| At Kirmington Church of England Primary School we believe that Collective Worship plays a very important role in the life of our school. It is an opportunity to promote the Christian foundation of our school, to celebrate and support all aspects of school life and to provide for stillness and reflection in what is often a very busy day, active day for our children.
We recognise that in our school we have children who have no faith background at all. Great care and sensitivity is taken to ensure that all our children fell valued and special.
Aims
The main aims of Collective Worship at Kirmington are:
- To provide opportunities for all members of our school community to worship God.
- To promote pupil's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
- To enable for all members of our school community to explore their own beliefs.
- To promote a common sense of ethos and shared values.
- To help our pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to the beliefs, culture and values of others.
- To explore Christianity through multicultural perspective, fostering a respect for peoples of all races.
- To help our pupils understand the nature and language of worship.
- To support the broader curriculum through the use of art, music, dance, poetry, story, drama and other visual and oral means of communication.
We also aim that our children leave Kirmington Primary School knowing 'The Lord's Prayer.'
The Legal Position
The 1988 Education Reform Act states that collective worship must be on a daily basis for all registered pupils. The religious foundation of Kirmington School is Church of England and the daily act of collective worship is delivered in accordance with the principles of the Church of England. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from the daily act of worship. A parent wishing to do so will need to make a written request to the Headteacher.
Organisation
Our Daily Collective Worship is held at the following times during the week unless there is an important reason for otherwise.
- Monday - Mid morning 10:10. Head teacher
- Tuesday - Afternoon 2:50. Head teacher
- Wednesday - Afternoon 2:50 Infant teacher
- Thursday - Afternoon 2:50 Junior teacher
- Friday - Afternoon 2:50 Head teacher
Times should last approximately 15-20min.
These times will be reviewed annually.
Collective Worship Framework
Collective Worship themes are planned termly. These themes reflect the Christian church year and promote the values of out school ethos. They are usually linked with curriculum themes or special occasions and festivals through which these key issues can be developed. Teachers choose from a list of themes for that term and record it on a grid. At half term these themes are reviewed to ensure coverage of all the themes for that particular term. This grid aims to help staff plan Collective Worship and to avoid unnecessary repetition. Although the themes will be revisited on an annual basis they are broad enough to allow for sufficient choice and flexibility.
The key issues relate to our school's Mission Statement and include respect, persevering, caring and sharing, the wonders of nature and the gospel values.
Attitudes
- Sense of beauty, awe and wonder.
- Feelings of belonging.
- Respect for others regardless of gender, social, racial or cultural differences.
- Sense of pride.
- Sense of empathy.
- Sense of thankfulness.
- Sense of shared sadness or loss.
- Sense of smallness in the face of the greatest things.
- Sense of grandness in the face of the smallest of things.
- Sense of peace and stillness in the midst of a busy experience.
Record Keeping, Evaluation and Monitoring
Each act of Collective Worship will be recorded on the termly planning grid. There is a space to jot down any reflection / evaluations on a particular worship time. Any comments are to be brief and are to aid planning for future Collective Worship.
Children evaluate Collective worship through discussion and feedback is given at School Council meetings.
The head teacher is responsible for monitoring the Collective Worship. This process will involve all staff. It shall be carried out as part of the whole school self review process.
Resources
A moveable small prayer table is to be used as a focus for Collective Worship. Specific artefacts, music CDs and other teachers' resources linked to Collective Worship are to be kept centrally to allow for easy access.
This policy was updated in Spring 2006.
To be reviewed annually.
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