Parish involvement in local Schools
We have several Church schools in our parish primary and seondary, and a our laity and clergy are involved in all of them. This involvement varies from school to School, but includes pastoral support for students and staff, and a good working relationship with the schools' head teachers.
Our vicar, Rev'd David Shenton, is a school governor at St Anne's School. He also regularly leads collective worship there.
Our Interim Minister, Rev'd Jonnie Parkin, is on the staff team at Blue Coat Meres Academy as Academy Chaplain, working across the two primary school sites and the secondary school. The chaplaincy provides pastoral care and mentoring, both for staff and students. This is both on a formal and informal basis, sometimes resulting from referrals, sometimes resulting from a chance encounter in a school corridor or playground. As well as the regular whole school and class collective worships, Jonnie also leads a weekly opt in collective worship at the secondary school which many pupils choose to attend. Jonnie occasionally contributes to curriculum delivery, and co leads "Last Fryday" a regular afterschool theological discussion group at the secondary school, which includes fish and chips!
https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/grantham-pupils-enjoy-fishy-fryday-with-schools-chaplain-9098658/
Due to current Covid restrictions Jonnie's chaplaincy role is sadly limited to being in school only one day a week, limiting the scope of some of the chaplaincy activities.
Members of our congregation are also staff members at several local schools, some outside of the parish.
Our vicar, Rev'd David Shenton, is a school governor at St Anne's School. He also regularly leads collective worship there.
Our Interim Minister, Rev'd Jonnie Parkin, is on the staff team at Blue Coat Meres Academy as Academy Chaplain, working across the two primary school sites and the secondary school. The chaplaincy provides pastoral care and mentoring, both for staff and students. This is both on a formal and informal basis, sometimes resulting from referrals, sometimes resulting from a chance encounter in a school corridor or playground. As well as the regular whole school and class collective worships, Jonnie also leads a weekly opt in collective worship at the secondary school which many pupils choose to attend. Jonnie occasionally contributes to curriculum delivery, and co leads "Last Fryday" a regular afterschool theological discussion group at the secondary school, which includes fish and chips!
https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/grantham-pupils-enjoy-fishy-fryday-with-schools-chaplain-9098658/
Due to current Covid restrictions Jonnie's chaplaincy role is sadly limited to being in school only one day a week, limiting the scope of some of the chaplaincy activities.
Members of our congregation are also staff members at several local schools, some outside of the parish.