St Catherine’s CE school and St Barnabas Church in Kidderminster have achieved a silver Church and School Partnership Award. Accompanied by representatives from the church, school and Diocese, Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Mark Badger, attended a special school assembly on Thursday 25 September themed around ‘friendship’ to present this joint award to Headteacher Amanda Cope and clergy Laura Betson.
The awards were launched in our Diocese in June 2024. They’re aimed at celebrating the positive results of Churches and Schools working closely together and the flourishing of the whole community as a result. Churches and schools need to make a joint application and meet certain criteria to gain each level of the Award; bronze, silver or gold. There are five partnerships in our Diocese that have won Church and School Partnership Awards recently and four more presentation assemblies are planned for later this term.
The silver Award is in recognition of church and school becoming one community that understands the strengths and gifts of each partner and brings these together for the benefit of everyone.
St Catherine’s Headteacher Amanda Cope said:
“We’re really honoured to be the first school in the Diocese to receive this accolade. It’s felt like a truly special occasion today with the children getting the chance to meet the bishop. It’s brought such joy into the school community.”
“Laura is very generous with her time, visiting us on a weekly basis, leading collective worship and assisting with our RE curriculum”
“We’ve had the support of clergy as well as members of the congregation for many years, so it’s a really special partnership which allows us to live out our vision and for our community to grow and flourish spiritually together.”
Laura Betson said:
“This partnership means a lot to us at St Barnabas Church. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to work together to help support the children and the staff in their own Christian faith and to provide that Christian education, but it’s also hugely beneficial for our church members as well. It gives them a sense of the wider community coming together and the opportunity to welcome families into church.”
“Once every half term, the whole school comes to St Barnabas for a service which is always wonderful. The school choir sing at our carol service in St Barnabas and they’re absolutely phenomenal! Different groups of students have assisted with coffee mornings, harvest festival and our food bank.”
Amanda added:
“When we submitted all we’re already doing together, it was a wonderful surprise to be awarded silver. We’re hoping to go for gold now!”
To achieve gold the school and church will need to demonstrate how the close working relationship is prioritised through the school development plan and Parish Mission Plans and how flourishing may lead to the development of new worshipping communities.
At the Award assembly everyone present sang worship songs ‘Friendship’ and ‘Freedom’ led by the school choir, some pupils shared prayers and a bible reading, and both Bishop Martin and Laura Betson preached.
Diocesan Director of Education Tim Reid said: “It’s been absolutely amazing to be here today, a great opportunity to do worship together and a real celebration of everything Church and School do as one family.”
Bishop Martin added: “I’m delighted to be at St Catherine’s CE school today to celebrate such a successful partnership with St Barnabas church and their winning of a silver award in the Church School Partnership awards, one of the very first in the Diocese. From the moment I walked in and heard the children’s choir singing beautifully it just lifted everyone’s hearts to God. It was a brilliant assembly by the children and Reverend Laura Betson and it was great to be a part of it and to present this award. They should all be really proud of themselves.“
Find out more about the School Church Partnership Awards, the criteria and how to apply on the Diocesan website: https://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/schools/partnership-award/
