ALL schools are now part of a "diversity and choice" system; so there is no longer any need to be defensive about the distinctiveness and proven success of Church of England schools.
A church-school expert, Professor Jeff Astley, has suggested that there are three considerations: education into Christianity; education about Christianity; and education in a Christian manner.
All state schools can aspire to the third. There will be little that is distinctively Christian about them. Roman Catholic (and Muslim) schools will unequivocally subscribe to the first, subject as they are to direction from their supervising bodies.
Church of England schools can afford to be altogether subtler, more responsive to a variety of local circumstances, and distinctive in a way which responds to Lord Runcie's words: we are "to nourish those of the faith, encourage those of other faiths, and challenge those of no faith".
There will be "no apology for theology", because RE will be of both high quality and high status as we pass on to our students a distinctive view of the Christian heritage and its contemporary challenge. We may even gently try to educate our students into Christianity in collective worship, mind-ful also of Lady Runcie's famous words: "Too much religion makes me go off pop."
From Dennis, Richards, "A golden age for Church Schools?," Church Times, posted 14 Feb 2014, emphasis added.
