Schools Ministry

The best way to start your schools ministry is through prayer.

• Have I spent time in prayer?
• Have I asked people to pray for me?
• Have I talked with others in the corps, as more might want to join in or help?
• Has time been spent in Faith Based Facilitation, to plan and reflect to make sure that this is part of God’s plan?
  
   

Pray for your local school – and let them know you are praying for them. They may even let you know if there are specific areas they would like prayers for. Pray to reflect on the reasons why you want to engage in schools ministry. What gifts can you share?

• Can you help with the school's emotional well-being program?
• Can you support vulnerable families?
• Can you lead a lesson or assembly?
• What skills and support can you offer?

Getting myself ready

Here are some questions to reflect on:

• Do I know how much time I can commit to?
• What skills or passions do I have that I can offer?
• What experience do I have in relating to certain age groups – and do I need any more?
• Can I make a link with someone who is experienced in Schools Ministry? 
• Have I completed Salvation Army Safe and Sound training?
  
   

Do your research!

Learn more about the schools through their policies and documents. Many will be available on their website. For example:

• latest OFSTED report
• visitors policy
• assemblies policy
• clubs policy
• the curriculum eg Religious Education, History, Personal Social Health Education – or equivalent 

Reach out to your local school and find out what support they need. Ask for a meeting, a 'getting to know you' chat, to introduce yourself and what you can offer. More importantly, it is an opportunity to listen and learn what the school's priorities and needs are. Find out what has happened before – what has and has not worked. It will also let you know if there is already schools ministry happening and perhaps you can partner ecumenically with them.

TIP – sometimes being specific about the person you would like to meet helps eg head of Religious Education, or the person responsible for school visits or emotional well-being.

Want to know more?

Here are some links for more guidance and information on schools ministry.

• Schoolswork UK
• Scripture Union

LESSONS

All schools follow a curriculum, documents which outlines the learning progression for each subject, and each country has their own curriculum. For some subjects, like Religious Education, Local Education Authorities (LEA) will have their own curriculum based on the advice of their Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE). Once you know which curriculum your school is using, look for ways you could support in.

For example Salvation Army visitors could be asked to talk about:

• Religious Education: Christianity - Share your experience as a person of faith. Faith in Action - Show what your church/corps are doing and what The Salvation Army is doing in the UK, Ireland and worldwide. Impact of faith on a person -Talk about William and Catherine Booth. Worship - Arrange a visit to your church/corps.
• History: Learning about the Victorians - Talk about the beginning of The Salvation Army. History of the local area - Share the history of your local corps/church. WW1 - Explain how The Salvation Army supported people. 
• Geography: Similarities and differences - Share images and stories from different countries The Salvation Army are in. Human geography and land use - Explain some of the work The Salvation Army does in a particular country. Natural disasters - Salvation Army emergency response.
• Personal, Social, Health Education: Belonging - Explore Salvation Army identity (including uniforms). Moral dilemmas - Discuss the issue of homelessness. Different values and customs - Share The Salvation Army's values and explore how diverse it is.

Invited visitors are intended to enrich pupils' learning. Be guided by your local school on how to support lessons. You may be asked to lead a lesson or a series of lessons, give a talk, or support from the side-lines by being ‘the expert’ next to the teacher. Find out exactly what the learning focus is and share what you would like to say and do in advance. 

TIP - Always remember that you are sharing what you and other Christians believe. Pupils should be encouraged to question, evaluate and make their own judgements.  

ASSEMBLIES

Some form of gathering, or assembly happens every day in schools. These usually follow themes set by the school and the length of time can vary from 10 to 30 minutes. Some assemblies include songs and prayers, some ask for a moment of reflection. Check with your school in advance to find out what is appropriate. 

Inviting a guest speaker is a popular way to bring life annual themes and a great way for the school to get to know you - and vice versa!

For example Salvation Army visitors could be asked to do an assembly on:

• Seasonal events: Harvest, Remembrance Day, Christmas, Easter, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day
• Social issues: Homelessness, modern slavery and human trafficking, poverty, Christmas present appeal, 
• Christianity: Jesus, the ten commandments, the Lord's Prayer, parables, faith in action  
• History: Origins of The Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth, WW1
• PSHE themes: bullying, favourite books, sharing, friendship

TIP - Find a 'hook' to engage pupils like a question, a game, a story, music, images, a prop, or a personal or real-life story.

THE PANDEMIC 

During the pandemic the school may have a closed-door policy for visitors. However technology will help you to be involved in lessons and assemblies. Online video calls lets you engage with pupils and you can even show them where you work and worship. 

RESOURCES

• We have a range of lesson resources and assemblies including for a school visit to your church/corps.
• SchoolsworkUK has resources for Christians working in schools including tips for lessons.
• REquest.org.uk and RE:online.org.uk have lessons plans and activities.

TIP - If you've never taught or led an assembly before ask for a teacher to teach with you or to stay in the assembly.

Organising  a class visit to your corps building can be a good introduction to schools ministry. It gives you a taste of working with the school without the long term commitment, and lets the school find out what it's like to work with you. So it's important to make a good first impression!

Educational trips enrich the pupils' learning so plan to make it a powerful and enjoyable learning experience.

• Make sure you know the learning focus.
• Plan a range of activities and what you are going to say.
• Check with the teacher to ensure what you are planning is suitable.
• Get others from your church to help - the more the merrier!

Ultimate Church Visit is a resource for primary aged pupils visiting the corps and includes lots of tips and advice for planning visits.

TIPS - Organise a freebie for pupils to takeaway like a badge, bookmark, sticker or a Kids Alive! comic.

Contact the teacher after the visit for feedback or any further questions the pupils might have. 

Most schools have a governing body, a school board, which sets the strategy and direction for the school, oversees the budget and projects and holds the school to account.  Governors are usually a mix of teachers, parents and people from the community. It is a volunteering position with a regular commitment to meet and work as a team. There is an expectation of staying in position for a term, usually about four years. While it is a big commitment, it is an exciting opportunity to work with your school and make a big change to your community.

RESOURCES 

• For more information about being a school governor or to register your interest check out gov.uk
• Governors for Schools run training courses
• Schoolswork UK explores the role of governorship from a Christian perspective

Providing emotional care to pupils, staff and parents.

Pastoral support can take many forms, It could be a formal program, for pupils and/or parents. Perhaps there is there a well-being support program you can help with or initiate. These programs can be for individuals or small groups, and usually happen for an agreed amount of time during the school day and have a specific purpose.

Or perhaps there is a formal role like a being a school mentor, chaplain or pastor, being a bridge between pupils, schools and families.

• Buddying pupils during key lessons
• Confidential chats
• Hanging out in the cafeteria at lunchtime
• Being there at home time

‘School chaplaincy offers particular opportunities to influence the young and change the course of their lives.’

The Bloxham Project 2011

Pastoral support is a regular commitment as it is all about building relationships and trust. Training is vital – you need to know school polices, safeguarding issues and be able to support with a wide range of issues:

• Abuse 
• Anger management
• Bullying
• Eating disorders
• Exploitation
• Gang culture
• Gender identity
• Self-harm 
• Suicide 
• Supporting the school through a tragedy 

As a neutral third party in the school you will also be supporting school staff and families. 



However there is also a less formal type of pastoral support, like giving the staff a card, flowers – or doughnuts, to thank them for their work and to let them know you are there to support them. Or even just a friendly greeting every time you pop in.

Want to know more?

Here are some useful links:

• Contact Youth & Children to find out more about their mentoring program, Starfish
• Centre for Chaplaincy in Education: courses, events, resources and support
• School Pastors: supporting schools and colleges

Volunteering is a great way of creating a link and building trust, especially if you’re finding out if schools ministry is for you or have little free time. It will widen your experience of working in a school and with different age groups. Volunteering can be for a day, a week, a year or only an hour a week. It fits directly with the school’s needs and you are given direction on what is required. Here are some example:

 

Short term

• Tidy the library
• Help with the school fair
• Clear out the school garden

Longer term

• Be a volunteer reader
• Help a year group or class 
• Assist with the school theatre production

Want to know more?

• The Beanstalk Charity has information about how to be a volunteer reader.
• Number Champions train volunteers to help children become numerate.
• Charity Jobs and The School Run explores being an education support worker.

There are many different types of clubs and the school will have policies to guide the running of them. Clubs can happen before, during, and after school hours, for example:

•  Breakfast club
•  During school learning hours 
•  Lunchtime club
• After school club
• Evening club
• Holiday club

There might be a specific focus for who goes to your club, perhaps a particular year group or the school might ask you to have specific pupils - or it could be open to all! But be realistic about your capacity and budget. 

If you are providing a club which is providing childcare, for example before or after the school day and during holidays, it will need to be registered with OFSTED.

However a club which is linked with the school and is focusing on a specific activity usually do not need to register, like a French, drama or football club.  

So what kind of club might you run? 

• Art
• Brass
• Christian Union
• Cooking
• Crafts
• Dance
• Film
• Games
• Music
• Reading
• Scouts
• Singing
• Sport

TIP - Choose an activity you love and are passionate about!