CAPTION: Torre Church of England Academy in Torquay has 18 Pupil Chaplains who help to reflect the school's Christian values.
Pupil Chaplains help Students and Staff at Devon School to ‘Live Life in all it’s Fullness’
Eighteen year six pupils at the Torre Church of England Academy have been making a difference in their school by taking on the role of Pupil Chaplains.
Each Pupil Chaplain is linked to a class at the school. Part of their role is to develop a relationship with the class, to ensure they can deliver engaging and age-appropriate opportunities for worship and reflection.
The Journey to Becoming Pupil Chaplains
The 18 Pupil Chaplains were commissioned in a service led by Father Peter March at All Saints Parish Church.
To become Pupil Chaplains, the pupils go through a ‘recruitment’ process.
The role is advertised to them in the summer term of year five, and during this ‘recruitment’ period they spend some time learning what the role is and what responsibilities it includes. They also take time to learn about how theology and stories from the bible influence the role.
If the children decide they would like to apply to become a Pupil Chaplain, they can write a letter of application and then a formal interview is held.
Laura Kendall, who is the Headteacher at Torre Church of England Academy, said, “There were so many great applicants this time, that Father Peter and I felt that we should accept them all, so eighteen children are currently chaplains.”
The chaplains are assigned in pairs to be linked to a class throughout the school year.
The new chaplains were commissioned in a service at All Saints Parish Church at the start of 2023, in a service led by Father Peter March. The pupils’ families, staff and members of the school community attended the commissioning service to support and celebrate the new pupil chaplains. The school choir also sang during the service.
During the service, the pupils were presented with their new pupil chaplain school sweatshirt, which help the community and school to identify their role and responsibilities.
One pupil chaplain said, “We are a team, and our jumpers make us stand out so other children know who we are. This means they can come to us for help.”
Each pupil chaplain is linked to a class at the school.
Pupil Chaplains take part in the whole school worship, read their own prayers, and share Bible readings. They also lead their own Collective Worship, which reflects the school’s Christian values.
The pupil chaplains are currently working on helping class members to develop a reflective worship area in each of the classrooms. They also plan to increase the local community’s involvement with the local Parish Church.
Walk of Peace
Over Remembrance weekend in November 2023, the Pupil Chaplains were invited to join in the Archbishop’s Walk of Peace service in Torquay. The Archbishop of Canterbury was visiting Devon as part of the Come and See weekend of Mission.
During the Walk of Peace events the children gave Bible readings to a packed crowd.
Laura Kendall said, “On the day the children who were speaking were feeling quite nervous when they saw the huge crowds of people gathering.”
“One they started those nerves faded away and they spoke with confidence and clarity.”
In November 2023, the Pupil Chaplains took part in the Walk of Peace in Torquay.
During the event the students also got to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby, who they found ‘approachable, inspiring and engaging’.
Laura Kendall said, “I personally felt like he really understood how to capture the interests of the children and made the experience hands on and relevant.”
Live Life in all its Fullness
The school vision is ‘we live life in all it’s fullness’, and the pupil chaplains play an important role in supporting the school to uphold this vision.
One of the responsibilities of the pupil chaplains is to encourage their peers, as well as teachers, to consider the school values in all areas of the curriculum.
Headteacher Laura Kendall said, “In order to live life to the fullest, we believe in developing ourselves beyond academia through values led experiences and curriculum. Reflections, theology, spirituality and advocacy are an important part of the supportive role that our chaplains play in their linked classes.”
