Collective Worship, in a Church of England VC school, reflects the Anglican tradition and is collective (open and invitational to all faiths and none) rather than corporate (as you would have in a church where the gathering of people is of one faith).
All children and teaching staff participate in daily Collective Worship, which is central to the life of our school. Worship is carefully planned around our Christian vision and values, as well as the key celebrations and seasons of the Christian calendar. There is also flexibility to respond to current events and issues that are meaningful to our children, school community and wider world.
Through Collective Worship, children develop their understanding of Christian beliefs and the distinctive features of Anglican worship. They experience prayer, reflection, Bible stories, music and opportunities to consider how our Christian values can guide their choices and actions. Worship provides a welcoming and inclusive space in which everyone can gather, reflect and grow spiritually.
Collective Worship is led by Mrs Rogers, class teachers and the Reverend Belder from All Saints Church. We also enjoy regular visits from Open the Book, a local group whose engaging and interactive retellings bring Bible stories to life for our children.
In January 2024, we had a visit from the Archbishop of York and he led a collective worship – wearing a TEA COSY on his head! After his visit he recalled a conversation he had with our Year 2 children on Radio 2 Pause For Thought.
The Anglican Church Year
Anglican churches follow a liturgical calendar. This is a pattern for their worship (liturgy) through the year. As a church school, this provides an ideal opportunity to mirror what is happening in our parish and local church. It also provides a colourful and visual way to mark the festivals throughout the year. Most churches will use different coloured vestments (a priest’s clothing) and altar cloths as signs of the season of the church year. In school this is mirrored through changing the colour of cloth on the worship table.
Collective Worship leaders (from Year 2) begin each collective worship with a greeting and response ‘The Lord is here’ to which the school respond ‘His spirit is with us’ and light candles. They close our worship with ‘Go in peace to love and serve the Lord’ to which the school respond ‘In the name of Christ. Amen.’
Prayers is an important part of our collective worship. Pupils also say prayers before lunch and at the end of the day. Our end of School Day Prayer is ‘ Hands together softly so, little eyes shut tight. Father just before we go, hear our prayer tonight. We are all your children here, this is what we pray. Keep us when the dark is near, and through every day. Amen’
We use a range of resources to plan our collective worship including: A Journey Through the Bible, Roots and Fruits, HeartSmart and Picture News. Collective worship is either led by the headteacher or a member of the local clergy or a Community and Outreach LayWorker. Class collective worships are led by the teachers.
To help us with Collective Worship we welcomed visits from OPEN THE BIBLE, who explore bible stories with the children. We end each term with a Church service at All Saints that we invite parents and family members to attend.
