’Every school in the UK, a prayed-for school’. That’s the vision of Pray for Schools, a collective of Christian organisations seeking to mobilise Christians to support their school communities through prayer. As a diocese, we’re equally keen to encourage churches to regularly pray for their local schools and colleges.
Go Team Adviser, Andy Levett explained, “Whilst many churches seek to maintain a rythmn of prayer for schools, in a variety of ways throughout the year, it can be helpful to use particular times such as September, when the new academic year begins, to give our school communities a particular focus for our prayers.”
Some churches mark Education Sunday on the second Sunday in September (which this year falls on 10 September) or hold a ’Back to School with God’ Sunday at the beginning of the autumn term. In recent years Youthscape and PAIS have also established a National Day of Prayer for Schools which in 2023 takes place on Friday 29 September.
To help churches, small groups and households get involved, the Go Team has compiled a new Pray for Schools resource. It has tried and tested ideas for praying in creative ways and includes suggestions for Sunday services, as well as tips on linking with local schools as we pray.
Andy added “We hope you find it a helpful resource as we pray for our schools and colleges this autumn.”
You can download the Pray for Schools resource below. For further help and support do contact your archdeaconry Go Team Adviser.