Collective Worship and Religious Education

In Church of England schools, collective worship reflects the traditions of the Church of England and develops learners' understanding of Anglican traditions and practice. 

We work with the local vicar and other church members to plan and deliver acts of worship that are invitational, reflective and engaging. There is plenty of flexibility in the provision of collective worship to enable all pupils to benefit without compromising their beliefs.  This is not compulsory and all parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child if they so wish.  

Collective worship gives pupils and school staff the opportunity to:

  • Engage in an act of community.
  • Express praise and thanksgiving to God.
  • Be still and reflect.
  • Explore the big questions of life and respond to national events.
  • Foster respect and deepen spiritual awareness.
  • Reflect on the character of God and on the teachings of Christ.
  • Affirm Christian values and attitudes.
  • Share each other's joys and challenges.
  • Celebrate special times in the Christian calendar.

We understand that everyone has a worth and that it is important that before we can become confident, happy learners we need to ensure our vision is deeply rooted in our Christian values. As a whole school community, we evaluated our core Christian Values and, after choosing 12 felt that our one fundamental value is trust – the final piece of the jigsaw. Without all 12 pieces we cannot be complete.  

‘Trust ourselves, trust one another, trust God’, is well-known and expressed by children.

Taking advice from the Bible we are passionate that Jeremiah 17: 7-8 is the foundation for our children:

7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

The Lord has His confidence in us as educators to be like that tree, letting nothing falter us or stand in our way to ensure we can always bear fruit that is plentiful and healthy

We offer plenty of opportunities for families to share these themes at home: