All schools have assembly and there can be a variety of reasons for the school community to meet together.
In the daily life of the Church school, Collective Worship should have a vital place, demonstrating to the school community that making time for God matters.
Schools may wish to consider key dates in the year when planning their themes for collective worship. The dates are organised essentially around the Christian calendar, but other notable dates are included.
A selection of festivals from world religions also appears. Schools may wish to make reference to some of these, particularly those celebrated by the local community.
What might collective worship in a Church school look like? What elements are likely to be included? Suggestions can be seen outlined on the Collective Worship Observation Sheet supplied below. This form may be useful for schools wishing to evaluate a particular act of collective worship, or just for general indications of good practice.
For the benefit of providing pupils with a rich variety of experiences within collective worship, it is good to involve visitors from local church and Christian communities. Some guidance that is worth sharing with them about leading collective worship in a school context is also provided. This document has been drawn together through consultation with clergy from within the Diocese.
Model Policy for Collective Worship