The Revd April Gold has decided she is to finish in her role as Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of Coventry in August 2026, at the end of this academic year. April will have served in the role for 6 years since September 2020, leading the DBE with passion and commitment which has seen the gospel shared clearly and accessibly in our primary and secondary schools. April has been a great servant of the Diocesan family of schools throughout Coventry and Warwickshire and we wish her well in this time of transition.
The Revd April Gold said:
"I am deeply thankful for the chance to serve the DBE since 2017, first as Deputy and then as Director. It has been a joy to work alongside such dedicated colleagues, and with headteachers and governors who always put children and young people at the heart of their decisions.
The past nine years have brought huge change, and I’ve been inspired by the way our CofE schools have stood strong—especially through COVID—continuing to love and support their communities. Highlights like worshipping with 9,000 children at Alive 2023 and our subsequent iSingPOP partnership have demonstrated the incredible hope and faith alive in our schools. I’m excited to see how that continues to grow in the years ahead.
I have also been blessed to work with a bold and visionary Board, willing to take risks for the sake of our CofE schools and the children who need us most. Projects like the Beacon Pilot and our plans for a primary early-intervention and alternative-provision centre in Rugby have shown what is possible when creative, courageous people dream together.
What a privilege it has been to be part of this story."
Chair of the DBE, Mike Draper said:
"I feel privileged to have worked with April over the past few years. Her commitment to the children in our schools is clear in everything she has done to deliver events like Alive 2023 and projects like Beacon. April has also helped to reshape the DBE mission around academization, providing a very good foundation for the DBE in the future."
Bishop Sophie adds:
"I have greatly appreciated working with April since becoming Bishop of Coventry. It is clear that April has served our 76 church schools and 6 Multi Academy Trusts with great passion and skill throughout her tenure. She will be greatly missed, and I wish her every blessing as she prepares for this transition. Our commitment to supporting our schools will continue and I will be working closely with April and the Board of Education to do all we can to take forward her legacy as we move forward with the Diocesan vision refresh process and keep children and families at the heart of all we do."
Further communications will be shared in the new year, which will include next steps, times scales, the process for filling the vacancy but for now please pray for April and her family during this season of change.