Collective Worship Policy
We understand worship to be a special act or occasion whose purpose is to show reverence to God. All members of the school come together and participate in daily assemblies. We expect everyone to take an active part in the assembly. Assembly at Birchington CEP brings the school community together and gives the children the opportunity to see that they belong to a wider community and not just that of their own class. Collective worship is an integral part of our assemblies
In line with the 1988 Education Reform Act, which states that collective worship should be “wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character', our assemblies and acts of worship are usually based on the teaching of the individual faith and beliefs of all members of our school community.
While the majority of acts of worship in our school are Christian, we also hold assemblies that reflect other religious traditions that are represented in the school and the wider community.
Aims and Purpose
It is the aim of this school that through an act of collective worship we will;
· provide opportunities for children’s spiritual and moral development
· celebrate the Christian values on which the life of the school is based
· experience some of the traditional forms of Christian worship
· help children to learn the skills of worship
· enable the children to explore their own beliefs
· develop in the children a sense of community spirit
Organisation
We hold a daily act of collective worship in our school as part of a class, key stage or whole school assembly.
Assemblies are conducted in a calm and dignified way, with children entering in a respectful manner. All children are expected to be quiet, thoughtful and behave in an appropriate way, listening carefully to the teachings and participating appropriately in prayers and songs. A ‘thinking candle’ is lit, or other symbol used, to provide a focus for collective worship and to mark this time as a special period of reflection. Themes for assemblies currently follow the Diocesan guideline, “Putting Worship at the Heart of Assembly”, but are adapted to reflect the life of our school and wider community.
Our assemblies offer opportunities to acknowledge and reward children for their achievements both in and out of school, allowing us to promote the ethos of the school where all children are valued and achievements and learning celebrated.Assemblies are led by the Headteacher and other members of staff on a rota basis although members of the clergy and other invited guests also conduct them.
We hold regular whole school services at All Saints Church at Christmas, Easter and the end of the year. Parents/carers are also invited to join our worship at other times during the year.
Right of withdrawal
Assemblies are an important part of the life of our school and all children are expected to attend. However, any parent/carer can request permission for their child to be excused from attending an act of collective worship and the school will make alternative arrangements for the supervision of the child during the period concerned. This complies with the 1944 Education Act and was restated in the 1988 Education Reform Act. Although parents/carers do not need to explain or give reasons for their child to be excused, our school prospectus expresses the hope that parents/carers with queries over the delivery and content of collective worship at our school, will discuss these with the Headteacher before exercising their right to withdraw pupils from such acts of worship.
The Headteacher keeps a record of all children who withdraw from collective worship.
Monitoring and review
It is the role of the subject leader and a named school governor with responsibility for religious education and collective worship, to monitor the policy and practice of collective worship. The governor liaises with the member of staff who oversees the assembly theme, content and organisation, and the Headteacher, before reporting to the governors on religious education and collective worship.
EW & Governors - October 2007
To be reviewed - October 2009
