In Depth:  education

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Christian Institute founder John Burns dies

Christian Institute founder John Burns dies

Nicola Laver, Christian Institute

Christian Institute (CI) founder John Burn has died aged 86 following a long illness. His death on 25 October comes eight months after the sudden death of CI director Colin Hart in March.

Originally a science teacher, John’s work in improving standards in schools brought him an OBE for services to education. While a lay reader in the Diocese of Newcastle at Jesmond Parish Church, John was invited to be a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas.

The unseen cost of boarding school: pain, healing, and the gospel

The unseen cost of boarding school: pain, healing, and the gospel

Carl Chambers
Carl Chambers

There is a malady which affects the souls, bodies and lives of many men and women, but is barely spoken about. Few understand it, while many subconsciously deny it, whether through ignorance or fear or shame. It may affect someone you know personally, and almost certainly affects people who have had an influence on your life.

What is it and how is it caused?

This malady is called 'Boarding School Syndrome' (BSS). I call it 'Prep School Pain'.

Paraguay sex ed curriculum welcomed

Paraguay sex ed curriculum welcomed

Iain Taylor
Iain Taylor

Evangelicals and other Christians are expressing strong support for Paraguay’s first national sex education curriculum, to be rolled out in 2025.

The initiative is a response to the crisis by which the country has the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy in South America, surpassed only by Venezuela. Paraguayan government figures show that, in 2023, 10,697 adolescents aged 15–19, and 405 girls aged 10–14 gave birth in the country, which has a population of under 7 million.

Christian schools shutting down following VAT changes

Christian schools shutting down following VAT changes

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Weeks after the government announced VAT will be imposed on private school fees, the first independent Christian schools have begun to close doors.

Cedars Christian school in Greenock, Inverclyde, closed in September after 25 years, partly because of the VAT move. The school, catering for children aged 5–18, had also experienced a steady drop in pupils on the roll.

Sutcliffe appeal lost

Sutcliffe appeal lost

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Maths teacher Joshua Sutcliffe has lost his appeal against a ruling banning him indefinitely from teaching.

Sutcliffe was dismissed after deliberately failing to use a pupil’s preferred pronouns in the classroom and on TV. He had also shared with pupils his views about gay marriage and homosexuality.

Truancy falls 96% as church-school partnership lifts off

Truancy falls 96% as church-school partnership lifts off

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Truancy has dropped by a staggering 96% after a Welsh evangelical church launched a new ‘learning hub’ with a nearby school.

The hub was opened in June by Noddfa Evangelical Church and Abersychan Comprehensive School and combines academic teaching and broader ‘Life Skills’. So far, 20 school pupils have registered with the hub.

Christian schools alarmed by charging of VAT on fees

Christian schools alarmed by charging of VAT on fees

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

The imposition of VAT on private school fees threatens the survival of small Christian schools, which are ‘worlds away from the Harrows and Etons of this world’, the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT) is warning.

Meanwhile, the head of a small private school says Christian parents are being punished, and has challenged the church to support families and Christian education.

Growing fears around sex and health education guidance

Growing fears around sex and health education guidance

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

As the Autumn term across England and Wales begins, the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT) has expressed concern about uncertainty around the draft relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance.

The draft guidance, published in May, includes clear age limits for teaching the most sensitive content, and states that the ‘broader concept of gender identity’ should not be taught. If published, the final guidance would be statutory.

Welsh school criticised for Christianity

Welsh school criticised for Christianity

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

A Welsh comprehensive school is being investigated after the National Secular Society (NSS) complained it is teaching creationism and promoting evangelical Christianity to pupils.

The NSS criticised Llanidloes High School, Powys for teaching creationism and displaying posters combining educational content with Scripture verses – material NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said amounts to an ‘extensive campaign of evangelism’.