The Diocese of Oxford has an estimated population of 2,123,000. It is the fourth most
populous diocese in the Church of England. More or less covering the counties of
Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, it is the fifth largest in land area
(covering 2,221 square miles) and it has by far the largest number of parishes and
churches – 300 benefices, 623 parishes, and 815 churches served by almost 900
licensed ministers. Recent figures show that there are approximately 55,000 people
on the electoral rolls of the Diocese.
Although the Diocese covers a mainly rural area it also has large urban
conurbations which can contain high level of deprivation. The Diocese’s unique
combination of buildings, volunteers, voluntary giving and involvement in the lives of
the community make it the largest self-funded voluntary organisation in the Thames
Valley.
It has 282 church schools which is the largest number of any Church of England
diocese in the country and it liaises with 9 local authorities.
Living Faith for the Future
‘A touchstone to remind us all of the values we try to live by and the directions we
need to take if we are to be faithful to Jesus Christ in the 21st century’
Living Faith for the Future is a vision for the Diocese of Oxford. It came out of a series
of conversations all around the Diocese in 2008 on a paper produced by the Bishop
of Oxford in the light of his first impressions in office.
The Living Faith vision offers a strategic framework for the life and work of the Church
of England in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Further information on Living Faith for the Future is appended to this document.
THE OXFORD DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Oxford Diocesan Board of Education has 282 schools with over 55,000 pupils. Of
these schools, 109 are Voluntary Aided; three are mark 1 sponsored academies;
fourteen are mark 2 converter academies and 1 is sponsored by Oxford Diocesan
Schools Trust (ODST). Of these schools only 12 are secondary and the rest cover the
primary phase. The Board has a diverse range of schools from small rural primaries
to inner city schools with a wide range of challenges. The ODBE adopts an
innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the constant changes within
education and has a skilled and professional staff team, albeit relatively small, which
plays an active role in national bodies concerned with Church of England
education. The Board is very conscious of the diminishing role of local authorities,
the move to academy conversion (forced and voluntary) and the need to provide
additional support and services to our schools.
ODBE was incorporated as a separate charitable company in 2010 with the Board
as its directors. The Bishop of Oxford has asked the Bishop of Buckingham, the Right
Reverend Dr Alan Wilson to be Chairman of the Board. The Board has a number of
committees which undertake the detailed work of the board.
The ODBE set a up a multi-academy trust company – The Oxford Diocesan Schools
Trust in July 2012 to sponsor schools requiring sponsorship. The first school joined in
September 2012 and further schools are expected to join in the coming months.
Mission
The Diocesan Board of Education is committed to education of the highest
standards of the whole person to the fullest potential, to the development of moral
and spiritual understanding, the uniqueness of the individual and to the education
of all within the maintained system.
This commitment is to all schools and is expressed through the provision of a range of
advice and support. Through its advisory services it promotes RE, Collective Worship
and the spiritual development of pupils.
The Board supports all types of church schools (and academies) in developing a
Christian vision of education. It ensures that church schools are provided with
specialist support for building development and legal matters. Within the Diocese,
the Board promotes church related education and provides advice for clergy,
governors and parishes in support of their schools.
Vision
At the heart of our vision for the church schools in the Oxford Diocese is our belief in
educational excellence. We are called to serve our pupils, staff, parents and their
local community by providing schools and academies with the highest levels of
academic rigour and pastoral care, with opportunities provided for spiritual growth
and intellectual enquiry. We seek to embody the Christian experience of
community by being and growing communities where we share our gifts without
counting the cost, where the emphasis is on what we can contribute, rather than
what we can receive, and where each is given according to need. All our schools
are places where children and young people can learn the value of service and of
human endeavour, where they can be sure they are valued for who they are and
where they can be supported to be the best they can be.
We are committed to providing education of the highest quality in our schools and
academies, where pupils demonstrate a thirst for learning and standards of
teaching enable all pupils to attain their potential. Our Church of England schools
and academies profess an explicitly Christian ethos, expressed within the framework
of the Anglican tradition, but we are also happy to work with schools (particularly
when forming collaborative arrangements or formal trusts which include our
schools) which are not designated as Church of England schools but who share our
commitment to serve their local communities with integrity and love. All of our
schools and academies are places where all pupils can develop and thrive
academically, socially, spiritually and culturally.
Our schools and academies normally have inclusive admission policies which give
priority to children from the local area and are genuinely open and welcoming to
those of any faith and those with no faith. As a limited company operating within
the family of the Diocese of Oxford, we are motivated by our Christian values to
serve our local communities; we do not seek to impose those values on others and
we are proud of the ethnic and cultural diversity which exists within our schools and
academies. Our schools and academies seek to meet the requirements of any
pupils with specific learning needs.
The vision and priorities of the Diocese and the pastoral role of the Church underpin
all of the work of the Board of Education
Standards
Approximately 80% of our schools are graded Outstanding or Good by Ofsted,
compared to a national average of 69%. However, those schools which now fall
into special measures are at risk of forced conversion to academy status – for some
the solution will be to join ODST (wholly owned by the DBE), but some others may
require an alternative solution. DBE’s work with those schools that are not yet good
has increased beyond recognition in the last two years. The responsibility for ODST
increases considerably for the schools it sponsors and for ODBE there is a significant
responsibility in identifying a way forward for those schools which may not move into
ODST.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE ODBE
ODBE has a Strategic Plan for the period 2012 to 2015 which arise from priorities
generated through the Mission and Vision statements.
The over-arching strategic priorities are:





To engage with schools on a school improvement basis and in the case of
vulnerable schools to actively contribute to their improvement.
To support schools where the quality of teaching is less than good overall.
To support school leadership to raise the quality of Christian leadership &
management.
To improve engagement between schools and their local church.
To enable the DBE and its school to prepare for the implication of academy
status and new collaborations.







To develop the Christian ethos and vision in all church schools.
To prepare schools, governors and inspectors for the new SIAMS framework.
To improve data management information within the department for
internal and external use.
Development of the ODST and additional service to schools.
Continue to develop and maintain existing VA school premises.
Seek to maximise opportunities to open new schools.
Continue to provide an efficient & effective admissions service to schools
and expand the service where appropriate.
Service Level Agreements
ODBE has a service level agreement with its schools and runs a number of traded
services including educational support, admission appeals, courses, consultancy
and building advice. The premises team oversees approximately 150 projects per
annum to improve voluntary aided schools and academies. ODBE is developing
partnerships with a range of external educational partners including Oxford Brookes
University. Hopefully in excess of 75% of schools sign up the service level agreement.
New Schools
The Board has taken a proactive approach to the growth of primary and
secondary schools in the Diocese. They have sponsored three secondary
academies in Oxford (2008), Aylesbury (2009) and Chesham (2011). The Diocese is
the lead sponsor in each academy. The ODBE works closely with local authorities to
explore new primary and secondary church schools. The latest new primary schools
have opened in Bracknell (Jennett’s Park in 2011) and Aylesbury (Buckingham Park
in 2012). Both of these schools have been secured via the competition process. The
Aylesbury Vale Academy is due to open a primary phase in September 2013 (as
well as moving to a new site, at a cost of £30m) to serve the new Berryfields
development. Considerable housing growth is planned within the Diocese over the
next 20 years which is forecast to generate the need for approximately 50 new
schools. It is quite likely that we will need to form local partnerships to bid for some of
these schools.
Approximately a dozen schools are actively looking to become converter
academies under the new legislation. The ODBE seeks to support those schools
wishing to change their status.
RE and Collective Worship
Religious Education and Collective worship have an important place in the work of
ODBE. Specialist advice is offered to schools through visits, meetings for RE subject
leaders and a successful training programme.
Leadership and Succession Planning
The ODBE has taken a strategic approach to school leadership training and
succession planning and this has resulted in a range of training programmes being
offered to schools. They include:






Regular Headteacher meetings in area groups.
A programme for governor training.
Retreats and reflection days.
National Professional Qualifications for Headship programmes run on behalf
of National College of School Leadership for the SE Regional Government
Area and courses for aspirant leaders in schools with religious character and
aspirant leaders from non-church schools interested in pursuing headship
roles in church schools.
Programmes for Aylesbury Vale and Oxford Academies in partnership with
the Oasis Academies such as Middle Leader Development Programme
supported by the National College of School Leadership and a programme
for developing resources for the culture change from LA school to Christiansponsored Academy.
An annual leadership conference for Headteachers with national key note
speakers.