Collective Worship at St. Mary's
As a Church of England school we pride ourselves on instilling our children with the codes and ethics Jesus taught us.
At its heart we believe that collective worship offers pupils and staff the opportunity for all faiths and none to develop spiritually. Part of this is to offer to experience the presence, power and peace of God through prayer, reflection, singing and sharing. It is important there is an opportunity to appreciate and respond to a variety of styles found in the diversity of the Christian church while enabling all taking part to develop an understanding of Anglican liturgy and the Trinity.
Collective worship gives pupils and school staff the opportunity to:
- Engage in an act of community.
- Express praise and thanksgiving to God.
- Be still and reflect.
- Explore the big questions of life and respond to national events.
- Foster respect and deepen spiritual awareness.
- Reflect on the character of God and on the teachings of Christ.
- Affirm Christian values and attitudes.
- Share each other's joys and challenges.
- Celebrate special times in the Christian calendar.
The impact of collective worship and the ways in which collective worship is an expression of a school’s distinctive Christian vision is an essential part of our school as a CofE school. Therefore, our collective worship is inclusive, invitational and inspiring for those of all faiths, and none, giving pupils, staff and visitors the opportunity to lead and evaluate. It should embody the school’s distinctive Christian vision and ethos, allowing for the celebration of this within the school community and those wider relationships.
