The Education Department aims to empower schools and their community through up-to-date support and training.
Our education and training brochure for the 2025-2026 academic year can be found here: 2025-26 Education Course Brochure
We offer a range of training designed to meet the needs of our church schools, including equipping them with the tools to identify and develop their Christian distinctiveness. This includes a clear focus on supporting schools to live out their school’s distinctive and unique Christian vision and ethos.
Our training is brought to you through a mix of face-to-face and online opportunities. For more information and to book onto the training courses and events, please click on the ‘Book here’ links in the dropdown menus for each term below, or using the QR codes at the bottom of the course page in the brochure.
We look forward to welcoming you to our training events this coming year. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team ku.gro.coidsolg@noitacude
As well as our own training, we signpost training from other providers through the Diocesan Education Newsletter.
Leavers’ Services 2026
Please ensure that the person responsible for bringing the children on the day is signed up to the DEN – Diocesan Education News (subscribe above), from which we will send out regular updates. Please check if you have any staffing changes that may affect who needs to receive the information.
We are delighted to say that bookings are now open for 2026 Cathedral Leavers Services on the following dates:
Tuesday 9 June 2026 10.30-11:30am and 1.30-2:30pm
Wednesday 10 June 2026 10.30-11:30am and 1.30-2:30pm
Thursday 11 June 2026 10.30-11:30am and 1.30-2:30pm
The next Leavers’ Services can now be booked through Gloucester Cathedral booking form here: https://gloucestercathedral.artsvp.com/ec77b1/link/cathedraleaversservices
Please ensure that you enter the school name, as well as the name of the person who made the booking in the ‘name’ field of the booking form. Please note that the adults you are asked to book for are the staff and volunteers accompanying the children. We do not have the seating capacity for additional adults such as parents to attend as guests.
As part of ensuring administrative efficiency for the reasons detailed above and to ensure that we help you by bringing forward the dates at which more detailed information to help you prepare for Leavers’ Services are available, we set a firm deadline for 2026 bookings. This deadline is Friday 19 December 2025.
In School Training
Led by Principal Advisors, our In School Training for 2025-26 is detailed below:
Supporting Spiritual Flourishing in Schools
Designed for any school who would benefit from developing a shared understanding of spiritual flourishing, with opportunities to develop ideas to use across the curriculum and school day.
Exploring Academisation
An opportunity for governing bodies to find out more about the DBE strategy for schools considering joining a school trust, advice on how to explore your options and to obtain practical advice about the process of finding a good home in a school trust. We will provide updates and information to support you, including:
- the current options for Church schools considering joining a school trust
- the DBE Policy on the Academisation of Church Schools and process for requesting conditional consent to join a school trust
- helpful resources to support you in your conversations and decision-making
Getting to grips with the new RE syllabus
There has been a seismic change in the way that RE is being viewed and taught. This is reflected in the new Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for RE which will be rolled out from September 2026. This session is available to schools who would like to look closely at these changes and prepare for them together as a staff team.
Vision Workshop
Struggling to articulate and share your Christian vision? Then this workshop is for you. Aimed at governors, school leadership and staff teams, it will help you as a community, understand your bespoke Christian vision and help you to collectively explore how it can be lived out through all aspects of school life, enabling all stakeholders to explain how it is deeply Christian, serving the common good and helping all to flourish.
Developing a Culture of Justice and Responsibility
This training session is for schools wishing to find out how to develop their understanding of justice and responsibility and how to start equipping pupils to become courageous advocates. It will explore key resources such as Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours Scheme and the Archbishop of York’s Young Leaders Award.
SIAMS for Governors
This session, led in school by one of our Principal Advisors will develop your Governing Body’s understanding of SIAMS, exploring expectations for ongoing monitoring and evaluation and the expectations of governors during an inspection.
Booking and Costs for In School Staff Training
Sessions of up to 2 hours, completed by 6pm £200
Sessions of up to 2 hours, completed after 6pm £300
Small School Discount
Schools with less than 100 pupils, may request to invite another partner school, that also has less than 100 pupils, to in-school training. Each school will receive a 25% discount, please confirm which schools are attending when booking.
In School Staff Meetings and INSET Booking
Please use the form via the link below to request a session. We will then contact you to agree a date and time for the session.
2025-2026 Review & in school training request (google.com)
Bespoke Training for MATs and Schools
If you require any other training for your school or MAT, beyond what is listed above, please do not hesitate to contact us for a discussion of what could be offered and costings. Please send all enquiries of this nature to ku.gro.coidsolg@noitacude
Additional Consultancy Services
SIAMS SEF Review £100
A review of your SIAMS SEF, offering written feedback and guidance on the clarity of the format and content, its relevance to the SIAMS framework and suitability for the audience and purpose of a SIAMS SEF. There is the option of a telephone conversation to provide further clarification if required.
Please use the link below to request a SIAMS SEF Review and we will then be in touch to agree timescales for the review and obtain a copy of your SEF.
2024-2025 Review & in school training request (google.com)
Church School Website Review £400
Your school website is the way in which most people will form their first impression of your school. It is important that your website clearly shows that you are a Church of England School, through what is included and celebrated, with your school’s Christian vision central and highly visible. A SIAMS inspector will use your website as part of the pre-inspection information gathering. This website review will provide you with a detailed report with suggestions for improvement to ensure your website is SIAMS inspection ready. There is the option of a telephone conversation to provide further clarification if required. (N.B. this will not cover the statutory website requirements covered by the LA website checks)
2024-2025 Review & in school training request (google.com)
Church School Review £400
We provide all our Church Schools with a fully funded programme of mid-cycle SIAMS monitoring visits and pre-SIAMS visits at no cost to the school. There may be particular circumstances where a school wishes to receive an additional monitoring visit outside the normal timescales for these visits. This could be, for example, where a monitoring visit has indicated significant areas of development where they would value additional feedback on progress, or where the school has experienced significant leadership turnover. These additional visits are called ‘Church School Reviews’. Please contact the Diocesan Director of Education (ku.gro.coidsolg@duaegrobj) in the first instance if you would like to discuss the suitability and cost of this option for your school at the current time.
Bespoke Consultancy for MATs and Schools
If you require any other consultancy for your school or MAT, beyond what is listed above and elsewhere in this brochure, please do not hesitate to contact us for a discussion of what could be offered and costings. Please send all enquiries of this nature to ku.gro.coidsolg@noitacude
We will update training opportunities going forward in the first DEN of the next academic year.
Online RE Support Meetings
Monday 29 June 2026 4.00pm-5.00pm
For RE subject leaders, RE teachers. During this academic year the new Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for RE is being rolled out. These online meetings will support subject leaders and class teachers as they begin to use the new religion and worldwide approach. Cost per school for access to all 6 sessions: £50.00
Governor CLARITY
Wednesday 17 June 2026 6.00pm-7.30pm Online
No cost to schools – or ALL governors and trustees of Church schools. Governor CLARITY presents the latest news, information and updates along with the opportunity for discussions on key issues. Open to all governors and trustees of Church of England Schools. Please book in at the beginning of the year to ensure that you, or a representative from your school, keeps up to date and your school does not miss out.
Chair of Governors: Leading with Confidence and Purpose
Wednesday 8 July 2026 2.00pm-5.30pm
For new and experienced Chairs of Governors in C of E schools. This practical and empowering session is designed to support both new and existing Chairs in their pivotal leadership role. Together, we’ll explore how to set the tone and strategic direction of the governing body, build a strong and effective relationship with the headteacher, and work in partnership with your clerk to ensure governance runs smoothly. Learn how to lead with clarity, organise your work with confidence, and make the best use of agendas, induction, and preparation to focus the board’s attention where it matters most. Whether you’re stepping into the role for the first time or seeking a fresh perspective, this session will equip you with tools, ideas, and space for reflection. There will be opportunities for questions, shared experiences, and networking with fellow chairs. Venue: Chapter Room, Church House, 5 Denmark Road, Gloucester, GL1 3HW. Cost per delegate: £50.00


