Before the government became involved with providing education for everyone in England- there were church schools and other charitable schools. There were two requirements, the first to teach Christianity through “Religious Instruction” and the second to hold a regular act of worship.
When the state became involved with providing mass education, church schools became integrated into the education provided by the state. All these schools are known as maintained schools – they are funded by the state. All maintained schools including the Church school have to teach Religious Education and hold a daily act of worship. So church schools work on the same basis as community schools.
The purpose of a Church of England school is to offer a spiritual dimension to the lives of young people, within the traditions of the Church of England, in an increasingly secular world.
Church schools have a Christian vision, Christian values and beliefs at their heart. This means that every child and adult associated with the school is not just important because they are members of the school but because they are seen as unique individuals, created by God.
Church schools recognise that as well as academic and emotional development, there is also spiritual development. The purpose of a Church of England school is to offer a spiritual development and also share the traditions of the Church of England, in an increasingly secular world.