Our Impact.
Hard work, paying off.
The Headlines from 2023-2024.
We launched Primary School Chaplaincy at the Federation of Fairfield and Colneis and welcomed Julie to the team to develop this work.
Chaplaincy at Felixstowe School supported 145 individual students with specialist pastoral support last academic year. We ran 373 one-to-one sessions with students covering a range of issues from self-perception to bereavement.
Through our bereavement support, students reported an improvement in their ability to manage grief by 170% and students reported an improvement in their ability to move forwards with grief by 73%.
We worked intensively with small groups of young people in the Garden project, helping them to learn new skills, cope better with school life, and enjoy a safe space to try something new.
The Garden Project achieved the highest level of the RHS School Gardening Awards- Level Five.
Chaplaincy provided three different lunchtime clubs for dozens of students every week, giving them safe places, opportunities to meet with friends and have fun during the school day.
We facilitated the school’s Reflection Room to be open to all students and staff as a ‘safe a special place for contemplation, prayer and reflection’.
Chaplaincy contributed to the school’s assembly and collective worship programme, delivering a range of thoughtful, meaningful and engaging assemblies for students in every year group and House.
We supported a new daily breakfast club, and have worked with the Rotary Club to support families and individuals in need this year.
Josh continued to host visits from other chaplains, share best practice, and speak at relevant conferences, including those held by Unity School Partnership and the Centre for Chaplaincy in Education. News about the positive impact of our chaplaincy projects was picked up by local and national media, including the BBC and The Times.
“Chaplaincy provides excellent support.”
Ofsted, 2015
A Story from Tom…
Throughout my younger years at school, I only ever had one or two friends at a time, and this greatly impacted how much I enjoyed going to school and my learning; I was always awkward, and blended into the background.
I joined Theology Club when I was still in Key Stage 3, and it was there that I discovered that I have a passion for learning about religious belief and studying religious scriptures - and finally had something to look forward to week to week.
In Theology Club, we specifically look at Christianity and The Bible. We explore and debate topics from how language is used in The Bible, to obscure people in Jesus’ life, and how plausible the Easter story is according to modern science. Discovering my passion for Religious Studies and Theology has greatly impacted my life path, including what I’m doing at school and my future career prospects.
For example, for my EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), I chose to investigate the question ‘Should Religious Education be taught in British schools?’ as through debates in Theology Club and my own Religious Education in Key Stage 3, I have encountered a wide variety of different opinions on the matter and wanted to explore them in more detail.
I did this through the medium of questionnaires, and also interviewing people such as the school chaplain and a local vicar. Doing my EPQ on this subject really reinforced the fact that in the future I would like to be a teacher of RE, and study Religious Studies at university.
Learning to respect and accommodate for others religious beliefs has resulted in me being passionate about teaching others the same values, to help contribute to the creation of a more accepting and peaceful society.
Thank you for your support during some of the hardest times of my life. There are no words to express how truly grateful I am.
From the Students
From Support Staff
Josh is a fantastic help around the Academy for both staff and students. Personally, he has supported me during the loss of my mum and I have also attended the morning prayers when I can. He is an amazing asset who has thrown himself into the community and established more support for students and staff. Thank you Josh.
From the Pastoral Team
Having Josh and the support he provides within the Academy has been an amazing resource in regards to the Pastoral team. It has been useful being able to signpost students to the specialist guidance on offer, in particular during more complex situations involving ethical and moral questions.
From Teaching Staff
Our academy chaplaincy has made a significant difference already to both staff and students in our school. We now have a Theology Club that runs every week with regular attendance, a time for staff prayer each week and an extremely caring and approachable chaplain who is available to support both students and staff. The work of the chaplaincy does not go unnoticed, and has a real positive presence around the school and as a whole school community.