Silver Church & School Partnership Award in Droitwich

St Peter’s CE Academy and St Peter’s Church in the Saltway Team have been awarded a silver Church and School Partnership Award recognising the close relationship between the church, school and local community.

The Church and School Partnership Awards aim to encourage school and church to look at all the things they currently to do support one another as one community. There are three different levels of accreditation – bronze, silver and gold.

The silver award was presented to both the church and the school at a special service of collective worship at St Peter’s Church which was attended by years 2 – 4. Archdeacon Mark, Diocesan Director of Education, Tim Reid and Education Adviser Duncan Hutchison were there to present the certificates.

Deputy Head, Lucy Mills, led the service with the theme of ‘stronger together’ alongside Laura Handy, Rector of the Saltway Team. They explored different bible stories relating to the theme of community, and children from the school highlighted some of the things they do together with members of the church. Everything was held in prayer led by both the children and the church members.

Lucy said: “We have a hugely supportive relationship with St Peter’s Church, and it is great for children to hear from other people outside our school community and see the connections.  Through initiatives such as our community garden and children going into a local care home, our pupils can see what we teach them in school echoed in other places and better understand our values.”

During the service, the children spoke about some of the work they do as part of the partnership, including cleaning the church, visiting elderly residents in a local care home to play games, chat and laugh together, and being part of the Litter Warrior’s Worcestershire Team which litter picks around the local community, including the churchyard.

Churchwarden, Rachel Rean, said: “It is wonderful to have children regularly coming into church for worship and to help us clean. It is always good fun, and they bring excitement and joy whenever they are here. It’s helped them to know that this is their church, and they can feel at home here – it’s an extension of their safe space.

Rector Laura said: “A close relationship between the church and the school has existed for many years and it is good to be able to intentionally recognise it through the award and realise afresh what it means to us. Receiving the award is a chance to celebrate what is, and continue to build on that in more and more meaningful ways.”