|PIC1|Preparations are in their final stages before a major conference celebrating the achievements of church schools in England and Wales takes place later in the month.

Delegates at the conference will take a closer look at the unique contribution of Church of England and Church in Wales schools in offering education in a distinctly Christian context to more than 920,000 children and young people.

The conference on March 14 comes five years after the release of the Dearing report, ‘The Way Ahead’, and delegates will be challenged to identify key themes for the future development of church schools over the next five years.

The Church of England has recently come under fire amid allegations that its schools are socially exclusive.

|TOP|Both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church hit back at calls from millionaire Sir Peter Lampl for faith schools to stop admitting pupils on grounds of religious belief, claiming that their schools are in line with the national average intake of pupils from socially deprived backgrounds.

The agenda will be set by delegates at the conference for the development of the church schools in light of the run-up to the bicentenary in 2011 of the National Society’s launch of mass education in the UK.

A keynote address taking a closer look at recent developments with regard the Church of England’s position on religious education, teaching as a vocation, and school admissions policy, will be delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

The Minister of State for Schools and 14 – 19 learners, Jacqui Smith MP, will also attend the event where she will address delegates on the vital role of church schools in the provision of education to the nation’s children and young people.

Lord Dearing and Lord Puttnam will also give their personal reflection on the future of church schools in England and Wales at the conference.