Day 1
Developments in Education Highlighted at General Synod
The Board of Education (NI) has expressed its concern about the voices in the media, politics and society which might question the role of faith in education. Proposing the Report of the Board of Education at General Synod today (Friday May 10), Canon Malcolm Kingston (for the Board of Education for Northern Ireland) said that the board believes that a school is “best served by a non–denominational Christian ethos open to those of all faiths and none”.
Canon Kingston said that the board had also been considering the findings of the Independent Review of Education in Northern Ireland which was published in December 2023 and how it relates to the role of Churches in education.
Outlining the work of the Board in Northern Ireland for the last year, he said that members had continued to focus on its key functions:
- working with other Churches to develop a clear and shared vision of education shaped by core values of the Christian faith
- advising Synod of developments in education policy in Northern Ireland
- representing the Church in work with the Department of Education and other education bodies
- liaising with other Churches within the Transferors Representatives’ Council
- supporting the Religious Education core syllabus in schools
Canon Kingston said that the Board of Education supported the Transferor Representatives’ Council in their pursuit of a revision to the Religious Education Curriculum in Northern Ireland and endorsed the position that collective worship is a Christian act and is vital in the retention of a Christian ethos in all controlled and Church of Ireland schools.
He expressed the board’s concern with the direction of travel of an imposed part of the Relationship and Sexuality Education curriculum concerning abortion and sexual reproduction for all schools in Northern Ireland. He added that the Board noted the high level of parental response to the Department of Education consultation supporting the role of individual schools and their ethos in determining RSE delivery and welcomed the advice of the Department of Education on this matter.
He thanked Canon Amanda Adams and Frances Boyd for representing the Church as members of the Education Authority Board. He said that the involvement of the Church of Ireland in the work of the authority was important as it was responsible for the delivery of efficient education services to meet the needs of children and young people through schools and youth services.
Expressing the deep concern of the Board on the under funding of the education system, he said: “They are particularly concerned with the impact on children and wish to thank all teachers, staff and governors for working in such difficult circumstances”.
Canon Kingston said the Board had been working with the Department of Education and the Education Authority on the growth in the number of children and young people presenting with special educational needs which had created challenges in terms of school placements and resourcing.
The Transferor Representatives’ Council had continued to meet key partners in the education section and political parties on educational policy issues, he reported. TRC had also been involved in area planning of education provision across Northern Ireland. They had been working with representatives of the Catholic Church to agree the conditions required for the creation of schools jointly managed by Protestant and Catholic Churches. TRC are also supporting church nominators of Transferor Governors in the process of reconstitution of school Boards of Governors.
Canon Kingston expressed the Board’s thanks to all its members and to Dr Peter Hamill for his support.
Seconding the report, Hazel Corrigan began by thanking the outgoing boards of management of primary schools and welcoming the incoming boards who started their four year term of office in November.
She welcomed the endorsement by the Minister for Education Norma Foley of the work of faith based schools at a recent conference and in particular her acknowledgement of the work of boards of management.
Mrs Corrigan said that over recent months Dr Ken Fennelly with Susan Ellis and Eileen Flynn had delivered training for new primary boards of management. By the end of May near 1,600 members of boards will have attended training from each dioceses with primary schools in the Republic.
She highlighted the Small Schools Cluster Project in which four schools in Derry and Raphoe have been participating for the last few years and have found useful. Minister Foley has announced the extension of this scheme for another two years, she reported and she thanked the Minister for this.
The redevelopment of the Follow Me religious education curriculum for primary schools under Church of Ireland patronage was the major project being undertaken by the board at the moment. The content is being updated to present the content in a more modern and engaging way. A new website is being developed along with a range of new resources.
She encouraged parents to consider applying for a Secondary Education Committee (SEC) grant and asked schools to ensure parents are aware of the grand for children attending a Church of Ireland or Protestant school. Their website is www.secgrant.ie.
Mrs Corrigan concluded by commending the bishops who were patrons of schools whose work in education went unseen.
Debate on the report began with a contribution by Bishop Andrew Forster who emphasised the importance of our schools and thanked teachers and principals in schools north and south. He said conditions in schools had been horrendous from Covid, to budgets. “What we see is teachers doing the best they can with few resources and parents groups doing their best to raise funds,” he commented. He said the commitment of parishes and local clergy to their schools was marvellous. He said being a patron for a school was usually a joyful thing. But sometimes it was difficult, he said observing that the RCB was considering support for patrons. He thanked Dr Hammill and Dr Fennelly for their support. He also urged members to look at the research of Dr Jacqui Wilkinson of the Church of Ireland Centre in DCU who interviewed many children on their experience of Church of Ireland Schools.
The Revd Adrian Dorrian (Down) said that one of the most fulfilling things he found in his ministry was serving as a Transferor Representative on boards of governors. He asked members to consider volunteering for the role of governor.
Archdeacon Lesley Stevenson (Meath and Kildare) spoke about Boards of Management and brought up some concerns about the changes that had taken place. He said board work had become much more complicated with policies to work through. He thanked boards of management for the efforts they put in to ensure policies are in place. He spoke about finance for schools and the deficits experienced. He said the grants for school books has been trumpeted but they didn’t trumpet about the dropping of the IT grant. He said demands of the role of honorary treasurers and that had become much more complicated and it was almost beyond the amateur. He highlighted the workload of a teaching principal. He said that the Church of Ireland had two people to support schools but Educate Together had 15 support staff.
Canon Gillian Wharton (Dublin and Glendalough) reiterated what Archdeacon Stevenson said about the burdens on boards of management. She said that the vast majority of grants from the Department arrived at Christmas and the board had to fund the school up until Christmas. When the Minister stands up and says there is no need for voluntary contributions, she said this was untrue as this money was needed to keep the lights on. She also appealed to the Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association to reinvigorate itself. She said boards of management needed a body speaking with one voice on their behalf.
Archbishop Michael Jackson said that the backdrop to Synod was a world at war in search of peace. He thanked Dr Fennelly to allowing him to keep on the Board of Education’s agenda the Ukrainian students in Church of Ireland schools. He said the contribution those students had made to schools was significant. He said many came from the Orthodox tradition but they have reacted warmly to our schools with a faith heartbeat.
Tim Smith (Meath and Kildare) spoke of the complicated nature of boards of management. He said Dr Fennelly and Susan Ellis did tremendous work in supporting boards but he said boards were under resourced. In terms of the funding crisis he said the situation would only be resolved with a conversation with the minister about the future of Church of Ireland schools. In relation to the teacher redeployment panel, he said that schools were told who to hire which could present challenges to small schools.
Archbishop McDowell echoed the comments in terms of the staff.