Pray for Schools Scotland

Every school a prayed for school!  That is the vision of Pray for Schools Scotland -to mobilise Christians to support their school communities through prayer. 

Why pray for schools?

Schools are where young people are, and have a huge impact on their attitudes, ideas, and thinking about themselves, the world and God.  Schools influence our Christian young people far more than church or home - it is where they meet their peers and spend the majority of their waking hours.

Schools are places of great opportunity, enabling children to fulfil their potential in learning.  For some, schools are happy places where they flourish and thrive; for others, schools are difficult places where they are tormented, bullied and struggle to cope both socially and educationally.

Schools are places where Christians work - as head teachers, teachers, learning assistants, classroom assistants, special needs auxiliaries, cooks, secretaries, janitors.  Christian staff need our prayers, as do Christian young people, as they seek to live out their faith in the school community.   

How can I pray?

You can do this in lots of different ways. 

1. Pray individually at any time.  You don't need to have a relationship with a school to start praying, only a heart concern to pray.  You can pray for your local school, or even one in another part of the country you once attended.  If you know a child or young person at school - or a school staff member - you could commit to pray for them?
2. Begin a school prayer group - for staff, pupils, parents, etc.  Some groups meet in schools either before or after school, others in homes
3. Highlight the need for schools prayer at your church prayer fellowship or homegroup, regularly sharing needs and praying with others for your local schools.  Why not consider praying for all the schools within a 5-mile radius of your church, even if you have no children or young people there? Prayer can open up opportunities for service in your local schools.
4. If you are a chaplain, meet up with others in yourchaplaincy team and pray for your secondary school and all the schools in its cluster.
5. As an SU group leader, pray not just for your little group, but the wider school.  Ensure someone is praying for you in this vital work, and pray together with them!

You can get involved in any of these ways, and we'd love to hear about what you are doing! 

Please register your schools prayer.  Email pray@suscotland.org.uk, stating which schools you are praying for, or download the registration form at the right hand side.

Why register?

• Registering allows us to let you know if there are any others praying for the same school, and allow you the opportunity to link up with them
• You will receive guidelines on how to pray
• You will receive a Pray for Schools Scotland Update three times per year, giving news, information and encouragements to continue praying.  
• Registering your schools prayer encourages others.  Your school will appear on the list of prayed-for schools, thus encouraging Christian pupils, teachers, school workers, chaplains. 
• You will be part of a national movement of schools prayer. 48% of Scottish schools are now prayed for, and we would love to see this figure increase.  If you are praying for your school, please let us know!

Are my local schools being prayed for?

To find out if your local school is being prayed for, download the 'Prayed for Schools' at the right hand side, or else  email pray@suscotland.org.uk. Even if a school is already being prayed for, please do register with us, as it keeps us up-to-date with what is happening around the country.

Pray for Schools Scotland prayer events

Our vision is to equip and resource both adults and young people to pray for schools, As part of this, Pray for Schools Scotland organises several key prayer initiatives throughout the year...

Strictly Come Praying

Strictly Come Praying has become a "must" for many of Scotland's young people. Aimed at P7-S6 young people, two Strictlyevents are held, one in the north and one in the central belt in March each year. Popular with youth groups, young people enjoy a fun day out while learning and engaging in prayer. [More Info ]

Back to School With God

An opportunity for churches to hold a special service to affirm support for the young people and school staff in their local community, and to pray that they will see God at work in their schools. Resources are provided for a complete all-age service including PPT slides, talks, children's activities and prayers. For use at the start of term at the end of August or start of September. [More Info ]

Strictly Deeper

An offshoot of Strictly Come Praying, this prayer event is aimed at committed Christian young people in the P7-S6 age range who want to gather together for worship, fellowship and prayer.  [More Info]

Pray Any Way

Our prayer event for children and families is a fun-filled prayer party, with balloons, goody bags and lots of prayer activities. Suitable for primary aged children and their parents, Pray Any Wayis held at various times across the country. [More Info]

Pray Day for Schools

Pray Day is a Europe-wde day of prayer for schools which takes place on the 3rd Tuesday of November. Pray Day for Schools is marked by individuals, groups, churches, chaplaincy teams and pupils in a host of different ways, What could Pray Day look like where you live? [More Info]