Collective Worship

Collective Worship Policy

St Andrew’s Church of England (Aided) Primary school is a school, which nurtures Christian faith and behaviour. The Christian faith underpins all aspects of school life. Acts of Collective Worship are a fundamental part of the life of the school. They are an opportunity for the school to meet together to share experiences and understanding of the spiritual dimension. Our worship is primarily and distinctively Christian. However, we acknowledge and share the beliefs and celebrations of other cultures (Unicef Article 30). We aim to give children the opportunity to reflect on God and the world He has created, to develop awe and wonder, to learn about the Christian faith and to develop moral values that will take them through life.

Aims and Objectives

To offer staff and children an opportunity to be in the Presence of God
Give honour to God by praise
Explore and reflect on human experiences and to raise questions about the meaning, purpose and value of life

To encourage behaviour formed/inspired by Christian values
To help them to develop an understanding of Christian beliefs.
Foster positive experiences and understanding of the Christian faith and its values
Forge links between personal experience and that of others
Awaken spiritual awareness by developing a sense of awe and wonder

Schedule

Day	Time	Type of worship	Leader	Resource
Monday	3.00pm – 3.30pm	Whole School (½ Term value)	Headteacher	Fruits & Roots 1
Tuesday	3.00pm – 3.30pm	Key Stage 1 Singing Key Stage 2 Singing	Music/RE Subject Leader	Fruits & Roots songs Other topical hymns and songs
Wednesday (Church fortnightly)	3.00pm – 3.30pm	Key Stage 1 (½ Term value) Key Stage 2 (½ Term value)	Class Teachers	KS1: Oscar out of the Box / Jack in the Box KS2: Fruits & Roots 2
Thursday	3.00pm – 3.30pm	Whole School Class Worship (½ Term value)	Class Teacher (& pupils)
Friday	3.00pm-3.30pm	Whole School Celebration	Headteacher	Certificates

School Worship

Our acts of worship are based on Christian Values, which form the basis for our ‘Golden Rules’. Each ½ term has a focus value, explored in both Whole School and Key Stage 1 and Class worships. These values (studied on a 2-year cycle) are:

Generosity
Compassion
Courage
Forgiveness
Friendship
Respect
Thankfulness
Trust
Perseverance
Justice
Service
Truthfulness

Key Stage 2 worships (Wednesdays) use the Fruits & Roots 2 resource to explore the life and teachings of Jesus under the following ½ termly topics:

The Words of Jesus
Advent and Christmas
People Jesus Meets
Holy Week and Easter
The Parables of Jesus
The Miracles of Jesus

Woven through each act of worship is one of the following six values:

Wisdom
Hope
Community
Dignity
Peace
Joy

The person leading worship is responsible for planning and developing themes.

Weekly SMSC/Learning for Life lessons, are used to develop themes from worship. Each half term, one class leads Thursday Worship based on learning in that lesson.

Friday Celebration Worship is a time for us to focus on our school motto and applaud children’s achievements during the week. Certificates are awarded to children in each class who have shown effort and achievement in relation to our Skills for Life and (Christian) Values for Life.

Church Services

During a fortnightly service in church, Licensed Lay Minister Geoff Smith and Archdeacon Angela further explore themes being developed at school.

Other additional special church services include: Harvest, Christingle, Easter and the end of year Foundation / Leavers’ Service.

Reflection and Evaluation

Each worship should include a period of reflection and prayer. The final Class Assembly of the ½ term will be class-based, and the children will use their Values Reflection Journal to reflect on their learning over the past few weeks.

Music

Music is considered to be an important component of the act of worship. The hymns will be connected to the theme whenever possible, including the Imaginor collection, which includes a song for each value.

Tuesday ‘Singing Worship’ is used to practice key hymns and songs for special occasions, such as Harvest, Christingle, Easter, Mothering Sunday, Foundation Service and the Leavers’ Service, which takes place at a range of places of worship, such as Worth Abbey, Chichester Cathedral or Christ’s Hospital. The Music Subject Leader (who is also the RE Subject Leader) leads this.

Hymns/Songs are sung on entry to the place of worship and after prayer at the end of the service.

Sunday Services

In partnership with the church, the school choir and other children attend particular Sunday services (e.g. Remembrance Sunday, Mothering Sunday, Toy Service in Advent) so that the experiences of worship and Christian formation in School are complemented by experiences of congregational worship in their parish church.

Accessibility

All children regardless of age, race and disability will have full access to worship unless parents have specifically requested that they do not do so. Non-Christians are encouraged to reflect on the messages and values during worship and prayer.

Reviewed: Sept 2023

Next review: Sept 2024