An Update from Cleeve School Chaplaincy

What an exciting, fast-paced start to the academic year it has been! Stepping into the role of Chaplaincy Connector this September has been a wonderful adventure, and I am so grateful for all the support, encouragement, and prayers that have gone into this.

Having moved into an office alongside the pastoral administrators right in the heart of the School, this first half term has been all about building relationships—getting to know staff and students, starting one-to-one mentoring, and exploring creative ways the chaplaincy can support the whole community.

Life in the School

Term started with staff INSET days in September, where I was given the opportunity to introduce myself. Soon after, we joined the Enrichment Fair to welcome our new Year 7s and Year 12s, introducing them to both the chaplaincy support available and our weekly Christian Union.

I’ve also had the privilege of introducing myself at assemblies across almost all year groups where very few of our students actually knew what the word chaplain meant!

A few other highlights inside school this term:

• Cuppa with the Chaplain: Building on last year’s success, Thursday lunchtimes in the staff room have become a weekly joy. Bringing in homemade cake and a listening ear has been a simple yet meaningful way to bless the staff.
• Christian Union: Every Tuesday afternoon, around 20 young people gather to chat, ask big questions, and explore foundational Christian themes like forgiveness, reconciliation, and atonement.
• Equalities & Inclusion: It was an honour to be invited to contribute to the school's Equalities and Inclusion award submission, recognising that chaplaincy plays a vital part in nurturing young people’s spiritual and holistic wellbeing.
• Prayer: Fortnightly prayer meeting with other staff before the school day begins.

Mentoring: Safe Spaces for Young People

At the core of chaplaincy is our mentoring work, meeting a very real and growing pastoral need among students.

Between regular check-ins and one-off conversations, I have personally mentored 15 students this half term. Our wider team of dedicated volunteers has been supporting students across Year 8, Year 10, and Sixth Form—with Emile even providing dedicated GCSE maths revision support!

Sometimes finding the words to describe what’s going on under the surface is hard. We often start with simple prompts or use cards with positive phrases to give young people the vocabulary to talk about anxiety, friendship dynamics, or recent challenges.

As one of our wonderful volunteers shared:

“The sessions are based on their needs... We discuss strategies that they can use to find solutions to difficulties, or what they think might help. It is a pleasure to be able to do this mentoring, and it certainly isn’t a chore!”

Connections beyond school

The connection between school, home, and the local community is so important, and it has been great seeing that grow outside school hours:

• Youth Club & GPS Junior: Our Friday Night Youth Club has kicked off with pizza, sunset views, and an epic conker-rolling contest on Woolstone Hill, alongside thoughtful discussions about handling change and conflict. On Sundays, our new monthly GPS Junior group has given Year 6+ students their own space to dig into the Bible together once a month.
• Connecting with Others: Meeting fellow chaplaincy connectors across Gloucestershire and completing diocesan training on child bereavement has equipped us to better support students navigating grief.
• Looking Out for Parents: We’re exploring ways to offer community-based pastoral care for parents and look forward to joining the school’s Wellness Fair in the New Year to signpost families to local resources like foodbanks, drop-ins, and support groups.

What’s Coming Up Next Half Term

We have a packed and exciting few weeks ahead leading up to Christmas:

• Bibles for Year 7: Volunteers will be visiting Ethics classes to distribute Bibles to all Year 7 students and share personal stories of faith.
• Remembrance: I will be delivering assemblies across every year group during the week of Remembrance.
• Inspirational Visit from Asha (17th Nov): Two remarkable young women who grew up in the slums of Delhi will visit Cleeve to share their stories of overcoming incredible odds to complete school and university. They’ll be speaking in Sixth Form assembly, visiting classes, and dropping into CU. (Read more about their story and support their work via Asha India.)
• Christmas Preparations: We’ll be leading interactive Christmas lessons for all Year 7 classes in December, collaborating on the school Christmas concert, and hoping to launch a Worship Band Club to learn a carol or two!

Join Us in Prayer:

1. For Wisdom & Discernment: That we focus our time and energy where chaplaincy can make the greatest Kingdom difference.
2. For Mentors & Volunteers: For compassion, energy, and sensitivity as they meet weekly with students.
3. For the Whole School Community: For staff navigating the busy run-up to Christmas, and for students facing mock exams.

And finally…. The Thursday Cake Rota Needs You!

Our homemade cakes for Thursday staff drop-ins have gone down an absolute treat. To keep the tradition going, I’m looking to set up a Thursday Cake Rota for next half term. If you enjoy baking and could provide a cake once or twice, please get in touch—it really is a simple act of service that brings immense encouragement to our staff team!

Lucy Barbour

You can contact me at LBarbour@cleeveschool.net