200 YEARS OF CHURCH SCHOOLS

That this House congratulates the National Society for Promoting Religious Education on the bicentenary of its foundation in 1811, marking 200 years of the Church of England's role as a provider of education in England and Wales, 50 years before state provision began; notes that the founding purpose of the Society was to offer education to the poor in every parish, a mission continued by the Society today in supporting Church of England schools offering an inclusive education with a Christian ethos to children, families and communities of all faiths and none; welcomes the significant contribution of Church of England schools in promoting social cohesion, as evidenced by independent study of Ofsted reports; and looks forward to celebrating the work of the 4,800 Church of England and Church in Wales schools at events in dioceses throughout the year and on Education Sunday, 20 February 2011.