Local churches can be an important resource for your school, so it is worthwhile putting some effort into building good, sound relationships with them. Any relationship takes time and commitment to forge and requires good levels of communication, openness and honesty.
It is important that there are no hidden agendas on either side; it will be important that churches don’t get the idea that they can just use your school as a recruiting ground for new members. Churches can make a distinctive contribution to many aspects of school life, and should be encouraged and welcomed.
Such engagement will afford opportunities for the local church to learn about the way schools work, and the pressures and challenges that both staff and pupils face in the day to day running of the school.
There may also be opportunities for churches to help your school staff learn about churches, how faith communities work and the interests and concerns that affect the church, and which may permeate into your school.
At an early stage, advise church leaders that any church member who comes in to help at your school will need to be CRB checked. If they have been checked for church work, that may be sufficient. Check your local authority procedures.