On the 2nd July, the Church of England announced its ‘Flourish’ initiative, which aims to evangelise to schools and colleges nationwide across 12 dioceses, including ‘nonreligious’ schools.

It comprises of a two-year scheme which seeks to create 40 new worshipping communities. Schools will work with local parishes to create extra-curricular groups so that pupils can find out more about Christianity, and worship God.

The groups would take place at lunchtime or after school and be supported by local churches.

The programme is part of the Flourishing Schools plan, which will involve closer ties with school pastoral systems, and “effectively combine instructional and transformational approaches to teacher leadership and governance”.

The CofE aims to double its number of young people who regularly attend its churches by 2030.

The Flourishing Schools programme has been met with controversy from non-Christian groups.

Head of campaigns for the National Secular Society, Megan Manson, said: “As much as the Church may wish it, our state schools are not there to serve the interests of the Church of England. They are there to educate our children.

“This new initiative is a cynical move to use our schools to ease its plummeting membership.

“The Government shouldn’t allow state-funded schools to be exploited by the Church of England to help it achieve its goal of doubling the number of ‘young active disciples’ by 2030.”