On this page you will find information about Scripture Union groups in primary schools. advice about starting a new group, a list of current groups and prayer requests that have been submitted by leaders.

Further information and advice for SU leaders is given in the SU Leaders section of our website.

Primary School Groups

Scripture Union groups are voluntary Christian groups which meet regularly on school premises. They are interdenominational and, in primary schools, normally cater for children in the upper years who attend with the permission of their parents.

The number of Scripture Union groups meeting in primary schools is growing all the time. The first groups were formed in the fifties and sixties but in recent years many new groups have been formed and there are around 190 of them.

These groups are as varied as the schools they meet in. Most meet once a week after school, but some run less frequently and some meet at lunch-time. There are groups with just a few pupils in a setting where they can interact easily with the leaders. There are groups where it takes the assembly hall to hold everybody!

Leaders are approved both by the school principal and by Scripture Union and are usually either members of staff of the school or members of the local community. Increasingly volunteers from the local churches are helping to run groups.

Scripture Union staff and volunteers are available throughout the year to support and advise SU leaders and to contribute to SU meetings. We make it a priority to visit SU groups as often as we can to provide encouragement and support. Leaders are encouraged to contact members of staff at any time with any queries, concerns, news or requests they may have.

Our vision is to provide children with the opportunity to find out for themselves what the Bible says, especially about Jesus, and to enable them to respond to Him in a way which is appropriate to their level of understanding. We want them also to have the experience of being nurtured and cared for in a Christian environment.

Within an SU group and in the setting of the school, it is also envisaged that children will be given opportunities to share their faith with their friends, to help and care for one another, to develop leadership skills and to serve the school community.

Please contact Paul Cameron if you would be interested in:

• starting a Scripture Union group in a primary school.
• helping to lead a Scripture Union group in a primary school.
• receiving help or advice in relation to your primary school group.

Starting a New Group

Assess whether it is desirable that a group be established in your school and local community. As part of this assessment process it may be helpful to contact local ministers and other interested Christians to seek their support.

Ask one or more other adults to assist you in leadership. Ideally, there should be at least 2 leaders for the group, preferably from different denominations.

Approach the Principal and request permission from the school authorities for a group to operate in the school.

Apply to Scripture Union. If your group wishes to be affiliated to Scripture Union, the coordinator will be required to complete an information form in order to register the group and to submit an application form and one written reference in order to be approved as coordinator. For details of our affiliation scheme, please click here.

Await written approval from Scripture Union before commencing your group.

Arrange to meet with all those who wish to be involved as leaders to pray and to plan a relevant and appropriate way to begin a Scripture Union group in your school.

Advertise the starting date for your group.

List Of Groups

Please click here to see a list of schools, in which there is an SU group at present.

Prayer Requests

For prayer requests from the leaders of primary school groups, please click here.