Collective Worship
As a Church of England Academy, we hold to a vision that worship is an affirmation and celebration of our Christian ethos where staff and children have the opportunity to learn, worship and grow in their understanding of God and of themselves within our school community. Collective Worship enables pupils and staff to gather together to respond to the presence, power and peace of God through prayer, reflection, singing, celebrating and sharing feelings. Worship should enable participants to develop an understanding of the Christian belief in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We recognise that not all staff or children have a Christian faith. We welcome everyone to Collective Worship and offer it as a shared space for reflection and spiritual growth where our communities grow together in love and respect.
The aims and purpose of Collective Worship as defined by the Education Reform Act 1988 are as follows:
• To provide an opportunity for the children to worship God
• To enable children to consider spiritual and moral issues
• To enable children to explore their own beliefs
• To encourage participation and response
• To develop in children a sense of community spirit
• To promote a common ethos with shared values and reinforce positive attitudes
hristian Worship is a valued and joyful part of daily life in our school. It provides a special time for all children to come together, reflect, celebrate and grow within our caring school community.
Twice each week, on Mondays and Fridays, the whole school gathers for Collective Worship. These occasions allow us to worship together as one family, celebrate achievements and focus on the Christian Values that guide our life in school.
Throughout the rest of the week, Collective Worship takes place within Key Stages, with Early Years and Key Stage 1 worshipping together, and Lower and Upper Key Stage 2 meeting as a group. This creates a more personal and age-appropriate setting in which pupils can explore Christian Values, alongside British Values and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development.
Collective Worship is led by a range of familiar and valued members of our school community. All members of the teaching staff lead worship throughout the term, with school leaders regularly taking a leading role. We are also pleased to welcome visiting guests, including our parish vicar, who support and enrich our worship by sharing their experiences and faith.
Music and singing play an important role in our worship. All pupils have the opportunity to sing at least once a week, with songs thoughtfully chosen to reflect the current Christian Value and to encourage enjoyment, participation and reflection.
Each half term, a Christian Value is explored through a variety of engaging and meaningful experiences, including stories, songs, prayer and quiet moments of reflection.
The Christian Value this half term…
