CHILDREN, families and the local community of Ilsington gathered together for an advent and Christingle service earlier this month, which saw the commissioning of two new Headteachers in their roles.

Kat Williams, the new Headteacher at Ilsington Church of England Primary School who started in her post in September 2024, was commissioned alongside Russell Pearson, the new head at Blackpool Church of England Primary School who began his post in January 2024.

The service took place at St Michael’s Church, Ilsington, and Kat and Russell were commissioned by Sarah Lakey, the Diocesan Education Adviser for School Effectiveness: Christian Distinctiveness.

During the commissioning part of the service, the Headteachers declared their public commitment to the church school leadership, and received the gift of a Bible from the church community.

Prayers of blessing were shared by Rev’d John Bennett, the Vicar of St Michael’s Church Ilsington, whilst pupils from both Primary Schools stood alongside their headteachers at the front of the church.

Sarah Lakey represented the Diocesan Education Team and presented both Kat and Russell with the book ‘Flourishing’, to help guide their spiritual leadership.

Following the Commissioning, the congregation continued with a church advent and Christingle service, which saw children from the local schools and their families making Christingles and exploring the Christmas story together.

Sarah Lakey said, “It is such a privilege to attend commissioning services as Headteachers take up the mantle of leadership in our diocesan family of church schools.”

Rev’d John Bennett, Vicar at St Michael’s Church in Islington, said, “As a church we have such a good and supportive relationship with both Blackpool and Ilsington Schools; it was a great joy to commission and pray for our new headteachers as part of our Christingle service which included lots of children and their parents from both schools.”