Policy for Collective Worship

Our Vision: At North Baddesley Infant School we are committed to valuing and nurturing each child as an individual who will achieve their best and develop an enthusiasm for lifelong learning. Our vision is for the children in our school to grow into responsible, caring and fulfilled adults who actively and positively contribute to the society in which they live. We are committed to raising standards, values and self esteem for all those involved with our school through cultivating a secure, yet exciting environment that is positive, supportive, stimulating and enriching.

In this way, we are happy, valued and achieving together.

Our policy for collective worship supports this by:

1. Recognising that Collective Worship is an important opportunity to provide opportunities for our pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
2. Providing a daily act of collective worship for all pupils which enables them to:
   • worship God
   • reflect on values that are of a broadly Christian nature and on their own beliefs
   • develop a community spirit, a common ethos and shared values
   • consider spiritual and moral issues
   • respond to the worship offered
   • respond to Christian language and symbolism and experience stillness and quiet
   • experience a variety of forms of prayer and meditation. These might include praise, seeking forgiveness or quiet reflection
   • begin to understand the nature and purpose of worship
3. Ensuring the daily act of collective worship be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character
4. Ensuring Collective Worship, whether in assembly or class time, will:
• be acceptable to the whole community, staff and pupils
• involve the pupils
• celebrate and give thanks for the achievements within the school, local and international community and occasions of significance, including festivals
• provide a foundation for a mature understanding and practice of worship in the future
5. Respecting the right of parents to withdraw their children for Collective Worship
6. Respecting the right of all teachers, including the head teacher, to withdraw from the Act of Collective Worship. (The head teacher, should he or she wish exercise to this right, maintains statutory accountability for Acts of Collective Worship in school)

Procedures

• This school will comply with the requirements set out in the 1988 Education Reform Act regarding Collective Worship.
• Provide a daily act of collective worship for registered pupils, as is the school’s statutory duty (apart from those who have been withdrawn by their parents). The time at which this takes place and the form of the Collective Worship (whole school, team or class groupings) may vary from day to day. Collective Worship may be held at any time during the school day.
• Keep a record of all Acts of Collective Worship themes.
• Apply to the local Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) for a determination if it is inappropriate for a large number of pupils in school to take part in Christian collective worship.
• Withdraw a pupil from collective worship following parental discussion with the head teacher/worship co-ordinator followed by written confirmation of withdrawal.
• Provide a system of suitable supervision for students withdrawn from Acts of Collective Worship. (No additional work is set or followed in this time).

Whilst fully complying with the law, the school will be sensitive to the fact that not all children will come from religious families.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The school will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the school.