Diocesan Director of Education Andrew Smith writes:
The York Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) and its education team continue to respond proactively to the ever changing educational landscape.
The DBE is consciously broadening its support to parishes and schools so that they work effectively in partnership with each other to further develop the Christian vision of a school.
Over the last year, the DBE has continued to progress its vision for the number of school led Multi Academy Trusts (MATS) across the Diocese; supported the development of further multi-school federations; and worked on the closure of two small schools. It is always a very hard decision to close a school but given an ever increasing budget deficit, significantly reduced pupil numbers and an inadequate Ofsted judgement, sometimes it has to be the right decision.
The DBE and education team continue to be held accountable by the Department for Education and Ofsted (the Schools Inspectorate) for the Church schools and academies across the Diocese. The DBE is pleased to report that the standards across the Diocese continue to be strong with 112 (90%) of the Church schools and academies graded as good or outstanding by Ofsted. In addition, the education team supports its schools before and after their SIAMS denominational inspection. This targeted support helps Church schools and academies to develop and live out their Christian foundation in a way that meets the needs of the children and young people for their particular circumstance. Again standards are strong with 123 of the 125 schools and academies (98%) judged to be good or outstanding in SIAMS.
Supporting curriculum development has always been an important part of the DBE’s work. Therefore to support teaching in Religious Education (RE), the Understanding Christianity resource has been introduced to all our Church schools and academies over the last year and a network of hubs has been established across the Diocese to support RE teachers in both community and church schools.
The pace of change in education always seems to be a major factor in our work. However the DBE and education team are confident that we remain well placed to continue the diocesan mission towards our Church schools whilst at the same time taking further opportunities to offer support to all churches and schools across the Diocese.