Church schools

There are currently 13 Church of England (CofE) primary schools in the Acorn family. These schools all work within the Salisbury Diocese.

Leader for Church Schools Flourishing (LCSF)

Acorn’s Church of England schools operate under the guidance of the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education. The Trust deeply values the Diocese’s support in driving school improvement initiatives. To further the objectives of the Diocese’s ‘Programme for Church Schools Flourishing’, Acorn has appointed Max Burr, Executive Headteacher (External Affairs), as the Leader for Church Schools Flourishing (LCSF).

This role is pivotal in ensuring that every Church of England school within the Acorn network embodies its Christian foundations. In collaboration with, and reporting to, both the Acorn Board—through the School Standards and Safeguarding Committee—and the Diocese, the LCSF is responsible for ensuring that:

• each Church School upholds a theologically informed Christian vision;
• each Church School maintains an inclusive environment;
• the social and educational needs of each community remain central to the school's mission;
• each Church School is an integral part of the communities it serves;
• school leaders receive appropriate support from the Trust;
• every Church School understands and effectively utilises the SIAMS Inspection framework as a tool for self-assessment and external evaluation by the Trust.

Currently, the LCSF oversees all components of Acorn’s Programme for Church Schools Flourishing, including governance, recruitment, and curriculum development. As the programme evolves, these responsibilities will be distributed among Acorn staff in the following roles:

Leader for Church School Governance (LCSG)

The LCSG ensures that Acorn’s Church of England Academy Councils are rigorously monitoring the implementation and impact of each school’s Christian vision across all aspects of school life. Appointed by Acorn’s Board, the LCSG participates in the annual Quality Assurance visit led by the LCSF, supporting Headteachers in addressing identified areas for improvement.

Leader for Church School Recruitment (LCSR)

The LCSR is charged with safeguarding the Christian ethos and values in all staff appointments at Church of England schools, fostering an environment where the school can continue to thrive. On a daily basis, the LCSR collaborates with Acorn’s HR team and Headteachers to nurture a workforce committed to the school’s Christian foundation. At the leadership level, the LCSR partners with Anna Williams, Head of HR, to ensure that senior appointments consistently reflect a clear Christian vision for the school.

Leader for Collective Worship and Religious Education (LCWRE)

This role focuses on establishing Collective Worship and Religious Education as fundamental elements within Church of England schools, utilising both practices to support the holistic development of students. The LCWRE is responsible for ensuring that:

Collective Worship:

• reinforces the school’s Christian vision;
• is both invitational and inspirational;
• fosters spiritual growth among adults and children.

Religious Education (RE):

• is treated as a core subject;
• receives adequate resources;
• is delivered to a high standard;
• incorporates assessments that promote continual learning and development.