust  as  a  motorbike  instructor  at  weekends  and  factory  worker  during  the  holidays.  The  culture  of  “the  lads”  was  quite  eye  opening.  One  winter  morning  I  turned  up  at  the  factory  and  accidentally  reversed  my  bike  exhaust  into  an  old  car.  To  be  fair,  the  car  was  so  full  of  damage  and  rust  I  was  not  sure  I  had  actually  done  any  new  damage,  the  real  harm  had  been  done  to  my  pride.  And  so  it  started,  the  self-­‐jusDficaDon  for  not  doing  the  right  thing.  Honesty  got  the  beGer  of  my  dark  side,  so  I  leH  a  note  to  the  considerable  disbelief  of  my  colleagues.  At  the  end  of  the  day  the  car  had  gone.  It  was  only  then  that  I  found  out  my  colleagues  had  removed  my  note  and  turned  away  a  disgruntled  owner  who  had  knocked  on  the  manager’s  door.  Should  I  have  thanked  them  for  their  kindness?  

This  Christmas  we  have  remembered  the  coming/advent  of  the  Light  of  the  World.  Jesus,  “The  true  light  that  gives  light  to  every  man  was  coming  into  the  world.”  (John  1:9)  This  ChrisDan  frame  of  darkness  and  light  pervades  much  of  our  culture.  Yes,  I  did  see  Star  Wars.  

The  Dark  Side  of  the  Force  is  all  about  temptaDon;  it  is  “quicker,  easier,  more  seducDve,”  than  the  light,  according  to  Yoda  at  least.  It  tempts  our  basic  insDncts  and  self-­‐interests,  “Give  into  your  hate,”  implores  the  Emperor  tesDng  the  resolve  of  Luke  Skywalker.  In  the  latest  iteraDon,  “The  Force  Awakens”  Ren  prays  before  the  symbolic  mask  of  Darth  Vader,  “Forgive  me,  I  feel  it  again.  The  call  to  the  Light.”    

TemptaDon  oHen  comes  more  subtly  and  fuzzily  than  experienced  by  Star  Wars  characters.  But  it’s  never  too  late  to  find  the  Light,  to  find  a  beGer  way  forward.  “All  have  sinned  and  fall  short  of  the  glory  of  God”  (Romans  3:23)  but  even  Darth  Vader,  as  corrupt  as  he  was,  turned  to  the  light  in  the  end.    

My  post  advent  prayer;  that  we  would  walk  with  our  Lord  and  differenDate  light  from  darkness.  “I  am  the  light  of  the  world.  He  who  follows  me  shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  but  have  the  light  of  life.”  (John  8:12)  

!1

DERBY CATHEDRAL New curriculum Magpie Ideas page 3

NUTS AND BOLTS Dates for diary New appointments Inset

page 4

DERBY DIOCESE CHURCH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

RESOURCES RE Teacher’s Guide Spring’s Easter Project RE and British Values

page 4

INSPIRATION Kolkata school links Magpie ideas page 2

WE SEEK TO OFFER OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS

The Springs Easter Project leads pupils

through a series of dance workshops that

help them engage with the Easter story.

Children will learn and create movement in response to the story. They can explore their own spirituality as the workshops link Jesus' relationship with his disciples to Jesus' presence today. The workshops culminate in a performance of the Easter story by the pupils, which can be shown to school and parents alike.

‘...a pleasure to observe… The

retelling of the Easter story

was poignant and helped the

children reflect on the

emotions of the different

characters...awe inspiring’

Sue Thackray, Head Teacher St Peter’s Tandridge, The Easter Project 2015

Springs Dance Company

Easter Project

SPRINGS DANCE COMPANY specialises in RE through dance and helps young people learn

about and learn from the Christian faith.

SPRING TERM 2016 DERBY DIOCESE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Kolkata School Links The Autumn term saw the start of what we hope to be supportive, enriching and long-lasting links with schools in the diocese of Kolkata. It started with a group of 7 head teachers from church schools in Kolkata coming to visit this diocese and spending time in seven of our schools. Then at the end of October the visit was reciprocated with a group of us going to visit the schools in Kolkata. These schools ranged from well funded, prestigious schools to those serving some of

the poorest children in the slums of Kolkata. While we were there it became evident that we could really make a difference to children’s lives there as well as h e l p d e v e l o p t h e g l o b a l awareness of our pupils. We are hatching plans to:

*arrange a return visit of the initial group of teachers to develop the relationships between the schools

*provide some CPD for our Indian colleagues using peer mentoring, model teaching and out of school course

*establish new links between more schools in the two dioceses

*focus on fund raising to help improve or replace 15 school buildings which are under the care of Kolkata Cathedral Relief Services

F u r t h e r d e t a i l s w i l l b e forthcoming as they develop but we hope you feel able to be part of this diocesan link. While we were there we were able to travel to Darjeeling and visit one of the two schools that has benefited from the money raised in 2011

as part of our ‘Bring 200’ challenge. They were able to build a kindergarten block and so can now educate girls from the age of 3 right through to 18. So to all those of you who helped raise the money, thank you.

!2

Magpie Ideas As we visit schools we pick up all sorts of creative ideas and here are just a few of them;

During their Friendship Week (a pos i t ive re-naming of Anti Bullying), each pupil at Clifton VC Primary was encouraged to note when one of their p e e r s w a s s h o w i n g friendship to themselves or others.

St Anne’s VC Primary, Baslow enabled their KS1 art club to lead the way in making an eye-catching display showing how we can all work together to make the world a better place for everyone one.

SPRING TERM 2016 DERBY DIOCESE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Derby Cathedral - New Curriculum Ready As the new year begins I’d like to take this opportunity to  r e m i n d   s c h o o l s o f t h e wonderful learning resource we have in Derby Cathedral. N e w l y r e f u r b i s h e d t h i s beaut i fu l enl ightenment building offers so much to

enhance children’s spiritual development, as well as supporting work on British values and many other curriculum areas. New learning packages have been written by myself and the Canon Missioner to link directly with the new RE syllabus as well as many other workshops. Schools are invited to use the Cathedral as a space for collective worship working alongside the Cathedral clergy to make a special event / celebration as part of their visit. If you would like to find out more I am happy to come to school and talk with staff. Lead staff meetings or plan visits. I am also happy to lead collective worship and teach about the Cathedral in school and, as a music specialist, I am able to include music/singing for those schools that would appreciate additional help. A Cathedral Education leaflet has already been sent to schools and my contact details are on there and also the Cathedral website.The Cathedral is ready to support schools in many different ways. Get in touch and let’s work together to make a great visit for the children.

Viv Lawrence (Education Officer, Derby Cathedral)

Just a Thought - Language Matters!  There has been a culling of words concerning nature from the Oxford Junior Dictionary. The following words are no longer deemed relevant to a modern-day childhood: acorn, adder, ash, beech, bluebell, buttercup, catkin, cowslip, cygnet, dandelion, fern, hazel, heather, heron, ivy, kingfisher, lark, mistletoe, nectar, newt, otter pasture and willow (Macfarlane, R., 2015, Landmarks). In their place are words such as attachment, block-graph, blog, broadband, bullet-point, celebrity, chatroom, voice mail. If children no longer have the language to describe and name the natural world maybe they will lose a sense of the wonder and value of it. So, bring back nature tables and walks, use stunning images to start off collective worship, and even spelling lists could help us to notice what we’ve got before it’s gone!

!3

A member of the church helped pupils at Loscoe VC Primary develop their understanding of the Trinity. On a Saturday morning she met with the pupils who make up the Collective Worship Club, along with their parents. Together they made this impressive display that wil l be used in both school and church to explore what Christians

Hartshorne VC Primary always holds collective worsh ip ou ts ide on a  Friday  straight after lunch, regardless of the weather. They use the space to explore the Christian understanding of God as Trinity in creative ways. The staff enjoy the chance to do fun things (dressing up seems to be a feature!) and pupi ls love the opportuni ty  to be outside altogether along with the lunchtime staff who give their award which is focussed on that term’s value.

photo by Della Astle

SPRING TERM 2016 DERBY DIOCESE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Resources Religious Education and British Values This book of guidance has been written and edited by the RE Today Advisory Team to help schools and teachers of RE to understand and respond to the requirements to promote British Values in schools. Inside you will find up-to-the-minute guidance, a review of the inspection requirements, suggestions for policy

and curriculum development and some tried-and-tested RE lesson ideas that explore tolerance, respect, democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty. £15 from http://shop.retoday.org.uk

The Springs Easter Project leads pupils through a series of dance workshops that help them engage with the Easter story.Most often it is delivered over six workshop sessions followed by a performance day. However, it can be adapted to suit the school. Contact info@springsdancecompany.org.uk or 07775 628 442

Religious Education: The Teacher's Guide explores the landscape of RE in the UK, setting the context for the teacher and leader of RE. It focuses on the essential information needed by teachers of RE, and offers a wealth of practical strategies for effective subject leadership, from active learning and assessment through to visits, visitors and British values. Brief guides to

religions and world-views support teachers' subject knowledge as well as suggesting ideas for the classroom. £25 http://shop.retoday.org.uk

!4

Dates for Diaries 2016-17Head Teacher Meeting25 Feb 201617 June 20169.30 am -3.30pm

Head Teacher School Improvement Briefings7 Mar 201628 June 20168.30 am- 12 noonAll the above at Willerlsey Castle, Cromford except 25 Feb

Collective Worship Coordinator’s Meetings 2016 4 Feb - Hallmark Hotel, Derby5 Feb - Chatsworth House

RE Coordinator Training 2016 9.30 am-3.30 pm18 May Hallmark Hotel, Derby19 May Chatsworth House

Ongoing Church School Governors’ Training 8 Mar Derby Church House10 Mar St Anne’s VC, Baslow14 Mar St Luke’s VC, Glossop7-8.30pm

2017 Church Schools’ Conference 30 Nov 2017The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick

RE Coordinator’s Training Please note that the dates have changed. The training is no longer on the 14th and 15th April but is now on the 18th May in Derby and 19th May at Chatsworth.

RE Film Competition on the Lord’s Prayer with a day of Footprints Theatre Company in school as the prize. See small flier included with this mailing or go to our website http://derby.anglican.org/education/schools/religious-education-re/

For the list of INSET available please go to http://derby.anglican.org/education/schools/inset/

Welcome to New Head Teachers Joseph Green -Mugginton VC Primary

Kerry Marsh - Newbold CE Primary (now substantive head)

Suzanne Forster - St Giles CE Primary (now substantive head)

The Springs Easter Project leads pupils

through a series of dance workshops that

help them engage with the Easter story.

Children will learn and create movement in response to the story. They can explore their own spirituality as the workshops link Jesus' relationship with his disciples to Jesus' presence today. The workshops culminate in a performance of the Easter story by the pupils, which can be shown to school and parents alike.

‘...a pleasure to observe… The

retelling of the Easter story

was poignant and helped the

children reflect on the

emotions of the different

characters...awe inspiring’

Sue Thackray, Head Teacher St Peter’s Tandridge, The Easter Project 2015

Springs Dance Company

Easter Project

SPRINGS DANCE COMPANY specialises in RE through dance and helps young people learn

about and learn from the Christian faith.