Diocese of Gloucester
Bishop’s Visitors to Church Schools
Information for Schools and Governors
Who are Bishop’s Visitors?
Bishop’s Visitors are normally former head teachers and teachers, often, but not always, from
church primary schools, who volunteer to support colleagues in schools in the Diocese by
sharing the wisdom, insight and experience they have gained during their careers. The role of
Bishop’s Visitor is essentially pastoral. Feedback from serving head teachers is that they greatly
appreciate the opportunity to discuss sometimes challenging and sensitive matters in a
confidential, non-judgements context..
Contact with Schools
Each Bishop’s Visitor has approximately ten schools, usually within a deanery, that they get to
know by making visits of various kinds and by correspondence. Whilst they are naturally
interested in the Religious Education, collective worship and spiritual moral, social and cultural
(SMSC) education within the school, they are also concerned with the whole ethos and life of the
school and the quality of relationships among pupils, parents, teachers, non-teaching staff,
governors and the church community.
Bishop’s Visitors Aim to do Four Things:a)
To foster the link between the school and the diocese and offer pastoral
support in the school.
b)
To encourage and support the expression of Christian beliefs and values
on which the school is founded.
c)
To foster good relationships within the school and between the school
and the local church and wider community.
d)
To encourage and support RE, collective worship and values education within the context
of providing high quality education for all pupils.
How Do They Do It?
a)
Bishop’s Visitors will contact the Headteacher of each school every year to arrange to
spend half a day in the school, visiting classes and talking to the RE Subject Leader and the
Headteacher. The Headteacher should let the incumbent know about the visit as a matter
of courtesy. The incumbent would not be expected to be in school for the whole visit,
but, if available, may like to meet the Bishop’s Visitor.
b)
In addition to this annual visit, the Bishop’s Visitor will also try to become involved in other
school activities, perhaps attending special services, sports days, end of term events and
other school functions: this will be at the discretion of the Bishop’s Visitor.
c)
During the annual visit, Bishop’s Visitors will want to share an act of worship. They would
like to see any RE lessons taking place and informally visit other classes. They would like to
discuss with the RE co-ordinator progress being made in RE and plans for development and
also have a brief chat with the Headteacher about other matters relating to the school.
d)
Within a few days the Bishop’s Visitor will write a letter to the Headteacher outlining
issues discussed. The letter should be presented at the next governors’ meeting.
e)
Bishop’s Visitors receive formal information about their schools, such as SIAS inspection
reports, from the Diocesan Department for Children and Young People. Schools are
asked to send their own newsletters to their Bishop’s Visitor, along with any other material
which will keep their Bishop’s Visitor informed about the current life of the school
community.
Keeping Records
Following their annual half-day visit to a school, Bishop’s Visitors will send a letter to the
Headteacher summarising their visit and any action points discussed during the meeting. A short
report is sent to the Diocesan Advisor to Primary Schools, in strict confidence, for information:
the relationship between the Bishop’s Visitor and the Headteacher is a confidential one, and no
matter will be included in the Bishop Visitor’s report to the Advisor to Primary Schools without
the Headteacher’s permission.
For further information or help please contact:
Shahne Vickery , Diocesan Primary Education Advisor,
Children and Young People’s Department
4 College Green, Gloucester. GL1 2LR
Tel: 01452 - 410022 ext 259
E-mail: svickery@glosdioc.org.uk