The Education Department aims to empower schools and their community through up-to-date support and training. We offer a range of training designed to meet the needs of our church schools, including equipping them with the tools to identify and develop their Christian distinctiveness. This includes a clear focus on supporting schools to live out their school’s distinctive and unique Christian vision and ethos.
For this year, our training is brought to you through a mix of face-to-face and online opportunities. Please take a look in the attached brochure and in the drop-down sections below where you find links to book online.
If you cannot find what you are looking for or would like bespoke training for your school please complete the Online Training Request Event Form below with as much information as possible so that we can then discuss next steps for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to our training events this year. If you any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team
Our education and training brochure for the 2021/2022 academic year can be found by clicking: 2021-2022 Education training brochure
Trauma Informed Network Sessions 2021-22 details. To book into these sessions please follow this link.
To book onto the confirmed training courses and events for 2021/2022, please click on the ‘Book in here’ links below.
Bookings for the Leavers’ Services 2022 for year 6 pupils have now closed. Please contact us at if you have any queries and look out for emails and updates in the DEN. We look forward to celebrating with you and your leavers at Gloucester Cathedral (Covid permitting) in June.
As well as our own training, we signpost training from other providers through the Diocesan Education Newsletter. Please click on the link for information about the wide range of Professional Qualifications that are available including NPQH for aspiring or early career headteachers through the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership (CEFEL).
To make specific in school training requests from our menu of options, please enter the details in the attached request form. A member of the team will be in touch with you within 10 working days after receipt of the form.
MOTs are an exploration and discussion of a particular aspect within the school and include discussion, identifying gaps and suggesting ideas for improvement for that subject, area or SIAMS strand. A written report will be provided.
This could then lead to additional requests for bespoke in-school support.
Strand 1: Vision and Leadership:
How well the school has developed and implemented an inclusive and distinctive Christian vision, monitoring its impact to ensure the school’s original foundation is maintained. How well the school lives out that Christian vision in relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders.
Available now. Up to 3 hours
For the Leadership team, governors, staff, learning walk
Strand 6: Collective Worship
Exploring the ways in which collective worship is an expression of the school’s Christian vision. How effective the school is in ensuring the collective worship reflects the Church of England Guidance Document for Collective Worship.
Available now. Up to 3 hours
For collective worship lead, children, staff, attend CW
Strand 7: RE:
How effective the school is in ensuring pupils flourish through the provision of high quality religious education reflecting the Church of England Statement of Entitlement. How effective the school is in ensuring that religious education expresses the school’s Christian vision.
Available now. Up to 3 hours
For RE lead, children, pupils’ books
Governance MOT
How well established and effective are the governing board’s systems and processes to enable governors to effectively monitor and maintain strategic oversight of the school’s distinctive Christian vision, ensuring the vision is unique, inclusive of all and embedded in all areas of school life.
Available now. Up to 3 hours
For Governors, Clerk to Governors, Leadership team. Exploration of governance documentation and curious conversations.
Aspiring Leaders
For middle leaders across our family of schools
Spring Term
Monday 24 January 2022
Monday 21 March 2022
Summer Term
Monday 16 May 2022
Monday 20 June 2022
Autumn Term
Monday 12 September 2022
Monday 10 October 2022
Monday 14 November 2022
£300 per delegate – Booking closes on Friday 17 December 2021
To book your place please complete the form via the link below or contact Emma Anderson: for more information.
This is a series of 7 high quality opportunities for middle leaders to develop a range of skills to strengthen leadership capacity and capability. It includes coaching to understand leadership styles and when they might be used, training to undertake monitoring activities such as deep dives and understanding your own leadership behaviours.
This has been run by the Diocesan MAT DGAT for 3 years and has excellent reviews and feedback from previous participants. We are delighted that it is now open to participants from all Church of England schools.
The training is mixed mode—some sessions are virtual and some are in person. Venues will be confirmed in September.
DGAT Aspiring Leaders Programme – Cohort 4
Experience Journey Resources Launches
For school staff and church volunteers, including Open The Book teams
Experience Lent and Experience After Easter (including Pentecost)
Dear Friends,
Please accept our sincere apologies that the Experience Launch sessions had to be changed. We are keen to get the information detailed in this session to you as soon as possible.
The team have made a digital recording of the information contained within each training session, and a link will be available to those who had booked a place.
If you had originally signed up to the session but had to cancel your place we will also send the link to you so you have access to the information. Please keep a look out for these emails from
Thank you
Illuminate
For headteachers and one free guest – deputy head, RE co-ordinator, class teacher or school clergy.
Summer Term
Online via Zoom Tuesday 17 May 2022 1.30 –3.00pm
Zoom links will be sent out to all 2 weeks prior to the course
Cost: FREE
Booking deadline: Tuesday 10 May 2022
Our Autumn, Spring and Summer termly training and update sessions called Illuminate for Church school leaders will take place via Zoom, in response to requests from leaders. These accessible afternoon sessions will present the latest news, information and updates that are important for church school leaders, along with the opportunity for discussions on key issues.
Headteachers may also register a free guest to attend with them eg RE subject leader, Deputy Headteacher or Senior Leader.
Please book in at the beginning of the year to ensure that you, or a representative from your school, keeps up to date and your school does not miss out.
Governor Clarity
For all governors and trustees of Church of England schools.
Summer Term
Online via Zoom Tuesday 17 May 2022 6.00-7.30pm
Zoom links will be sent out to all 2 weeks prior to the course
Cost: FREE
Booking deadline: Tuesday 10 May 2022
Governor Clarity presents the latest news, information and updates, along with the opportunity for discussions on key issues.
Special offer this year: a free place is available for you ex-officio governor or another governor from your school with every booking.
Strategic Monitoring of Christian Vision in a Church School
For any governor or trustee from Church schools
Thursday 19 May 2022 at 2.00pm to 4.00pm Venue: Discover DeCrypt, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1TP
Online via Zoom Thursday 19 May at 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Cost: £45.00 per delegate (via Zoom) / £75.00 per delegate (face-to-face)
Booking deadline: Thursday 12 May 2022
Join us to discover the specific role and responsibility of all governors and trustees in Church schools and academy trusts in maintaining strategic oversight of the school’s distinctive Christian vision. You will take away practical ideas of how to develop monitoring of your school’s distinctive Christian vision and embed this throughout governance practices.
Induction for New Headteachers in Summer Term
Monday 23 May 2022 at 1.30pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Jerusalem Room, No 4 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LR
Cost: Free of charge to new headteachers.
Booking deadline: Monday 9 May 2022
This essential induction takes place over two sessions. The first session is held centrally with other new colleagues and will provide you with an overview of the people and resources available to support you in your work. You will be welcomed by the Bishop, meet the Education team and develop your understanding of what it means to lead a Church school. The second session is a bespoke session and will be held at your school on a mutually convenient date.
The course is repeated across the year to ensure all headteachers new to Church schools can attend.
School admissions drop-in session
Those responsible for admissions and clerks in academies and VA schools
Tuesday 24 May 2022 at 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Online via Zoom
Cost: FREE
BOOKING IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS SESSION. Please contact David Williams directly if you wish to make an appointment to discuss school admissions. Contact details can be found here.
This drop in session of up to 15 minutes per school will give the opportunity for schools to raise specific queries about general and school specific admissions issues including the compliance of admission policies. Following bookings being completed, timeslots will be made available.
NEW for Diocese of Gloucester Schools : Young Leaders Award Online Information Event – Archbishop of York Youth Trust (ABYYT)
Join us for an introduction to the Young Leaders Award (YLA) at KS1 and KS2 with the Archbishop of York Youth Trust.
The Young Leaders Award is a fully resourced leadership and character education programme to be delivered by teaching staff within the classroom. The Award has empowered over 120,000 pupils from 1,000 schools to learn and practise key leadership skills and character virtues and to transform their communities through social action. It has clear links to SMSC, British Values, PSHE, Character Education, Citizenship, RE and SIAMS and can support your school’s Christian ethos around courageous advocacy and serving others. The Youth Trust have secured some funding to offer 15 schools, 30 pupil places at £5 per pupil to take part in their KS1 or KS2 Award. The usual cost is £10 per pupil. This offer is open to schools who have not previously taken part in the award. Any additional places to the 30 will cost £10 per pupil. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. This session is to find out more about the Award.
Find out more about the YLA here: www.abyyt.com/yla
Wednesday 25 May 2022 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Online via Zoom
Booking deadline: Wednesday 11 May 2022
Information Event Cost: FREE
Book in here
Leavers’ Services 2021/22
For Year 2 pupils of our infant schools. For Year 6 pupils of our primary schools
Tuesday 14 June 2022 at 10.30am and 1.30pm
Wednesday 15 June 2022 at 10.30am and 1.30pm
Thursday 16 June 2022 at 10.30am and 1.30pm
Venue: Gloucester Cathedral or online if cancelled due to Covid (look out in the DEN for regular updates)
Cost: FREE
Bookings for the Leavers’ Services 2022 for year 6 pupils have now closed. All places will be confirmed by the February half-term. Please contact us at if you have any queries. We look forward to celebrating with you and your leavers at Gloucester Cathedral (Covid permitting) in June.
We would love to see you and your Year 6 children at one of our Leavers’ Services next year held, hopefully in our mother church, Gloucester Cathedral. This is an opportunity to mark the end of the children’s time in primary or infant school, thank God for all the good experiences that they have had and worship together. These services are inclusive and invitational, open to all Year 6 children in our Church of England primary schools and academies and Year 2 children in our infant school.
Deanery RE Hub Meetings
For RE subject leaders
In 2021/22 after-school RE hubs are meeting in deaneries around the Diocese in the autumn, spring and summer terms. More information about hub leaders and locations of meetings can be found at:
https://www.gloucester.anglican.org/schools/primary-religious-education/
- Summer: Hubs will be held during week commencing Monday 20 June 2022
These meetings will include an opportunity to moderate work across schools and consider how to encourage deeper reflection in RE lessons.
Free
Please let the appropriate hub leader know you will be attending the hub meeting in advance.
School Approach to Spiritual Development
For Headteachers, leaders, staff, governors
Thursday 23 June 2022 at 1.30pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Discover DeCrypt, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1TP
Cost: £45.00 per delegate (via Zoom) / £75.00 staff group from one school (via Zoom)* / £75.00 per delegate (face-to-face)
Booking deadline: Thursday 9 June 2022
Book in here
As well as exploring the diocesan language of spirituality, this course will consider how these ideas can be embedded throughout the school day from the playground to individual curricular subjects. The face to face option will include hands on and interactive activities to support this. *Why not come along to the online Zoom session with your whole staff team?
Foundation Governor Welcome Session
For newly appointed Foundation Governors and Trustees
Thursday 23 June 2022 at 2.00pm to 3.30pm Venue: Jerusalem Rm, 4 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LR
These events will be via Zoom if not allowed face-to-face
Cost: FREE
Book in here
Booking deadline: Thursday 9 June 2022
Following your appointment as a Foundation Governor or Trustee you will have been sent an information pack welcoming you to your new role. Join our Strategic Leads for Governance to be welcomed to your new role and for the opportunity to ask any questions you may have as you embark on your role. There will also be an opportunity to meet and network with other Foundation Governors who are new to the role.
Understanding Christianity Refresher
For RE Subject Leaders, class teachers, Early Career Teachers, NQT+1
Wednesday 29 June 2022 1.30pm to 4.00pm
Venue: Discover DeCrypt, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1TP2
Cost: £45.00 per delegate (via Zoom) / £75.00 per delegate (face-to-face)
Booking deadline: Wednesday 15 June 2022
Book in here
This training sessions offers an opportunity for teachers new to the RE Gloucestershire Syllabus to get to grips with it and its relationship to Understanding Christianity as well as a chance for experienced teachers to be refreshed in how to maximise the Understanding Christianity resource. The session will include ideas for how to make the most of the icons and big frieze in lessons, how to handle individual Understanding Christianity units and it will unpack some of the other gems from the handbook often missed by busy teachers! Face to face training is recommended so teachers can interact with and handle the resources.
Help! My SIAMS inspection is Due
For headteachers, RE leaders, Collective Worship leads, governors and those who lead on the Christian character of the school
Thursday 30 June 2022 at 10.00am to 2.30pm
Venue: Hatherley Manor Hotel & Spa, Down Hatherley Lane, Gloucester GL2 9QA
This event will be via Zoom if not allowed face to face
Cost: £95 per delegate
Booking deadline: Thursday 16 June 2022
Book in here
This is an extended half-day course, with lunch, for headteachers, governors and those who lead on the Christian character of the school or aspects of the SIAMS schedule who are likely to be inspected in the next 12 months.
We will update you on the amended SIAMS schedule and the approach of inspectors post-Covid. There will also be the opportunity to select 2 workshops which will focus on particular aspects of inspection and the schedule including an opportunity for governors to evaluate and develop their strategic monitoring of SIAMS. Taking the spectre out of inspection!
