Collective Worship

• A distinction needs to be made between an act of worship and an assembly.  To assemble for any purpose other than worship will not satisfy the legal requirement for collective worship.

• As a voluntary controlled school the act of worship is in line with the Trust Deeds and in a form consistent with the beliefs and practices of the Church of England.

• At St. John’s Primary “worship” is interpreted as encompassing the following elements:-
• Relevance, reflection, reverence and responses.
• A time set apart from the school day for focusing thoughts and for meditation.
• An opportunity to praise, thank and rejoice in God’s gifts.
• A time for fellowship, sharing and caring.
• An opportunity to praise and honour God and a time for prayer.

• The act of worship allows children to explore their own beliefs.

• Care is taken in the selection of material and the form of presentation to ensure that they are relevant to all the children.

• Collective worship runs parallel to and supports the school approach to RE but does not take the place of RE.

• A record of collective worship is maintained within the school.

• It is recognised that staff and pupils have a variety of beliefs and these are respected.  Collective worship, therefore, makes no assumptions that those present must participate.  Worship is offered in a wide variety of forms (quiet reflection, listening to music, a prayer or a poem etc) and pupils and staff are invited to participate if they wish.  Collective worship aims to exclude no one.

• Any act of worship reflects the school approach to spiritual and moral education and draws upon and exemplifies that statement of policy.