More about
Church Schools
More about
Church Schools
For parents: more about Church of England schools in London
If you have recently moved to London, welcome! Church of England schools in London are funded by the government: parents do not pay fees for their children to attend. Our schools are diverse: they are open to children from all backgrounds. Children of any faith and any ethnicity can apply for a place.
The exact syllabus varies from school to school, but all of our schools prepare children for national tests. Children sit SATS tests in Year 6 (age 11), GCSEs in Year 11 (age 16) and A-levels and other qualifications in Year 13 (age 18). Young people leaving our secondary schools are well-prepared for life and for their next steps: whether to university, to a job, or an apprenticeship.
Each Church school is inspected by Ofsted, the national body which inspects the standards at every school. They are also inspected by SIAMS, the national body which inspects the Christian distinctiveness of Church schools. Church schools in London perform very well, above London and national averages.
You can find out more about each of our schools, including links to the schools’ own websites on our interactive map. If you know which school you would like to apply for, please contact the school direct to arrange a visit and for more information about how to apply.
Church of England schools are funded by the government, and supported by the national Church of England. This gives them a Christian distinctiveness that comes in many forms. There will be a daily time of 'collective worship' which is Christian in character but inclusive and accessible to all, including people of all religions and none.
They are among the best schools in the country, and there are more than 150 in London.
Church schools offer a rounded education which combines high expectations and aspirations with a recognition that children need space to grow and flourish.
You do not need to be christened to go to a Church of England school. Children of any faith and any ethnicity can apply for a place.
You do not need to be a Christian to go to a Church of England school. Children of any faith and any ethnicity can apply for a place.
Yes, Church of England schools teach about religions other than Christianity. Although Church of England schools have a strong Christian and religious ethos, they welcome children and families of all faiths and none.
One significant aspect of the work of Church schools is to teach all pupils and young people within our family of schools how to stay safe and healthy. We desire for each pupil to develop a strong sense of identity and self-worth, learning to treat others with dignity and respect so that all may flourish.
All schools have a statutory requirement to teach about relationships. Church schools are given the flexibility to teach the content of RSE in a way that reflects the context of their school. In Church schools this includes the context of faith, religion and belief. Schools must ensure that they comply with the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, under which religion or belief are amongst the protected characteristics.
We recognise that there will be some elements of the RSE curriculum which are sensitive and contentious. A range of viewpoints will be held by members within each school and church community and these will need to be taught with care and respect. Both the Church of England vision for Education and the SIAMS Framework requires schools to establish a strong theologically rooted Christian vision reflective of their unique context.
Church schools should be places of hospitality and welcome, where all are treated with dignity and respect. The Church of England’s document, ‘Valuing All God’s Children’ summarises this well: ‘A Church school’s vision will be a Christian and inclusive vision, where all members of the school community are afforded a sense of their own dignity and worth and the innate dignity of humankind is cherished. Inclusivity and hospitality will be hallmarks of church schools, where everyone is revered and respected as a member of a community where all are known and loved by God.’
The Church of England has produced guidance for Church of England schools on challenging homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. Read ‘Valuing All God’s Children’.
We expect Church schools to comply with the LDBS RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) Guidance
Schools can login to the LDBS RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) Policy Template
Church of England schools are funded by the government: parents do not pay fees for their children to attend.
In London, Church schools perform very well, above both London and national averages.
London has many Church of England primary and secondary schools that perform well above local and national averages. You can find out more about each of our schools, including links to the schools’ own websites on our interactive map.
If you know which school you would like to apply for, please contact the school direct to arrange a visit and for more information about how to apply.
You can find out more about each of our schools, including links to the schools’ own websites on our interactive map.
If you know which school you would like to apply for, please contact the school direct to arrange a visit and for more information about how to apply.
If you would like more advice about Church schools in London, or applying for school places, please contact our LDBS office.
Many LDBS Church schools have entered formal collaboration arrangements as a way to support sustainability, staff development and curriculum breadth. There are three types of arrangement: partnerships, federations and multi-academy trusts. Many more are considering it.
Partnerships, can sustain schools within the maintained sector. Partnerships are almost always with schools in the same geographical area. LDBS supports schools in identifying a partner and taking next steps for long-term strategic benefit.
Federations are a possible next step once a partnership is in place. They can help school leaders to provide systems leadership and take full advantage of the potential economies of scale.
LDBS has London Church school MAT criteria for any school wishing to join a Church school MAT, or any Church school MAT wishing to expand. We expect the number of Church schools joining multi-academy trusts to grow.
All collaborations seek to take a long-term strategic view to help London Church schools thrive, and be sustainable and outward looking. Every school context is different, and there is a range of political realities we work in. We are grateful to school leaders, governors and clergy for engaging with our extensive consultation process, and for leading with moral purpose that extends beyond the individual schools.
We are looking for people from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds to join our teams of governors. Serving as a school governor is a fantastic way to serve and support a Church school. We have an amazing group of almost 300 governors appointed by the LDBS. They make a huge difference, and we could not run our schools without them. Our governors are volunteers. For some, serving as a governor in a Church school is an expression of their own Christian discipleship and service. For some it is a way of using their professional skills for the good of their local community.
Will you join us and help govern our schools to give every child the best start in life?