Manchester Diocesan Board of Education

The Manchester Diocesan Board of Education (MDBE) is a key entity within the Diocese of Manchester, responsible for supporting and guiding Church of England (CofE) schools across the region. Registered with the Charity Commission under the number 530002, the MDBE plays a pivotal role in promoting education infused with Christian values.

Overview

The MDBE is tasked with enacting the diocesan vision, which places an emphasis on schools being part of the diocesan family. This includes fostering strong partnerships and providing comprehensive support to approximately 192 Church of England schools within the diocese, covering Greater Manchester and Rossendale[3][5].

Vision and Principles

The Diocese of Manchester has outlined a vision to be a "worshipping, growing, and transforming Christian presence" at the heart of every community. This vision is centered around three main principles: growing, nurturing, and serving[5]. The MDBE supports this vision by:

• Growing: Fostering healthy relationships between staff, governors, and schools through training and advice on leadership, mental health, admissions, and school management[5].
• Nurturing: Strengthening relationships with schools and promoting effective school governance, leadership, and collaboration[5].
• Serving: Enhancing the capability of schools to serve local communities by promoting Christian values and practices[5].

Responsibilities and Activities

The MDBE's responsibilities include:

• Policy Decisions: Overseeing policy decisions and statutory functions related to CofE schools[1].
• Performance Monitoring: Analyzing data to assess school performance and providing targeted support where needed[2].
• Training and Development: Offering high-quality training for religious education and religious worship, as well as leadership development programs for school leaders and governors[2].
• Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration between schools, local authorities, higher education institutions, and teaching schools to ensure mutual support and challenge[2].

Service Level Agreement (SLA)

The MDBE operates a Service Level Agreement that outlines its partnership with schools. This covenant-based relationship emphasizes mutual support and collaboration, with over 95% of the diocese's CofE schools participating. The SLA ensures that schools benefit from comprehensive support, enabling them to align with the diocesan vision while fostering a sense of community within the diocese[3][5].

Overall, the Manchester Diocesan Board of Education is instrumental in ensuring that Church of England schools in its jurisdiction provide high-quality education grounded in Christian values while striving for excellence in educational standards.

[1] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/sector-data/top-10-charities?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A15850504&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Ffull-print&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=530002 [2] https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/2013_a_diocesan_board_of_education_for_the_future_web_final.pdf [3] https://www.manchester.anglican.org/schools/diocesan-board-of-education/ [4] https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5fbd76bf103bd/content/pages/documents/f5c8c5b5f5613c0f9e157cfd2fb1be56823f68ca.pdf [5] https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5fbd76bf103bd/content/pages/documents/sla-april-2023-24.pdf