As students across the Thames Valley went back to school this week, so did the School Chaplains who support them during their education.
The Revd Susy Brouard is chaplain at the Oxford Academy secondary school, providing a ‘listening ear’ for the 1,100 students and the 100 plus staff who attend. She explains each school chaplain will have their own way of working, which also depends on the type of school they are serving.
Susy said: “I am a listening ear and a person to come to both for students and for staff, a companion on their journey. My day starts with bagels, we have a bagel hut where staff and students can come and choose their breakfast. I also organise the uniform swap shop, where people give me their old uniform and I pass it on.”
As well as providing support at the beginning of the day, Susy is available for students throughout the day through the BeSpace programme.
She added: “Students can come up once a week, with agreement from their teacher, and chill, chat, do art, play guitar. Kids do struggle and it is great that in this school there are friendly faces, safe adults they can go to.”
As well as the support element of her role, Susy gives assemblies and runs, in conjunction with Oxford Schools Chaplaincy, courses for young people to deepen their Christian faith. As a school with pupils or all faiths and none, Susy also supports the number of Muslim children who attend. This year the school is signing up to the Global Citizens scheme, encouraging the children to be ‘thinking globally, acting locally’.
Susy said: “I am looking forward to break time, my usual crowd will come up and I’ll be making hot chocolate and biscuits. We’ve got a grant to get some fruit in there too.
“It is lovely to see the kids – I’ve already seen some and they must have grown a foot over the summer! They have lots of energy and they say things as they see them. You can’t have an ego working with young people!”
Find out more about how the diocese supports ministry to children and young people.