Father Simon Rundell is the vicar of St Mary’s Bickleigh, here he outlines some of the work that he and the church community does at Bickleigh Down C of E School:

"The Parish of S. Mary the Virgin, Bickleigh regards the relationship with Bickleigh Down School as very important: members of the parish are committed to serving the whole community as Foundation Governors; and the school, its pupils and staff are regularly in the prayer intentions of the Parish. I make a regular contribution to the curriculum with visits and talks; and lead Collective Worship each Friday. I also celebrate a Fresh Expression of the Mass in School each Friday Lunchtime which is open to all pupils and staff. This significant and distinctive eucharistic celebration is set to the tune of Nursery Rhymes and this initiative has been a beacon expression for many other churches, schools and communities across the country."

Ethos Group

Our Church School Governors play a huge part in the ethos of our school.  They meet on a half termly basis as an ethos group, alongside Miss Freeman and Mrs Conday.  The Ethos group regularly talk about what makes us distinctive as a church school.  They also carry out regular monitoring visits where they talk to the children about Religious Education, Church School Distinctiveness and Collective Worship.

The members of our Ethos Group are:

Tameka Hue Hamilton

Wendy Round

Father Simon Rundell

Laura Bates

Sue Cannon

Katie Freeman

Kerri Conday

Children leading worship with Father Simon

Members of our worship team regularly lead worship alongside Father Simon on a Friday morning.  The children welcome the staff and pupils and remind them of why we meet together.  During the worship time, they keep a record of what the school has learnt and write a prayer to share at the end of our Collective Worship time.  The children’s worship records can be found in a central space within the school, as a reminder of what we have learnt, reflected and acted on.