The Church of England (CofE) is set to create a further education college group, it has been announced today.

In a new report, Vocation, Transformation and Hope, the Church of England says FE should be “integral” to the church’s strategic planning to build a younger and more diverse church at a national and a diocesan level.

The report highlights an under-representation in FE colleges compared with its extensive links with schools and universities, and recommends that, within the next five years, each diocese should seek an active partnership with each of its FE and sixth-form colleges.

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It adds: “At a national level, it became clear that one barrier to a greater engagement in FE was the fact that, in contrast to the church’s presence in schools and in higher education, it operated no FE institutions. Consequently, in 2019, the Archbishops’ Council priorities included a commitment to develop “a specific proposal about increasing the church’s engagement in further education”.

“That proposal was to create a group of colleges from existing institutions that wished to be part of such a group because they shared its overall ethos, values and approach to education, though - as with community schools joining church multi-academy trusts - not necessarily its theological outlook.

“One factor behind the willingness to consider such a move was the contrast that senior leaders saw between our intended ethos and that of some other, more commercially driven groups of institutions. The feasibility of such a proposal is now being carefully examined.”

‘FE colleges transform the lives of individuals’

The Bishop of Winchester, Tim Dakin, the Church of England’s lead bishop for further and higher education, said the CofE’s vision  for further education invites and challenges church leaders to see the sector in a new light, one in which God is already actively present.

He said: “Further education colleges transform the lives of individuals and train many of our nation’s essential workers. They are crucial anchor institutions for communities, they cradle innovation and success, and offer new opportunities and second chances.

“We want to offer a positive vision of how the Church of England can contribute to the flourishing of further education and address our lack of systematic engagement in such an important part of our educational and social landscape.”

He added: “I hope that, through local diocesan engagement with FE colleges, we can contribute to key issues in the sector such as mental health and wellbeing, develop lasting relationships between churches and colleges, and build a younger and more diverse church.”

Other recommendations include the church offering pastoral support for FE college students and staff, and creating a local FE network to link local churches and colleges. 

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “Like religious institutions, colleges are vital parts of their communities, so I am pleased that this report recognises how vital colleges are in educating and training 2.2 million people each year. The support of the Church of England is an important recognition of the role colleges play in supporting people and communities.

“As the country grapples with the impact of Covid-19 on our economy and our communities, colleges stand ready to support those who need them most, to learn, to train and to improve their lot. Vibrant communities need vibrant colleges.”

Recommendations in full

For local churches:

• Churches with an FE or sixth-form college in the area should be intentional about welcoming their students and staff. Churches - individually or in groups like deaneries - should find creative ways to provide chaplaincy for their local college.
• All churches should affirm the vocations of FE college students and staff, offer pastoral support and pray regularly for them and their work.
• To improve community cohesion, churches should help FE colleges make links with other local groups. 

For diocese:

• Each diocese should consider how to support FE and sixth-form colleges in creative ways.
• Within the next five years, each diocese should seek an active partnership with each of its FE and sixth-form colleges.

• Each diocese should create or revitalise a local FE network to link local churches and colleges.
• Each diocese should engage with FE and sixth-form colleges in its strategic planning and an appropriate member of the bishop’s staff should have responsibility for linking diocesan strategy with FE and sixth-form college activity. 

For the Church of England

• The Church of England should create a FE colleges group.
• FE should be integral to the church’s strategic planning to build a younger and more diverse church at both a national and a diocesan level, including investment in missional projects that specifically engage with FE and sixth-form colleges, and expand the principles of growing faith for the FE sector.
• The church should contribute to long-term policy for learning and skills by engaging with government, sector bodies and college leaders, particularly over the contribution it can make to the priorities signalled in the FE White Paper.
• The church should conduct a survey of FE chaplaincy to better inform decision-making and engagement.
• The Church of England Foundation for Education Leadership’s networks and programmes should include FE leaders and governors.
• Specific targets should be set to (i) deliver accredited training programmes for senior church and education leaders, chaplains, CYP workers and clergy and (ii) significantly increase chaplaincy staffing, especially in FE and sixth-form colleges.