Diocese of Chichester

The Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education offers thanks as more than 3500 Year 6 pupils to attend Church of England services over the coming weeks.

The "passion and resilience of headteachers, staff, governors and all involved in the day-to-day life of local schools" is acknowledged with deep gratitude today by the Venerable Luke Irvine-Capel, Chair of the Chichester Diocesan Board of Education, as the school year enters its final phase.

“Throughout the challenges of the pandemic our schools have remained committed to educating and nurturing the children and young people entrusted to us,” says the Archdeacon.

The Diocese is putting finishing touches to a series of special services of thanksgiving and blessing for all Year 6 pupils leaving Church of England schools this year. All of them will be moving to their senior schools in the autumn.

The services, which will be attended by more than 3,500 children, will take place at Chichester Cathedral and five other venues across the Diocese.

The Diocesan Board of Education works alongside 154 schools across Sussex.

Archdeacon Luke said he was very much looking forward to the special services which will be led by, amongst others, the bishops of Horsham and Lewes:

"As we have now returned to a more familiar pattern of life and have once again gone through the season of public tests and examinations, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to very publicly thank them and to celebrate their achievements in seeing our school communities through to this significant moment."

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, also offered his good wishes to all this year's leavers: "We are incredibly proud of our schools and the amazing work they do. And their greatest achievement is in the pupils who leave for the next stage of life. They take with them our prayers and best wishes for the future."

The thirteen services begin in the Cathedral on Monday 27 June and run at various venues until 7^th July.