10/06/2014
The Revd Nigel Genders has been appointed as the next Chief Education Officer for the Church of England and General Secretary of the National Society. He replaces the Revd Jan Ainsworth who retires this summer.
As the Church of England's Chief Education Officer, Nigel will have lead responsibility for the development of the Church's strategies and policies for education - in schools, colleges and universities, and in parishes, deaneries and dioceses - to promote the highest quality of educational practice and to promote and support the Church's voluntary work among children and young people.
He talks more about this in a Church of England interview published today.
Nigel is currently Head of School Policy, based at Church House, Westminster, supporting dioceses around the country and engaging with the Department for Education on all matters to do with the Church of England's 4,700 schools. He has worked closely with the Church School of the Future programme as it implements the recommendations of the Chadwick Report and has recently produced the report A Diocesan Board of Education for the Future.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt. Rev. John Pritchard, Chair of the Church of England's Board of Education said: "'This is a very good appointment. Nigel has the respect of officials at the Department for Education as well as Diocesan Directors of Education around the country. He brings proven experience and much practical wisdom to a front-line job in the Church's mission."
Nigel, who will take up the appointment on 1st September, said he was looking forward to the new role: "The Church's involvement in all aspects of education is a significant gift to the nation. We have achieved an enormous amount under Jan's leadership and I look forward to building on all of that as we now embrace exciting new opportunities. I want the national education office to provide the hub for a dynamic network of schools, colleges and universities in parishes, deaneries and dioceses. Such a movement has the power to influence the world, transform the Church and offer a life enhancing encounter with Jesus Christ to every child and young person."
ENDS
Notes:
The interview with Nigel Genders is available at:
https://soundcloud.com/the-church-of-england/an-interview-with-the-church-of-englands-new-chief-education-officer
Nigel was ordained in 1992 and has served in a variety of parishes in London, Southwark and Canterbury Dioceses as an incumbent, area dean, and as a chaplain to two large state secondary schools where he taught 'Beliefs and Values' and led on spiritual development. His passion for the Church's role in education has developed throughout those 22 years and he was Director of Education for Canterbury Diocese from 2008-2012.