In Parliament Dr Neil Hudson asked the Church of England’s parliamentary representative about its important contribution to education and paid tribute to the Church and its schools in Cumbria for the support given to families in rural communities.
Dr Hudson thanked the Church for its contribution to support vulnerable families and asked for an assessment of its contributions locally.
Almost 50% of primary schools in Penrith and The Border are run by the Church.
Putting a small Cumbrian village school on the map, Andrew Selous MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner pointed to the excellent work being done at Shankhill C of E Primary School, near Hethersgill.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, tabled the question: “What recent assessment the Church has made of the contribution of its schools to education in Penrith and The Border and across England?”
Andrew Selous MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, replied: “The Church of England educates over 1 million children in its community schools across England, including nearly half of the primary schools in the Penrith and The Border constituency. These schools are generally very popular with parents of all faiths and none, and have a vision to be deeply Christian, to serve the common good and to foster a thirst for knowledge across a broad curriculum.”
Following up in the Chamber of the Commons, Dr Neil Hudson MP asked: “Unfortunately, the educational attainment of children across the country, including in rural areas, can all too often be impacted by poverty and isolation, including food and energy poverty. Would my hon. Friend join me in thanking the Church of England, including its schools in Cumbria and across the country, for supporting those vulnerable families, particularly in the challenging times of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis? Will the Church commit to continue to provide that vital support?”
Andrew Selous MP replied: “I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s thanks, and I can reassure him that the Church of England will continue to support vulnerable families wherever possible—for example, by buying school uniforms, providing breakfast clubs for free and paying for school trips. In the village of Shankhill in his constituency, the Church school supports the whole community by acting as a village hall for gatherings, lunches and intergenerational activities.”
Speaking afterwards, Dr Hudson said: “The Church of England plays a huge role in so many of our schools in Cumbria. In Parliament, I was able to highlight this and pay tribute to the Church and our local Schools for the support they give families in our rural communities. It was so nice that the great community work done by our own Shankhill C of E Primary School was singled out for praise by the Church’s representative in the Commons. We must continue to prioritise education amid the cost of living crisis and make sure future generations are properly equipped to tackle the issues of tomorrow.
