Our history
The National Society is a Royal-charter charity founded in 1811 with the mission to provide education for the poor in England and Wales. Over the centuries, we have grown and evolved, always committed to our core values of faith and education and our priorities of developing leaders, shaping policy and growing faith within the educational sector. Today, we work with diocesan boards of education and approximately 4,700 Church of England schools and support the national education work of the Church in Wales, which includes around 150 schools. Additionally, our presence extends into work with community schools and Academy Trusts, as well as higher and further education through numerous chaplaincies, providing spiritual support and guidance to children and young people, and to adults. The National Society Council is chaired by the Church of England's lead bishop for education, emphasising its integral role in the Church's mission.
1811
The National Society founded by a group of clergy and laity known as the ‘Hackney Phalanx’ led by Joshua Watson, starts mass education for the working class with a mission to open schools in every parish in England and Wales.
1870
The State gets involved and we see the emergence of compulsory education and a dual system of voluntary schools provided by the churches alongside State funded education
1944
Education Act and introduction of voluntary aided and voluntary controlled Church schools as part of a settlement to ensure the dual system functions in a way that delivers a high quality of education
2014
A new Royal Charter for the National Society brings clarity about its role as the charity and National Church Institution overseeing the Church of England’s national role in education on behalf of the Archbishops’ Council.
2016
Publication of Church of England Vision for Education followed by visions for further and higher education.
2017
Launch of the Foundation for Educational Leadership connecting and developing leaders committed to the vision.
2021
Launch of the Growing Faith Foundation to lead culture change in the church to prioritise ministry with children and young people in the connected spheres of church, school and home.
2023
Publication of Our Hope for a Flourishing Schools System, rearticulating the vision and underpinning the Society’s threefold strategy of developing leaders, shaping policy and growing faith.