Programmes focusing on weekday daytime study

This formational pathway is shaped around weekday learning on the campus, and it can be followed full-time or part-time. Within this pathway there are seven formational building blocks which provide the context for the taught programmes. 

1) A formational day (Wednesday)

All ministerial candidates on this pathway are required to be present each Wednesday in term time in the Autumn and Spring terms.  On this day three significant formational events take place:

• A community/discipleship meeting which involves all those who share the life of the campus during the week.
• A formational programme which is specific to a year group of ministerial candidates.
• A ministerial skills programme which equips students with a range of skills needed for their learning and formation. 

This day focuses on formation, with the three elements addressing different aspects of a minister's development – often summarised as being, knowing and doing. It provides a common point in the week, an anchor, which establishes the unity of the group. 

2) Daily taught classes

Most students will be required to be in classes on campus on Tuesday afternoon and evening, and all day Monday and Thursday.  Friday is a non-teaching day to enable personal study or work in a local or link church.

3) Daily prayer and worship

Each day has provision for daily prayer and worship:

• Corporate gathered worship (called Foundation Worship), usually at midday (except on Tuesday when Foundation Worship is at 5.00 pm).  All ministerial students who are present on the campus are expected to attend Foundation Worship.
• Individual or shared prayer.  This may take a variety of patterns and will be at a variety of times.  It may gather Anglicans and others who are expected to develop patterns of saying a daily office; it may be more personal and focus on an individual's daily devotions.

4) Shared meals

Eating together is a key part of community life especially when most meals take place after Foundation worship.  Meals bring the wider community together, involving others resident on campus, administrative staff, and invited guests.

5) Work based learning in your home church

If you are full-time ministerial candidate you are required to give 1 - 2 sessions per week plus Sunday for work in your home church. The expectations for this work are set and agreed in discussion with the home church minister.  The practice and experience gained in leading worship and preaching in the local church feed into a worship portfolio,  compiled over the duration of your training.

6) Placements

Full-time candidates do a 10 week placement in the summer term, with one day per week on campus for taught modules and reflective seminars.  The placement is church based in a church of the same denomination as the candidate.   For those training for three years there is a particular opportunity for more substantial placement experience, including one term placements in the wider world church.

7) Personal tutorial oversight and support

Students are allocated a personal tutor whose task is to focus on the formation of the ministerial candidate.  This enables the personal tutor to take the lead in preparing the end of year summative report which goes to the relevant people and bodies in your sponsoring church.