For 15 years, the Christian Leadership Course – Making a Difference has been helping aspiring and recently appointed head teachers in Church of England schools reflect on what it means to lead with faith at the heart of their work.
The year-long course brings together delegates from across the five North West dioceses, creating space for school leaders to explore their vocation, develop their leadership and consider how their Christian faith shapes the way they serve their schools and communities.
Through a mixture of face-to-face days, smaller diocesan group meetings, school visits and reflective journalling, delegates are encouraged to look beyond the practical responsibilities of school leadership and consider what it means to be a Christian leader within today’s education system.
Feedback from the most recent cohort highlighted the significant impact the course had on both participants’ professional and personal lives. One delegate reflected:
“As a school leader I now intend to lead with a Christ-like humility, serve with compassion, and empower others to fulfil God’s purpose.”
Another described the experience simply by saying:
“I am a servant of God, here to do His work.”
Participants described the course as “highly positive and transformational”, with others calling it “inspirational”, “life-changing” and “the best professional learning experience I have undertaken”.
One participant summed up their experience by saying:
“It’s a course that I didn’t really know I needed.”
The year comes to a close with a celebration service held in one of the region’s cathedrals. This year, delegates gathered at Manchester Cathedral, where the Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton, preached and presented certificates to those who had completed the course.
The celebration brought together delegates from all five North West dioceses and was an opportunity to recognise not only their commitment to the programme, but the important work they are called to in their schools.
As a new school year gets underway, we are invited to pray for the Church of England schools across the Diocese of Liverpool. There are 119 schools and academies across eight Local Authorities, serving around 35,000 pupils.
Together, these schools provide an important opportunity to nurture children and young people, support families and communities, and share the difference that Christ makes in people’s lives.
If you are an aspiring or recently appointed head teacher in a Church of England school and would like to find out more about the course, please email david.thorpe@liverpool.anglican.org.
