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Collective Worship

Collective Worship is an affirmation and celebration of each school's distinctive Christian vision and ethos. It is the 'heartbeat' of the school day.

National Collective Worship guidance May 2021

The SIAMS Schedule asks inspectors to explore:

‘the ways in which Collective Worship is an expression of the school’s Christian vision’

 

What is Collective Worship?

Collective Worship is a gathering of a ‘collection’ of people of diverse religious, agnostic and non-religious backgrounds and does not pre-suppose any particular religious commitment. It is educational and inclusive in its nature, rather than being a gathering of believers. The school community is a collection of people from different backgrounds and if school collective worship is to be meaningful, it must be sensitive to this. The use of the term collective is important in that it recognises that pupils and staff will subscribe to a range of beliefs, and that there is a need to provide opportunities for all to share in Collective Worship in a way which make sense to them and is appropriate to their stage of development. Visitors to Collective Worship are a valued and important part of what a church school provides for its pupils. It enriches pupils understanding of a diversity of beliefs and responses to the world around them.

The law requires that every pupil should have a daily act of Collective Worship which is ‘wholly’ Christian for church schools and ‘broadly’ Christian in maintained schools.

The impact of Collective Worship and the ways in which Collective Worship is an expression of a school’s distinctive Christian vision is at the heart of the SIAMS schedule. Therefore, as a diocese we believe that Collective Worship should be inclusive, invitational and inspiring for those of all faiths and none, with pupils taking a regular lead. It is an affirmation and celebration of each school/academy’s distinctive Christian vision and ethos where children and adults have the opportunity to learn, worship and grow in their understanding of God and of themselves.  We believe that we and our children are made in the image of God and that worship is a vital factor in this image becoming more real and meaningful. We believe that at its heart, Collective Worship enables pupils and staff to gather together to respond to the presence, power and peace of God through prayer, reflection, singing, sharing and communicating feelings.  It is important that within Collective Worship, there is the opportunity to appreciate and respond to a variety of styles found in the diversity of the Christian church together with enabling participants to develop an understanding of Anglian liturgy and the Trinity.

 

 

Updates

The next free online collective worship network is on 26th September 2022 (2pm-4pm) Book here

Below are a series of termly updates to support you delivering Collective Worship. Please keep checking the list as more will be added.

 

Please find below some useful information for you to download:

 

Useful websites for Collective Worship

Ideas for Collective Worship in schools
For the latest featured resources, taking you directly to Mission Hub on the diocesan website

 

Acts of Collective Worship for special events in primary schools and academies

We are delighted to share with you our booklet on Collective Worship for special events in primary schools and academies:

Eucharist is the central service for most Anglicans. This guidance has been created in consultation with schools, clergy and the DBE.