The Rt Revd John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford, has accepted the invitation of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to chair the Church of England Board of Education and the National Society Council. He will take up the post of lead bishop on education, succeeding the Rt Revd John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln at his retirement on 31 January 2011.

Bishop John will take up the post at a time when there are major changes taking place in the English public education system leading to a new engagement of the Church of England with schools across the country.

2011 will provide a particular focus on church schools with the 200^th anniversary of the National Society*. A service in Westminster Abbey in October will be the culmination of events and celebrations across the country, in schools, communities and cathedrals.  The year will also see the publication of a new history of the National Society and new guidance on admissions to church schools.

Bishop John Pritchard said: "It's a great privilege to be asked to take on this responsibility, especially at a time when education is again a key issue for a new Government. The range of the Church's engagement with children and young people is impressive, from one million children in its schools to tens of thousands in holiday clubs. My own diocese of Oxford has opened two new academies in the last two years with more following, and there are nearly 50 full-time youth workers. The Church of England has a deep commitment to education going back 200 years. 2011 is the bi-centenary of the National Society which pioneered education for all across the country, so I could not be coming into this role at a more auspicious time."

Bishop John Saxbee said: "Through its Education Division our Church expresses an enduring commitment to growth in body, mind and spirit.  Lifelong learning is at the heart of our faith, and it has been a privilege to Chair the Division during times of challenge and change.  Bishop John will bring characteristic grace and wise judgement as the Division takes forward exciting initiatives which will be rolled out in Schools, Parishes and Dioceses in the next few years."

The Revd Janina Ainsworth, the Church of England's Chief Education Officer, said: "I'm looking forward to working with Bishop John over the next few years, as the shape of the educational landscape changes. There will also be the challenge to grow the Church's informal work with children and young people, and the engagement in both Further and Higher Education. Bishop John brings exciting experience from the dioceses and will be well placed to lead for the Church in these areas." 

Information

Biography Bishop John Pritchard
John Pritchard has been Bishop of Oxford since 2007. He was previously Bishop of Jarrow, Archdeacon of Canterbury and Warden of Cranmer Hall in Durham. He has a written a number of books, including, most recently, Living Jesus (2010), Going to Church: A user's guide (2009); and The Life and Work of a Priest (2007).

* The 'National Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church' (now known simply as the National Society) was founded in 1811 with the intention of establishing a school in every parish providing education for those who had no other opportunity. This pioneering vision was brought into reality through a huge programme of building, staffing and equipping new schools - fifty years before the State saw the importance of providing free education.  http://www.natsoc200.org.uk/   

Key facts on Church Schools

• Around one million children and young people are educated in Church of England schools
• Around a quarter of all state primary schools in England are Church of England schools - that's around 4,450 schools.
• Around one in twenty of all state secondary schools in England are Church of England schools - around 210 schools.
• 40 Church of England Academies are now open, with a further five now at an advanced stage in planning - the majority replacing vulnerable or failing schools and many in areas of social deprivation.
• Nearly one-fifth of all primary pupils and around six in every hundred of all secondary pupils attend these schools and these percentages in each case are growing.