Church Links and Partnerships
"Love your neighbour as yourself" (Luke 10:27)
Part of the Church of England family
As a Church of England Voluntary Controlled school, Sheering is part of a wider family of church schools across the country. We are proud of our strong links with our local church, the Diocese of Chelmsford, and other Church of England schools.
These partnerships enrich our school life, support our Christian ethos, and provide valuable opportunities for our children, staff and families.
Our parish church: St Mary's Church, Sheering
A special partnership
St Mary's Church sits at the heart of our village and at the heart of our school community. Our close relationship with the church strengthens our Christian ethos and provides wonderful opportunities for worship, learning and celebration.
Our Rector: Rev. Sophie Weller
Rev. Sophie Weller, Rector of St Mary's Church, is a Foundation Governor (Ex-Officio) and plays a vital role in our school life.
Rev. Sophie:
- Leads Collective Worship in school every week
- Supports our spiritual development and Christian ethos
- Leads special services at church throughout the year
- Provides pastoral support to our school community
- Works with staff on developing our Christian vision and values
- Supports Collective Worship planning and development
Worship at St Mary's Church
Throughout the year, our whole school community gathers at St Mary's Church for special services:
🍂 Harvest Festival (Autumn term)
We celebrate God's provision and give thanks for the harvest. Children bring donations for local food banks and charities.
🕯️ Christingle/Christmas Service (Advent)
We celebrate the coming of Jesus with our traditional Christingle service, a highlight of the school year.
✝️ Easter Service (Spring term)
We explore the Easter story and celebrate new life and hope.
🎓 Leavers' Service (Summer term)
We celebrate our Year 6 pupils as they prepare to leave for secondary school, giving thanks for their time at Sheering and praying for their future.
Parents, families and the wider community are warmly invited to join us for all these special services.
Regular church visits
- Children visit the church throughout the year as part of their RE learning
- We explore the building, its features and symbols
- Children learn about the role of the church in the community
- We discover how Christians worship and celebrate
Community connections
Our partnership with St Mary's Church extends beyond worship:
- Church members support our school events
- We participate in village events organized by the church
- The church provides a beautiful space for reflection and learning
- We share resources and expertise
St Mary's Church, Sheering
Church Lane, Sheering, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 7LU
[Church website/contact details if available]
The Diocese of Chelmsford
Part of a diocesan family
Sheering CofE Primary School is one of over 400 schools in the Diocese of Chelmsford - the Church of England diocese covering Essex and East London.
The diocese provides invaluable support, guidance and training to help us flourish as a church school.
Diocesan support
The Diocese of Chelmsford Education Team provides:
Strategic support:
- Guidance on our Christian vision and ethos
- Support for our Strategic Intervention Board
- Advice on governance and leadership
- Support during SIAMS inspections
Professional development:
- Training for staff on collective worship, RE and Christian ethos
- Leadership development for headteachers and senior leaders
- Governor training on church school distinctiveness
- Networking opportunities with other church schools
Resources and guidance:
- Curriculum resources for RE and Collective Worship
- Guidance documents and policies
- Access to diocesan advisers and specialists
- Support with SIAMS preparation
Spiritual development:
- Opportunities for staff retreats and reflection
- Resources for developing spirituality
- Links with the wider church community
SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools)
As a Church of England school, we are inspected by SIAMS to evaluate how effectively our Christian vision shapes our school.
The Diocese of Chelmsford supports us in:
- Preparing for SIAMS inspection
- Developing our Christian distinctiveness
- Ensuring our vision drives school improvement
- Celebrating our strengths and addressing development areas
Our most recent SIAMS inspection: 2017, inspection grade Good
Diocesan events and opportunities
Throughout the year, we participate in diocesan events:
- Headteacher conferences and briefings
- Governor training sessions
- Staff training days
- Children's events and celebrations
- Worship leader networks
Diocese of Chelmsford Education
Website: www.dioceseofchelmsford.org/education
Partnership with West Ham Church School
Learning together, growing together
We are proud to have established a partnership with West Ham Church School in Stratford, East London - a fellow Church of England primary school in the Diocese of Chelmsford.
This partnership provides rich opportunities for our children and staff to learn from each other, share experiences and broaden horizons.
Why this partnership matters
Our partnership with West Ham Church School:
- Connects children from different communities
- Celebrates diversity within our church school family
- Provides opportunities to learn about different contexts
- Enriches our understanding of urban and rural life
- Builds friendships across communities
- Shares good practice between schools
What we do together
Pupil exchanges and visits:
- Children visit each other's schools
- Joint learning projects and activities
- Sharing experiences of school life in different settings
- Building friendships and understanding
Staff collaboration:
- Sharing teaching ideas and resources
- Joint training and professional development
- Learning from each other's practice
- Supporting each other's development
Collective Worship and RE:
- Sharing worship ideas and resources
- Joint exploration of Christian values
- Learning about how different church schools express their ethos
Celebrating together:
- Joint celebrations and events
- Sharing achievements and successes
- Marking festivals together
Impact on our children
Through our partnership with West Ham Church School, our children:
- Develop understanding of diversity in modern Britain
- Build friendships with children from different backgrounds
- Learn that church schools serve diverse communities
- Develop empathy and understanding
- Broaden their horizons and experiences
- See themselves as part of a wider church school family
West Ham Church School
Portway, Stratford, London, E15 3QG
Website: [If available]
Other Church of England school partnerships
The Church of England family
As a Church of England school, we are part of a national family of nearly 5,000 church schools serving over one million children.
We connect with other Church of England schools through:
Local networks:
- Cluster groups with nearby church schools
- Shared training and development
- Joint moderation and planning
- Mutual support and encouragement
Diocesan networks:
- Headteacher networks
- Subject leader networks
- Collective Worship leader networks
- Governor networks
National connections:
- The Church of England Education Office
- National Society for Promoting Religious Education
- Church school conferences and events
Church and Diocesan Representation
Sheering CE Primary School is a Church of England school within the Diocese of Chelmsford. While the school is currently supported through an Interim Executive Board (IEB), the Diocese continues to play an important role in preserving and developing the Christian character of the school.
Diocesan Representation on the IEB
The Diocese of Chelmsford is represented on the Interim Executive Board through a diocesan link member, who supports the school’s leadership, provides challenge and guidance, and ensures that the school’s Christian vision and values remain central to decision-making.
Katrina Carroll – Diocesan Link (IEB)
Katrina Carroll brings extensive experience across the Primary, Secondary and Independent school sectors. Her roles have included six years as a Headteacher in a London borough.
During her headship, Katrina led a school to achieve an Excellent judgement in all areas under the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and she has also led schools to Outstanding outcomes in previous Ofsted inspections within Essex.
Katrina is currently Assistant Director of Education for the Diocese of Chelmsford, where she supports church schools across the diocese in strengthening leadership, governance, Christian vision and educational outcomes.
Through her role on the Interim Executive Board, Katrina provides diocesan oversight and professional expertise, helping to ensure that Sheering’s Christian ethos, vision and values continue to guide the life and direction of the school.
Supporting our church links
How you can get involved
Families are welcome to:
- Attend our special services at St Mary's Church
- Join us for Friday Celebration Worship
- Visit St Mary's Church as a family
- Participate in church community events
- Support our links with West Ham Church School
Volunteering
If you have skills, experience or time to support our church links, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact the school office.
Resources and information
For more information about:
St Mary's Church, Sheering:
[Contact details/website]
Diocese of Chelmsford:
Website: www.dioceseofchelmsford.org
Education: www.dioceseofchelmsford.org/education
The Church of England:
Website: www.churchofengland.org
Education: www.churchofengland.org/education
Church of England Vision for Education:
"Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good"
[Link to vision document]
At Sheering CE Primary School, our church links enrich our school life, strengthen our Christian ethos, and help us live out our vision that Everyone Matters.