As part of his Down Presbytery tour, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), Rt Rev Dr Richard Kerr, visited Saintfield High School.
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Moderator discusses faith and education in visit to Saintfield High School
The visit, which took place on Monday 2 November, provided an opportunity for the Moderator to engage with both pupils and teachers. While he was there, he sat in on an RE class, in which Year 8 pupils had the opportunity to ask questions about his journey into ministry and his role as Moderator. He also met with the Head of Religious Education (RE), Miss Henderson, as well as A-level RE students, and members of the school’s Scripture Union (SU).
Reflecting on the visit, the Moderator said: “It was a pleasure to visit Saintfield High School during my tour. We thoroughly enjoyed speaking with the students and staff and seeing first-hand the work taking place within the RE department. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of our teachers and the role they play in shaping young minds during such an important stage of life.”
The visit concluded with a gathering of educationalists from a range of backgrounds including school principals and members of Boards of Governors. The Moderator, along with primary school teacher, Brenda Kerr, and PCI Public Affairs Officer Dr Stevenson participated in a conversation about the Churches’ future in schools and education. The discussion was chaired by Rev Sam Bostock and covered topics such as the Supreme Court’s decision in JR87; the RE Syllabus Review and the valuable contribution made by transferor governors.
Following the event, Brenda commented: "As a teacher myself, this visit was very close to my heart. I feel very privileged to work in the profession I do and, I understand all too well the increasing pressures and challenges being put on teachers. It was a real encouragement to meet the dedicated staff and students of Saintfield High School."