Collective Worship
01 Dec 2022
Our daily Collective Worship is central to our life as a school. It strengthens and supports the Christian identity of our school and reaffirms our vision:
“We are our school, we have our roots and foundation in love. Our school is us, we will grow, blossom and flourish”.
Our worship also reinforces and explores further our agreed associated Christian values of Friendship, Respect, Resilience, Empathy, Independence and Aspiration.
Our worship reflects the variety of traditions found in the Church of England, and recognises and follows the Christian liturgical year.
This daily Christian act of worship is supported by all staff and governors. It makes an important contribution to the overall spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the whole school community.
We have two Worship Ambassadors from Class 3 who meet regularly with the headteacher to plan, lead and evaluate our whole school worship. They encourage other children to help lead our worship. Collective Worship is attended by as many of our school community as possible. Staff and children engage with our worship, joining in and being challenged to think about “Big Questions”. There is a theme for the week, often based on our vision and values, which is explored in different ways. We enjoy singing a variety of traditional hymns and more modern worship songs. Collective Worship takes different forms on different days.
On Mondays the Headteacher and Worship Ambassadors lead whole school Worship to introduce the theme of the week.
On Tuesdays the classes take it in turns to deliver a Collective Worship to their peers; this is also linked to the theme of the week.
On Wednesdays Worship is planned and delivered by the Worship ambassadors and other children. Choosing hymns, bible stories presentations and writing prayer for the whole school.
On Thursdays our Collective Worship is led twice a month by a member of the clergy from our parish church. This may take place in church, in school or the Village Hall. Over the past year, we have enjoyed “Godly Play” with Rev Sian, explored how Christians worship in different parts of the world with Ven Clive and we are now getting to know our new vicar, Rev Jane, who joined us in September. When it is not a ‘clergy worship’, we have in class worship where we continue to explore the theme, and maybe have a chance for more questioning and discussion. This also gives all the children the chance to lead worship in class.
Our week draws to a close with everyone together for Celebration Worship on a Friday. This is our chance to celebrate many of our successes and achievements and to recognise how we flourish in our school and in the service of God. Purple and white ribbons awards are given to children, linked to our distinctive Christian vision and values. Parents are invited to join us and share lunch at least once per half term.
For major celebrations and festivals, we go into St Mary’s Church for our own services and also to join in parish celebrations, eg Welcome Service and Presentation of Children’s Bibles to new pupils in September, Harvest, Remembrance, Class One come and help set up the Christmas Crib, Easter service, Leavers’ service in July etc.
We have special prayers which we use at different times in school, for example our Vision prayer, lunchtime prayer and end of the day prayer. The children sometimes write their own prayers to use in worship or in response to a particular situation.
Each classroom has a reflective area which gives a focus for worship. There is also a reflective area outside in the playground.
The School and Worship Ambassadors are involved in organising lots of charity events throughout the school year including the:
- Children in Need
- Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children
- Poppy Appeal
- Christmas Enterprise raising money for the school charity
- Ukraine
- The Ripon Walled Garden
- The ambassadors also choose a charity each year that wish represent.
The Worship Ambassadors encourage their peers to be “courageous advocates”; championing causes which are special and meaningful to them. These may be global issues or matters far more personal and closer to home. They evaluate their involvement in each charity and understand how they can help make the world a better place.