The School Coordinator Network
Does your church connect effectively with your local schools?
Less than 8% of
the nation’s children (age 5-16) attend a church but 99% of them go to school.
What is more, schools are wide open to partnerships with their local churches.
But connecting with schools in a way that works for everyone – teachers, parents, church members and, of course, the children – is not straightforward. It is vital that, in approaching schools, churches are well briefed on how schools work, the national curriculum, child protection law and a wide range of other issues.
We believe that every church with an interest in young people (and surely that is every church) should appoint a School Coordinator, acting as a link with local schools. Christian Resources into Schools (CRiS) has set up the School Coordinator Network to encourage, inform, resource and support these people.
Who can be a SC?
Sometimes this role is taken on by the minister or youth leader. Sometimes an active or retired teacher is the best person for the job. In other cases it is someone with a heart for work with young people and the time to devote to understanding the issues and building the relationships.
How can churches work with schools
Most
schools welcome the offer of support and resources from their local churches.
Examples of successful church – school partnerships include voluntary classroom
and general assistance, support with assemblies, acting as school governors,
educational visits to churches, provision of resources and facilities and talks
to children by church members.
However, teachers and others who work in schools are very busy and it is all too easy for a well-intentioned offer of support to be dismissed. The School Coordinator Network will help churches develop approaches that succeed for all concerned.
Joining the Network
The School Coordinator Network is managed by Christian Resources into Schools, a registered charity with trustees representing all the main Christian denominations in the UK. CRiS is also a member of the Evangelical Alliance.
Applications to join are welcomed from all mainstream churches and any others belonging to the Evangelical Alliance or other recognised association. We reserve the right to turn down applications without providing an explanation.
Churches can nominate one person as their School Coordinator. We will then provide an information and resources pack, training and support and a password-protected website with an interactive forum. We will also offer a speaker who will give a presentation and demonstration at a church meeting.
Basic membership costs £50 per year for small churches, with larger churches invited to make a higher contribution to our costs.