Middleforth C of E Primary School Collective Worship Policy October 2016 1
Middleforth C of E Primary School Mission Statement Let your light shine COLLECTIVE WORSHIP POLICY At Middleforth Church of England Primary School worship is at the heart of daily life. All acts of worship will be in accordance with the traditions of the Anglican Faith. OVERVIEW The law requires all schools to provide a daily, collective act of worship that is on most occasions wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian nature. In this school we meet the requirements of the law in full. Worship usually takes place on school premises but from time to time certain services will be held at St Leonard s Church. Worship need not be held at the same time each day and may also take place in Key Stages or in classes. However, in general, following registration, the school day begins with an act of worship involving both staff, children and, at least once a week, parents and members of the local community. Where parents request it, their children will be withdrawn from the collective worship and alternative arrangements will be made for them. OBJECTIVES Acts of worship at our school comprise of: An opening Gathering Engaging Responding Sending out 1. Each day all children will have the opportunity to participate in an occasion of Christian worship and reflection of high quality. 2
2. Children will have the opportunity to lead worship and to contribute spontaneously. 3. Prayer will be central to each act of worship. 4. A variety of different opportunities will be used to meet our statutory duty. 5. Worship will provide opportunities to share and celebrate Christ s values. 6. Strong links will be made between spiritual, moral, social and cultural education and religious education. 7. Collective worship will contribute to children s experience of awe and wonder. 8. A good ethos will be created for worship enabling children to enjoy music, singing, drama, dance, poetry and celebration. 9. Worship will be used to help children understand and experience the meaning of great religious festivals and holy days. 10. Worship will contribute to community cohesion and will promote learners spiritual, social and moral education. CHRISTIAN VALUES /S.E.A.L./BRITISH VALUES Christian Values At the heart of our school are a set of core 15 Christian values which are linked to the 5 British Values detailed in the document Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools (DfE Nov. 2014). These values underpin all aspects of our curriculum and school life. The values are also linked to the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning units of work (SEAL). 1. Generosity 2. Creativity 3. Compassion /Love 4. Courage 5. Forgiveness 6. Friendship 7. Respect 8. Thankfulness 9. Peace 10. Trust 11. Perseverance 12. Justice 13. Service / Humility 14. Hope 15. Truthfulness Other Christian values not listed above but covered as part of the school s biannual worship pattern Koinonia Wisdom 3
Reverence The 5 British Values are: 1. Individual liberty 2. Mutual respect 3. Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs 4. The rule of law 5. Democracy SEAL Units 1. New Beginnings 2. Getting on and Falling out 3. Going for Goals 4. Good to be Me 5. Relationships 6. Changes Year A SEAL Unit Christian Values British Values Autumn 1 New Beginnings Generosity Individual Creativity Liberty Compassion / Love Spring 5 Relationships Courage Forgiveness Summer 6 Changes Friendship Respect Democracy Tolerance of others Mutual Respect Proud to be British Week The rule of Law Year B SEAL Unit Christian Values British Values Autumn 3 Going for Goals Thankfulness Peace Trust Tolerance of Others Mutual Spring 2 Getting on and Falling out Perseverance Justice Summer 4 Good to be Me Service / Humility Hope Truthfulness STRATEGIES Respect The Rule of Law Democracy Proud to be British Week Individual Liberty 1. The Headteacher is the worship coordinator. 2. The worship coordinator will organise the annual Collective Worship Plan in consultation with the incumbent Father Nick Mansfield. This plan will provide opportunities for worship to be led by the Headteacher, the Deputy Headteacher, teachers and those members of the support staff who express an interest. Father Nick Mansfield, Rev Sharon Baines from St Leonard s Church Penwortham and Rev. 4
Catherine Bland the minister from Penwortham Methodist Church and Steven Mitchell the Youth Minister from Hutton C of E Grammar School lead worship at certain times each term. Members of the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Team visit school at least once a year to lead or join the school for acts of worship. The school makes a point of inviting the Bishop of Burnley or the Bishop of Blackburn to visit school each year, too. 3. Resources used by the school to support collective worship come from a wide range of sources including The National Society, Blackburn Board of Education and IMAGINOR. The school has close links with Blackburn Diocese and, through networking, has access to support that results in creative and imaginative approaches to worship, 4. On some occasions the school will meet as a whole to worship and, on other occasions, in different groupings eg classes or Key Stages. 5. On some occasions worship will be held in classrooms at appropriate times during the day and will be led by staff and children. 6. On some occasions classes or key stages will go to St Leonard s Church for their worship. 7. During the school year, the school staff, children, families and friends of the school- will go to St Leonard s Church to celebrate their act of worship eg Harvest, Pentecost. 8. Every classroom will have a designated area for prayer and quiet reflection. 9. Children will say grace before lunchtime meals and prayers at the end of each school day. Each class has its own prayer for use at these times. 10. Children will learn some well-known prayers and hymns and these will be used in worship. 11. Worship will be used for celebration and thanksgiving. 12. At the start of the school year, staff and governors will meet together for a Eucharist. 13. Education Sunday will be celebrated in school with the church congregations from St Leonard s and Penwortham Methodist Churches. 14. Children will be given opportunities both to participate in worship and to lead worship. 15. Children will evaluate acts of worship and offer their own suggestions and opinions. 16. Parents, families and other members of the local community will be invited to participate in collective worship with the school on a weekly basis for the school s Celebration Assembly and at other times to worship and celebrate other aspects of the children s work. 17. Occasionally, outside speakers will be brought in to address the children and, where appropriate, lead acts of worship. 18. On special occasions, worship will be linked to religious and other festivals, e.g. Christmas, Easter, Harvest and St George s Day. 19. Records of religious worship will be kept to show that the requirements of the law have been met. 5
WEEKLY PATTERN OF WORSHIP Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 9am Whole School Act of Worship led by the Headteacher 9am Whole School Act of Worship led by the Deputy Headteacher 9am Whole School Act of Worship led by a member of staff KS2 visits to St Leonard s Church for worship led by Father Nick Mansfield or Key Stage Worship led by the Key Stage leader or whole school worship led by a visiting member of the clergy or visitor 9am School Community Worship and Celebration Assembly OUTDOOR WORSHIP Class teachers may choose to lead worship in the school s outdoor learning environment in one of the worship spaces situated in a quiet area in the school grounds. An outdoor worship box is available for teachers to use or they may use simple items such as a log with a candle or some shells and pebbles as a focus for the children. Areas that could be used include the Guild Community Tree, the twigloo the wildlife garden, a corner of the field, the stage on the KS1 playground, the waiting area outside the KS1 entrance. AGREED PATTERN FOR AN ACT OF WORSHIP Children enter the hall in classes, calmly and quietly. Music is played as the children enter and the reflection candle is lit. An image or power point is displayed on the screen linked to the worship focus. The person leading the worship wishes everyone good morning and they reply. The act of worship begins. The person leading the worship says The Lord be with you, the children and staff in the hall respond And also with you the person leading worships says This is the day that the Lord has made, the children and staff respond We shall rejoice and be glad in it. The 3 candles are lit by a child to signify the Trinity. The children are reminded that by lighting the candles we are inviting Jesus to be with us. The children are reminded that the three candles represent the Trinity (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Words are said beginning with We light 3 candles in the name of and the children join in with words linked to the Christian value that is being focused on that half term. There will be readings, stories, drama, power point presentations or other stimuli from a variety of sources. Whatever format is chosen, the 6
content of the worship must have some reference to the Christian faith, teaching of Jesus, bible stories etc. There will be a time for reflection on the content of the worship. Children are expected to bow their heads. There may be a slide to read. There will always be a song or hymn. A list of songs chosen for that half term is kept on a clip board by the CD player. There will always be prayers in the act of worship. A class prayer may be used, the children may have written prayers and children are invited to say their own prayers. Rainbow prayers may be used. The Lord s Prayer is used in every act of worship. Other prayers are also used depending on the time of year and the focus for the act of worship. There are folders containing a range of prayers to choose from that are kept in the hall. Notices and reminders are given out. The daily challenge the children will be challenged to respond to the worship content in their actions that day. A blessing is read at the end of the act of worship, a child is chosen to blow out the candle and this signifies the end of the act of worship. Music is played whilst the children quietly leave the hall in classes. Year 6 hall prefects help to tidy away the chairs. The person who has led worship ensures that all resources are correctly turned off and tidied away including the laptop, the screen, the projector, CDs and the CD player. Please leave the hall and in particular, the worship table, tidy and free from clutter. Things to consider when leading worship Setting the atmosphere How do pupils enter and leave worship - is there a sense of order, respect and expectation? Is there anything to mark the worship and time as special (e.g. candle, worship table, display, music) Is there a clear distinction between worship and assembly (i.e. notices and presentations) General Development Is the purpose of the act of worship clear to all present and the theme developed effectively? Were there different elements to the act of worship eg visual aids, storytelling, questioning, all carried through effectively? Is the pace and timing appropriate? Worship Elements Is there a balance of music speech and silence? Are there opportunities for prayer and reflection? If songs or hymns are used, are they appropriate for the pupils and the theme? Does the act of worship have a clear Christina theme? 7
Distinctively Christian but inclusive to all Is the act of worship clearly linked to the Christian Gospel? Was there any reference to other faiths communities or philosophical thought linked into community Cohesion? Pupil Involvement Is the act of worship appropriate for the age, ability and background? of the pupils? Are the pupils engaged? What contributions do the pupils make to the worship - are they in any sense worship leaders? How does /can the worship impact upon those present? Could it support their spiritual and moral development? Do the pupils explore, encounter, experience? Planning What resources are used to plan worship? Is it in keeping with focus for the term? Feedback What type of feedback do the children and staff give? THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY WORSHIP AND CELEBRATION ASSEMBLY. This takes place in the school hall on Friday at 9am and is led by the Headteacher. In her absence, the deputy headteacher or other teachers will lead on a rota basis. All parents, families and friends from the local community are invited to worship with the children and share in their success from the past week. Refreshments are available for all visitors. Parents are informed via a mid-week text if their child is to receive an award. A record of each week s awards is kept in the school Celebration File. A member of the support staff is responsible for ensuring that the necessary paperwork is completed. The Headteacher will monitor this on a regular basis. Class teachers are responsible for ensuring that all children have their achievements recognised fairly and consistently throughout the school year. Those children chosen to receive awards, stickers or certificates are seated on the benches in view of the visitors who are seated at the other end of the hall in front of the kitchen. All other children sit in their classes. Members of staff sit around the outside of the hall. As in other acts of worship, the candle is lit, prayers are said and a hymn is sung at the beginning. The following aspects of individual children s achievements are celebrated: 8
4 Good Work children from each class - including Englsih, Maths, RE and a general Good Work awards Headteacher Awards linked to the Christian Value for that half term. KS1 3Gs Good work, manners and behaviour, one from each house in each class, handed out by House Captains KS2 Merit Awards announced by the House Captains, 4 per class Lunchtime Certificates from the welfare staff ( children go on Top Table on Friday lunchtime with a friend Lunchtime Winning Class KS1 & KS2 Certificates & awards that the children have gained from outside school activities Sports Reports /FMS 100 Club etc Birthdays Notices At the end music is played and the children go back to their classes except for those children sitting on the benches who have received a certificate, shown good work or received an award. Their parents are invited to congratulate them, look at their work or certificates before they go back to their classes. OUTCOMES Children and staff will be offered excellent opportunities to experience enjoy and participate in a variety of different kinds of acts of worship linked strongly to the Christian faith. They will have the opportunity to experience an ethos conducive to spiritual development through prayer and reflection. They will learn to develop positive attitudes to worship and worshipping communities. Through collective worship learners will grow in spirituality and experience awe and wonder. October 2016 9