Our Vision
The Church of England’s Vision for Education – Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good
Our vision is not simply for Church schools but, recognising the Church of England’s involvement in education over many centuries, seeks to promote educational excellence everywhere, for everyone. In Church schools the deeply Christian foundation for this vision will be seen explicitly in teaching and learning both in RE and across the curriculum, and also in the authentically Christian worship and ethos of those schools. In other schools which are not rooted in an explicit Christian ethos, our vision for education can still be expressed and promoted as one of human flourishing that can inspire what the school is and does. Our vision embraces the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and social development of children and young people. We offer a vision of human flourishing for all, one that embraces excellence and academic rigour, but sets them in a wider framework. This is worked out theologically and educationally through four basic elements which permeate our vision for education:
- Wisdom: educating for wisdom, knowledge and skills
- Hope: educating for hope and aspiration
- Community: educating for community and living well together
- Dignity: educating for dignity and respect
The vision, in line with the Church of England’s role as the established Church, is for the common good of the whole human community and its environment, whether national, regional or local. It is hospitable to diversity, respects freedom of religion and belief, and encourages others to contribute from the depths of their own traditions and understandings. It invites collaboration, alliances, negotiation of differences, and the forming of new settlements in order to serve the flourishing of a healthily plural society and democracy, together with a healthily plural educational system. You can view the Church of England’s Vision for Education here.
In the Diocese of Truro our vision is for “discovering God’s kingdom, growing the church.” As education is all about growing and discovering, so our work with schools and colleges is at the heart of our diocesan life.
Our aim is to be a significant partner in raising standards for all children in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
To this end, not only do we work directly with the 44 Church Schools in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly but also through members of congregations who are also school staff and governors and through a variety of partnerships to offer teacher training, curriculum development, governance development and school improvement we are actively involved with many more schools and academies across the County and beyond the Tamar!
