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.

Please find below some useful information for you to download:

• Collective Worship in a Church of England school
• Model policy for Collective Worship
• Planning a Programme of Collective Worship
• Making worship meaningful
• Practical Guidelines to Support the Provision
• For fresh ideas planning Collective Worship linked to the new schedule use Worship Workshop or Canterbury Diocese’s Collective Worship Fresh Approach

Resources for collective worship

• www.spinnaker.org.uk – Includes ideas for celebrating Christian festivals, as well as stories with a Christian message
• www.angelfire.com/trek/annegordon/ – A practical and helpful site which includes a teachers’ survival kit and helpful hints for both teachers and clergy on visits to churches
• www.schoolassemblies.btinternet.co.uk – Includes a Bible search engine and a calendar of saints’ days and festivals
• www.sermons4kids.com – Christian illustrations and Powerpoint storyboards
• www.assemblies.org.uk – Good all-round resources
• www.onemoretime.biz/aboutwanderweg.php – Source of reflective music to purchase for use in collective worship
• www.worshipworkshop.org.uk/ – a toolkit to help schools build effective worship

Church School Distinctiveness – Video Project

In the films below children talk about what is distinctive about their church school or academy:

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:

• Collective Worship for special events in primary schools and academies