16/06/2023
The Church of England’s Chief Education Officer, Nigel Genders, has received a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.
As Chief Education Officer and Chief Executive of the National Society, Nigel has for the past 9 years led the work of the Church of England Education Office which serves the church’s ministry with children and young people in churches, schools, colleges and universities.
The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, the Church of England’s lead bishop for Education, said: “Nigel has been and is an outstanding Chief Executive of the National Society and Church of England Education Office.
“Under his leadership, there have been significant developments for the Church of England, moving into the provision of Professional Qualifications, and developing a new framework for SIAMS, as well as ensuring the highest quality of delivery for RE and Collective Worship is maintained.
“Above all, the development of Visions for the church’s engagement with education in schools, further and higher education have made a major difference to how education is delivered not only in church settings across all schools.
“This is a fitting recognition of Nigel’s work for and with the Church of England’s Education family.”
Nigel’s role in education has developed throughout 31 years of ordained ministry working in a variety of roles, including as a vicar, school chaplain, governor of a university, chair of governors in primary and secondary school, Director of Education for Canterbury Diocese, Head of School Policy for the Church of England and he has been Chief Education Officer since 2014.
Commenting on the award, Nigel Genders said: “I am honoured and delighted to receive this award which is really a tribute to all the incredible people I have been blessed to work alongside: educators and leaders around the country and my amazing team.
“They have brought passion and determination to the Church of England's work in education which seeks to be deeply Christian, serving the common good.
“As Chief Education Officer, I have sought to catalyse and lead a movement which seeks the formation of children for the transformation of the world, and I am privileged to see the difference the national and diocesan teams, teachers and leaders and all of our wonderful schools, colleges and universities are making in this regard.”
The Church of England provides 4,700 schools educating over a million children and is committed to a vision for education which is deeply Christian, serving the common good. Approximately 1 million children attend Church of England schools today, and around 15 million people alive today went to one.