A clear and supportive framework for the roles of visiting clergy and Christian organisations in schools has been published by the Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC). Called The Charter for Churches and Christian Organisations in Schools, the TRC has shared it recently with all principals of controlled schools in Northern Ireland.
The TRC, which represents the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Church of Ireland, and the Methodist Church in Ireland, in education matters in Northern Ireland, has worked with some of the main Christian organisations which work in schools to prepare the document since May 2025, prior to November’s UK Supreme Court ruling in the JR87 case.
In the letter to principals, the TRC’s Chair, Bishop Andrew Forster, welcomed the Supreme Court’s recognition that Christianity remains the primary faith taught in schools, and that religious education and collective worship continue to have an important and lawful place in the school day.
TRC Chair
Bishop Andrew said,
“This is a valuable affirmation of the long-standing role the Christian faith has played in the ethos of controlled schools,” Bishop Forster states. “The Court acknowledged that religious education is beneficial and legitimate, and that the aim of schools should not be to remove religion from the curriculum but to ensure it is delivered in a way consistent with the rights of all families.”
He also affirmed the value of the contribution of visiting clergy and Christian organisations – a presence which, in the TRC’s view, “enhances and supports” the Christian ethos of schools whether through the delivery of RE, or collective worship, or through supporting other curricular or extra-curricular activity.
The Charter is suggested as a documentwhich principals may wish to use as guests come into schools, and it is up to individual schools as to how and whether to make use of it. For example, the Charter can become the basis of an agreement with visitors and/or could be shared with parents to give them confidence in how churches are working with schools in their local communities.
The letter concludes by stating that the Transferor Churches “remain committed to supporting schools to provide high-quality, religious education and meaningful collective worship”. The TRC also welcomes the review of the religious education curriculum and “is ready to participate fully in the review on behalf of our Churches.”
The Transferor Representatives’ Council The TRC represents the interests of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in education issues in Northern Ireland and advocates on behalf of the three churches.
Controlled schools are ‘church-related schools’ owing to the fact that in the last 1920s until the late 1940s the three churches transferred their school buildings, pupils and staff into state control (hence the terms ‘transferor’ and ‘controlled’) on the understanding that the Christian ethos of these schools would be maintained in perpetuity. Between 1926 and 1947, the churches transferred approximately 500 schools to the government of Northern Ireland.
During the transfer process at the time, the church leaders stressed that it was not simply buildings, which were being transferred, but pupils, and a concept of education directly informed and shaped by a Christian ethos. In return for transferring their schools into state control, the transferor churches were accorded statutory rights of representation on Boards of Governors.
The TRC overseas the appointment of over 1,500 governors to serve on the boards of controlled schools in Northern Ireland, who are known as ‘transferor governors’. It also works closely with statutory bodies and nominates four members to Education Authority. For more information on the Transferor Representative Council, this link will take you to the TRC website.
Education, The Transferor Representatives’ Council, PCI Partner Churches & Organisations, Church in Society
The Chair of the Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC), Right Reverend Andrew Forster, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, speaking on behalf of the TRC wishes to express to …
