The Bishop of Whitby, Paul Ferguson, writes:
The Triangle of Support
No matter how long it is since we left school, there’s one thing about July that we can never forget: the end of the school year and the start of the summer holidays.
We all have memories of leaving a familiar desk and classroom behind, and then finally leaving school altogether. Thousands of children in our Diocese will be making one of those transitions this month. It’s a big step.
So I’m writing this letter ‘to the saints of the Diocese of York’ partly to ask for your prayers for all the school students in our communities between the Humber and the Tees, and partly to give a shout-out for the staff and governors who work so hard so that the young people can have the best possible experience, nurture and support.
It is hugely demanding, and for many, however dedicated they might be, it’s stressful.
We’re blessed in the Diocese of York to have four Church of England secondary academies, and well over a hundred church primary schools and academies. They are a vital part of our mission. You can read more about them and our diocesan support team at dioceseofyork.org.uk/education.
And let’s remember the many faithful, worshipping people who are teachers, governors and supporters in non-church schools. Many of those schools are very ‘church friendly’ and it’s great to see strong links.