Contents

Notes on Monitoring and Evaluating Prayer & Collective Worshipp3-7

Planning: Overview of School and Parish Prayerp8

Planning: Learning & Celebrating through the Yearp9

Liturgy Plannerp10

Mass Plannerp11-12

Class Based Weekly Planp13

Monitoring & Evaluation Schedulep14

Monitoring Classroom Prayerp15

Observing Acts of Collective Worshipp16

Monitoring Prayer Areasp17

Monitoring Mass Preparation & Reflection on the Massp18

Monitoring Pupil Response p19

Checklist for Leaders of Prayer & Collective Worshipp20

Diocesan Education Service

Monitoring and Evaluating Prayer & Collective Worship

Definitions

Prayer “Prayer is the raising of one’s heart and mind to God.”[1]

Prayer is the means by which we encounter God and develop a relationship with Him: it is a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God.”[2] Through words and actions, symbols and gestures our hearts and minds turn to God. Our relationship with God is both personal and communal, therefore prayer unites us as members of the Family of God and the Communion of Saints. Prayer, in the Catholic tradition, takes place at different times and indeed at any time throughout the day and is also set within the framework of the Liturgical seasons of the year. There are many forms of prayer used by the Church in order that we can each find an appropriate way in which to place ourselves before God.[3]

Collective Worship

“Collective Worship (CW) is concerned with giving glory, honour, praise and thanks to God. It is our response to God’s invitation.”[4]

“Collective worship in schools should aim to provide the opportunity for pupils to worship God, to consider spiritual and moral issues and to explore their own beliefs; to encourage participation and response, whether through active involvement in the presentation of worship or through listening to and joining in the worship offered; and to develop community spirit, promote a common ethos and shared values, and reinforce positive attitudes.”[5]

Collective Worship refers not only to whole school gatherings but to those acts of worship which take place in a number of different settings and groupings of people in and around the school.

Assembly

An assembly is a gathering of people. Strictly speaking, it is not a religious activity and is a means of communicating information to a group of people.

Liturgy

Liturgy is the worship lived and practised by the Church. Liturgy encompasses all of the seasonal elements of the Church’s year (The Liturgical Year), the structure of daily prayer (Liturgy of the Hours) specific rites such as the Funeral Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments. For schools Liturgy is worship which incorporates elements of the rites and rituals, signs and symbols of the Church.

Mass

For Catholics the Mass is central to practice of the faith. At Mass the Last Supper is remembered but also recreated. Bread and wine are transformed into the body & blood of Jesus. This belief (transubstantiation) is what distinguishes us from many other Christians.[6]This sacrament is above all others because as members of the Church “we receive the Body of Christ and are increasingly being transformed into the Body of Christ”[7]

Eucharistic services are services held when there is no priest available. These are only meant to be held in an emergency and therefore it is not appropriate for primary schools to arrange them to take place in school in place of the celebration of Mass when there is a known absence of the parish priest.

Definitions: summary

Understanding and interpretation of the terms above can and does vary. For example, we can pray without it being liturgy; we can assemble together without prayer. Policies and/or guidelines need to be explicit and describe the different religious activities which take place in school so that those planning and preparing know what is expected within that time. Also, as there can sometimes be a blurring of the lines between the prayerful element of a gathering and the information sharing element, we need to ensure people are aware of and use the visual signs, symbols and gestures which demarcate and enhance the time devoted to prayer and worship.

Expectations

Legal Requirements

All schools in England, including academies and free schools, are required by law to carry out a daily act of Collective Worship. For Catholic schools this requirement is made explicit within the Trust Deed of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. This legal document, under both statutory and canonical law states that “religious worship is to be in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church; and at all times the school is to serve as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ”.[8]

Collective Worship is not included as part of curriculum time. There are no specific legal requirements as to when it takes place within the school day.

Parents have the legal right to request that their child be withdrawn from Collective Worship. This request must be made in writing by the parent/guardian. Children cannot choose to withdraw themselves from Collective Worship until they are over the age of 16. The school has a duty to supervise such children at all times.

If such situations arise it is important that the school enters into dialogue with the parents to ascertain what their specific concerns and reasons are. Whilst the parent is not legally required to give a reason such conversations can be a means by which people’s fears and misunderstandings about the nature and purpose of prayer in a Catholic school are allayed.

Withdrawal from Collective Worship does not necessarily mean that the child is physically withdrawn and they may, with the parents’ agreement, remain present but not participate.

Statements about both the Catholic nature of Collective Worship and the parental rights must be included in the school prospectus.

Diocesan Expectations[9]

The prayer and collective worship provided by the school must at all times be Catholic and take place in some form on a daily basis. However, as the various resource materials provided by the DES show, the Catholic tradition is a treasure chest full of different but important treasures. It is the duty of the school to ensure that children come to know and experience as many forms and expressions of prayer as is possible.

In order to assist schools with this duty the Diocese has outlined below some minimum expectations within different time frames but it recognises that due to local circumstances there has to be an element of flexibility and fluidity in making appropriate arrangements for Prayer & Collective Worship. What is essential in the decision making process is that Prayer & Collective are given due consideration which ensures its status remains at the heart of the Catholic life of the school.

Each and every day:

  • Prayer at the start and end of the day
  • Grace before and after meals

Over the course of the week:

  • Whole school ‘Gospel’ liturgy/assembly: Ideally at the very start of the week based on the Sunday Gospel and led by the headteacher.
  • Key Stage/phase liturgy/assembly: During the week a gathering with children of a similar age. This might focus upon developing the Gospel theme, a celebration/commemoration from the Liturgical Year, the exploration of a Gospel value/virtue, a national event. Led by teachers within the key stage/phase it gives an opportunity for staff to offer personal witness.
  • Celebrations: Ideally a whole school gathering celebrating the achievements (academic, sporting, spiritual, social etc.) of the children and the school community.
  • Class Prayer: At some point during the week a time for prayer within the classroom which develops the Gospel theme, explores a Gospel value/virtue, a celebration/commemoration from the Liturgical Year, a national event or links with work in RE. This should be more than a recitation of the morning/evening prayers.
  • Mass: Ideally there should be a celebration of Mass for one group within the school community each week. External factors can limit this. Opportunities to attend Mass within the liturgical seasons of Advent, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time as well as at the beginning and end of every term should be the minimum. EYFS should also be included in this.[10] Opportunities to attend Mass celebrated in Church should also be provided whenever practically possible.
  • Staff Prayer: A short time for staff to pray together led by staff in turn. Note that there should always be prayer as part of any and every staff meeting.
  • Parents: Ideally the school community should welcome and encourage parents and families to take part in some of the liturgical celebrations taking place e.g. Class Mass, Gospel Liturgy etc.

As and when:[11]

  • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and/or Benediction: Periods of quiet prayer, praise, thanksgiving and intercession before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is to be encouraged.
  • Carol Service: A liturgical celebration of scripture readings, reflections and carols in preparation for the season of Christmas.
  • Class Assembly: Usually where a class presents/performs to an audience including parents. There would be a prayerful element threaded into this.
  • Family/school Masses: Opportunities for children and families to come and celebrate Mass at the weekend with the parish.
  • Harvest: Mass and thanksgiving for the Harvest.
  • Holy Days of Obligation: All Saints (1 November), Ss. Peter & Paul (29 June). All children should participate in the celebration of Mass on these days. In addition the Solemnities of the Epiphany, the Ascension and Corpus Christi, transferred to the nearest Sunday, should be marked in school with the celebration of Mass.
  • Hymn Practice: This time does not count towards Collective Worship. However, when done well it enhances what is provided and can be a prayerful experience in itself and certainly has an impact when used within prayer and worship time.
  • Parents:Opportunities for parents to be present and participate in prayerful activities e.g. Stations of the Cross, The Rosary etc.
  • Parish Day of Prayer: An annual day of prayer in the parish Church. Usually an opportunity for adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
  • Patronal Feast Days: For the Diocese The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 Dec), St. Chad (2 March), school, parish and MAC if applicable.
  • Prayer Bags: A bag containing resources and artefacts to support prayer in the home.
  • Priests: day of prayer for your parish priest: see the poster from the Vocations department.
  • Processions: particularly during the month of May for Our Lady and June for Corpus Christi
  • Retreats: Either off or on site and particularly for those year groups being prepared to receive the Sacraments.
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation:Provision should be made for the children to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in school during the Seasons of Advent and Lent.
  • Sacramental Enrolment Masses/Services: An opportunity for those being prepared to receive the Sacraments and those working with them and praying for them
  • Service of Commitment: An annual school event where all members of the community including governors make promises of renewal to fulfil their role within the school.
  • Staff Retreats: An opportunity for staff to reflect upon their vocation and the mission of the school. This could also include governors.
  • Whole School Mission: A once-in-a-school-generation experience.

This list is not exhaustive but demonstrates the commitment of the school to living and celebrating the Catholic life through prayer and liturgy.

Monitoring & Evaluation of Prayer & Collective Worship

Prayer & Collective Worship must be monitored to ensure that the legal requirements are being met and evaluated to ensure that not only is it of a suitable standard and quality but that it is providing the children with a well-roundedexperience of prayer as part of their personal development and faith journey. This also links in with their entitlement to development of SMVSC.

Responsibility for this area of school life lies with a number of people: the Headteacher as the leader of the Catholic life of the school; the Governors as the ones legally bound to ensure that the prayer life of the school meets the requirements of the Trust Deed; the named person/s to whom the day to day leadership and management of prayer has been delegated.

Section 48 Framework for Inspection[12]

OUTCOMES:

How well pupils respond to and participate in the school’s collective worship

Inspectors should review the school’s evaluation of:

• the extent to which pupils show interest and actively participate in collective worship;

• the extent to which pupils are acquiring skills in planning and leading prayer and worship;

• how well collective worship contributes to the spiritual and moral development of pupils.

Outline guidance

Taking into account:

the extent to which pupils demonstrate reverence and respect during individual and collective worship;

the extent of pupils’ knowledge of traditional prayer and liturgy;

the extent of pupils’ knowledge of a variety of prayer styles;

pupils’ appreciation of celebration and prayer different from their own;

 worship materials prepared by pupils;

how well pupils organise and lead worship;

pupils’ response to voluntary acts of worship;

pupils’ participation in and response to the school’s chaplaincy provision.

PROVISION:

The quality of collective worship provided by the school

Inspectors should review the school’s evaluation of:

• how well the school promotes the spiritual development of pupils in acts of collective worship, taking into account their age, aptitudes, family backgrounds and the Catholic character of the school.

Outline guidance

Taking into account:

the extent to which the acts of worship reflect the Catholic character of the school and take into account the variety of faith backgrounds among pupils;

the appropriateness of the prayer methods and styles used by the school;

the impact of school provision on pupils’ interest in and engagement with prayer and worship;

how effectively the school skills its pupils in planning and leading worship;

how knowledgeable and skilled staff are in planning and leading worship;

how effectively the school engages parents, carers, local parishes and other local faith communities in its provision;

the impact of chaplaincy on liturgy and collective worship

Planning – Whole School

Overview of School and Parish Prayer (Summer 2012)

These are suggestions which you can adapt and modify as required. Review every 3 years.


Planning – Whole School

Learning and Celebrating through the Year (Autumn 2014)

These have now been modified. There are four areas: Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Lady, National & Diocesan and Local. They indicate how certain key days within the year are being planned for: through RE lessons (not from the Strategy), through assemblies or through the celebration of Mass. It will enable you to ensure that key commemorations or celebrations have not been overlooked and that appropriate coverage is being given. You will also be able to ensure that particular year groups/phases focus upon different parts of the year which tie in more closely with their particular units of work.

Review every 3 years.


Planning - Whole School, Key Stage, Phase and Class

Liturgy Planner (Collective Worship)

Framework to assist with planning liturgy.

Mass Planner (Collective Worship)

There are two Mass planner templates: one for Weekdays and one for Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation.



Planning – Class Based Weekly Prayer

Short Term planning Sheet (November 2012)

An RE planning template for class teachers to use on a weekly basis. The prayer element should either link in directly with the teaching and learning or be related to the Liturgical Year, traditional prayers including those of the Mass.

You can also use the planning sheets to monitor whether children are being given opportunities to learn about prayer and to write their own prayers. A book trawl will also generate evidence of children learning about prayer and writing their own.

Planning:

Timetables, calendars and rotas will give an indication of when Prayer and Collective Worship are taking place.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Monitoring Schedule (Spring 2013)

Use this to identify when different monitoring activities are taking place. Some of these activities will not necessarily be carried out annually and you may wish to plan your schedule over a two year period of time. Remember that these tasks could be carried out by a number of different people including Collective Worship Leader, SLT, Governors, children who are part of Liturgy teams.

It is important that you summarise any actions arising so that you have evidence of the whole self-evaluation cycle. Some, but not all, of your actions arising will form part of your action plan/SIP/SDP. You may wish to insert a column on the template for date of completed actions.

Monitoring Planning

You will need to check that planning documents are available and current. This will include the templates p8-12 or equivalent documents.

You will also need to check class timetables, rotas and calendars as sources for evidence.

You will also need to keep observational records of a range of Prayer & Collective Worship activities.

It is also useful to monitor prayer by regular walk rounds/drop-ins at key times.This may be more easily carried out by SLT. Pupil interviews will also provide information about Prayer & Collective Worship.