Collective Worship at Ringway Primary School
Collective Worship’ is a time when the whole school or groups within the school meet together to engage in relevant, meaningful experiences, providing opportunities for the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
At Ringway Primary School, collective worship is primarily set within the context of ‘Assemblies’ - which may include other features besides those required of collective worship, but pupils may also take part in daily collective worship within their individual classes.
Aims and Purposes
During collective worship we aim to:
- Fulfil statutory requirements of a daily act of collective worship for all pupils.
- Reflect on values that are of a broadly Christian character – but also include other religions studied as part of our RE scheme of work within school.
- Allow a pause for reflection and stillness in the midst of the pressure of the school day.
- Develop a community spirit, a common ethos and shared values.
- Provide a variety of opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
- Provide opportunities for expressing shared experiences and interests and for celebrating special occasions together.
- Provide opportunities in which pupils interact with other year groups, staff and on occasions the wider community, as well as offering opportunities to perform and respond to a presentation of readings, music, dance, drama or prayer.
The School Community
At Ringway Primary School, assemblies are non-denominational and conducted in a manner which is sensitive to the faiths and beliefs of all members of the school community. Pupils will take part in two assemblies per week – one Key Stage assembly and one whole school celebration assembly. Other additional assemblies may be held throughout the year for certain special celebrations such as Harvest Festival and Christmas. Children are expected to behave respectfully and thoughtfully and are asked to come in and leave assemblies in a quiet manner.
Organisation of Collective Worship
Collective worship involves members of the school coming together and participating in an act of worship each day. This may be an assembly involving whole school, separate key stages or individual classes or an act held in the classroom involving a song, story, prayer or time for reflection. The time of the daily act of collective worship will vary between classes.
Content
The content of an assembly may reflect any of the following:
- marking the celebration of a broad range of religious and cultural festivals that reflect a diversity of faiths
- examples of lives of people of faith and other good human beings
- stories supporting themes from a range of sources and cultures
- response to key local, national and international events
- providing an opportunity to think about their own beliefs
- putting things into practice e.g. supporting charities
- providing a moment for silent reflection/prayer
- celebration of successes of members of the school community
- performances or presentations from members of the school community
- input from visiting speaker
Celebrating Achievements
At the end of each week, a celebration assembly is held to bring together the whole school. These assemblies provide an opportunity to reward children for their achievements both in and out of school and celebrate them together. They also play an important part in promoting the ethos of the school - that all children and their achievements are valued
Prayer
Reading a prayer can be appropriate as long as the integrity of all those present is respected.
Prayer may be part of the period of reflection and stillness with children invited to participate in prayer if they wish.
Every effort is made to show sensitivity towards personal faiths and to include all pupils and staff in collective worship. For example, when using a prayer from a particular faith (such as the Lord’s Prayer) this will be introduced with sensitivity and pupils will not be required to say or affirm prayers which they do not believe. At Ringway Primary School, we have our own school prayer which pupils are invited to say during collective worship. This prayer is not faith based, but is a reflection of the learning environment we have in school.
Right of Withdrawal from Collective Worship
Parents retain the right to withdraw their children from parts or all acts of collective worship. Any pupil who is withdrawn from an act or acts of Collective Worship will be supervised during that time by a member of the school staff.