Working with schools in Wales? Understand the Welsh context
Churches have significant opportunities to build relationships with local schools – but working with schools in Wales means understanding a distinctly Welsh education system.
Scripture Union, one of the newest members of Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales, is offering an Introduction to Schools Ministry training day in Swansea on Wednesday 30 September, led by the SU Cymru team.
The training offers churches and Christian workers practical support to develop their engagement with schools, with a particular focus on the Welsh education context.
Education is devolved in Wales, with a curriculum and legislative framework distinct from England. The day will explore Welsh legislation around Collective Worship, opportunities to support schools with Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE), resources appropriate to Curriculum for Wales, and the bilingual context of Welsh education.
Rhiân Evans, National Mission Coordinator for Wales, Scripture Union England and Wales, said:
The training will be led by the SU Cymru team who are both fluent Welsh speakers and between them have many years of experience working with schools across Wales in a variety of contexts and across both languages.
Throughout the day, the SU Cymru team will look at the practical elements of church engagement with schools, including Welsh legislation for Collective Worship and opportunities for churches to support schools in delivering their RVE curriculum. Participants will also be introduced to a range of resources suitable for use within the Curriculum for Wales framework.
The training is particularly aimed at those who are new to schools ministry, as well as people who have experience of working with schools in England but have not previously worked within the Welsh system. It will explore both the opportunities available to churches and some of the important differences between the education systems in Wales and England.
With an experienced Welsh-speaking SU Cymru team, the training is relevant to ministry across Welsh-medium, English-medium and bilingual school communities.
