Collective Worship

Collective worship strengthens and supports the distinctive Christian character of our school. The daily Christian act of worship is central to our ethos and is supported by all staff and governors.

“Collective Worship in schools needs to be a highly valued and set apart time in the school day and week, where the whole school community can gather together in a time that is honouring and worthy to God. It needs to provide opportunities for the school community to arrive in worship with the right attitude, engage with their own spirituality and Biblical teachings, leave feeling refreshed, and inspired.

The new SIAMS evaluation schedule talks about worship being the ‘heartbeat’ of the school, beating away beneath everything that goes on in school. Just as the beating of a creature’s heart is the signal that it is alive, the heartbeat of worship should signal the life, energy and Christian spirit of the school.

Worship can also be a ‘time to breathe’; a time when all can come together to find a space, silence and quietness to reflect on their own spirituality, values and place in the world. Just as breathing is vitally important to life, worship is a significant and sacred time in the life of the school; ensuring the time is valued to allow all to ‘breathe’ through worship.”

A Fresh Approach to Collective Worship

Our SIAMS report says

Distinctively Christian collective worship, which has a strong focus on the teaching and inspiration of Jesus, is central to the aspirational life of the school. Leaders are mindful of the need to make worship inclusive and to encourage pupils to reflect personally on the messages being shared. Pupils take part enthusiastically and are confident in helping to lead the weekly Eucharist.

Christian values are integral to the content of worship, which is well supported by Diocesan planning and by other resources rooted in biblical teaching. Pupils are familiar with Anglican tradition, being well versed in the Lord’s prayer and in liturgical responses as well as through a weekly invitational Eucharist. A variety of Christian festivals is attended by the whole school community, both at church and in school which means that pupils have a secure knowledge of the Christian calendar. Extra-curricular confirmation classes have led to staff as well as pupils being confirmed.

Other opportunities for prayer and reflection are both meaningful and relevant to the pupils’ daily lives because they make regular use of the prominent prayer spaces in every classroom and in communal areas. A pupil in the Reception class described his reflection area as a ‘special place where I can tell God anything’.

Weekly Worship Plan