SkettyPrimary School

Policy Document for

Collective Worship

Collective Worship and the Law

  1. All registered pupils must, on each day, take part in an act of collective worship (apart from those whose parents exercise the right of withdrawal. Classteacher must ensure supervision and request advice from parent as to tasks the child should undertake during this period.).
  1. Teachers have the right to withdraw from collective worship.
  1. Acts of worship can take place at any time of the day on the school premises.
  1. Pupils may be grouped in various ways as the school uses at other times but special grouping specifically for assemblies is not permitted.

Style and Character

  1. Acts of Worship must be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian Character".
  1. An Act of Worship is Christian if it "reflects the broad traditions of Christian belief without being distinctive of any particular denomination".
  1. Acts of Worship should take account of the pupils ages, aptitude and family backgrounds.

General Principles

Acts of Worship should:

be pupil centred (active involvement)

foster a sense of community

foster a sense of shared values, identity, perception outlook and purpose

celebrate a range of educational achievements

be a time to reflect

provide opportunities or spaces for individual responses - use of purposeful silence

Pupil Groups

Groups used are:

a)whole school - family assembly

b)infant phase

c)lower junior, upper junior and foundation

d)class/cohort assemblies.

Time

One of the biggest dangers is overkill. A short and pithy stimulus with a few moments of silent reflection is much more appropriate than long drawn out periods.

A period of 15 minutes has been allocated per day. This does not include travel time to the hall.

Aims

To enable pupils to explore a variety of forms of worship

To enable pupils to use silence for reflection, contemplation and prayer

To heighten pupils' understanding of questions relating to the utmost mysteries of life, and of beliefs held by themselves and others

To make explicate and to celebrate what has meaning, values and purpose for the pupils as individuals, for the school and the wider community.

To develop the sense of community

To celebrate achievements and special occasions in respect of individuals, the school and wider community

To celebrate difference and diversity

Delivery Method(Content)

May include -

The spoken word - story, poetry, personal experiences and anecdotes, discussions, religious writings, factual accounts.... etc.

The sung word - hymns, pop songs, folk, chants etc.

Visual stimulus - posters, artefacts, natural objects, religion artefacts

Historical - personal objects, film strips, videos... etc.

Performance-dance, role play, simulation.... etc.

Broadcasts - radio, television

Preparing and sharing food

Silence - still , reflection, contemplation, meditation

An Interpretation of Worship

"A school is not a worshipping community.... but rather a worship enabling community".

"Worship has to do with worth and worthiness. It the recognition, affirmation and celebration of the 'worship' of certain realities and values, held to be of central importance to the community which worships, helping each of its members to grasp them personally."

Any activity which makes explicit and celebrates the things that the school considers to be important or of 'worth' can be termed as an Act of Worship.

Examples:

ecology, pollution, stewardship of the earth's resources

prejudice, cruelty, war, alienation

value despite handicap, age, race, gender

belief in the Kingdom of God

Weekly Assemblies

Monday9.00 a.m. Family [whole school]Hall

Tuesday9.00 a.m. Y3, 4, 5 & 6 Hall

InfantsClass Assembly

Wednesday9.00 a.m.InfantHall

JuniorsClass Assembly

ThursdayAllSchoolClass Assembly

Friday2.45 p.m. Family [whole school]Hall

Children not in hall assemblies have class/cohort assemblies.