Collective Worship
We see collective worship as the heartbeat of the school and an opportunity for staff, children and visitors to come together as a community with a shared identity and common purpose. We build on the rich, lived diversity of Anglican tradition and identity through the topics we include and the relationships we have fostered with local churches. In order to ensure that collective worship enables pupils and adults to flourish spiritually, we believe it is important that it remains dynamic and is continuously reimagined. Whilst we carefully plan a yearly overview of content, we are also reactive to real-world events and to the interests of the children. This allows us to ensure spiritual growth by making worship relevant and purposeful; by meeting the children where they need to be met. We hold a daily act of collective worship at St Bartholomew’s. The aim and purpose of this is to create an occasion which produces a variety of responses, one of which is worship. By providing different levels of interest and involvement, all children feel included, whatever their beliefs or background. Underpinning our collective worship are the core values of Christianity. It is our aim for children to ‘keep their minds open’ to learning from the faith and beliefs of others. Worship is inclusive and affirming and therefore relevant for all children. |
During collective worship there are opportunities for children to: • pray and express praise and thanksgiving to God; • reflect on the attributes of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ; • promote and affirm Christian values and attitudes; • foster respect and unity; • share each other’s joys and challenges; • celebrate special times in the Christian Calendar; • deepen their spiritual awareness and reflection. |