Headteachers and Chaplains Working Together on Time for Reflection
School Staff and Chaplains Training and Networking event
On Friday 8th February, Whitburn Academy hosted a conference for West Lothian’s Schools and Chaplains entitled “Working Together to deliver high quality ‘Time for Reflection/Religious Observance’.” In the course of two morning sessions, sixteen of the area’s chaplains gathered for two sessions. The first session provided an overview of the current requirements and of the education context within Curriculum for Excellence. This ended with a test: identifying 24 commonly used education acronyms. Each related to opportunities for partnerships between schools and communities. Chaplains are that interface between schools and their host communities. A second session looked at practical issues and questions related to delivering chaplaincy within schools, our vision for what chaplaincy could be, and thinking towards partnerships.
In the afternoon sessions, Elaine Cook, Deputy Chief Executive, joined us and welcomed over sixty Headteachers from the schools across West Lothian. Staff sat in their cluster groups and were joined by their chaplains. Their first session explored the ‘Time for Reflection’ requirements and the issues it raises. Their second session, working with the chaplains, consisted of group work around six key areas of chaplain/school partnerships. Jackie Speirs (the region’s Quality Improvement Officer) and Vicki Young (the co-ordinator for staff ‘Career Long Professional Learning’) attended throughout and facilitated the whole event. Agnes Mullen and Marjorie Taylor of the Church of Scotland partnered with Dr Steve Younger of ‘Christian Values in Education (Scotland)’ to deliver the training and to provide delegates with useful conference packs. Funding from the McLaren Trust covered the costs of the packs. Lynne McEwen and Darren Philips from the region’s Religious Observance Steering Group worked with the local Presbytery to fund the provision of refreshments.
(Photos: Steve Younger, Jackie Speirs [West Lothian QIO] and Steve Younger, afternoon session with chaplains and Headteachers)
