The aims and purpose of collective worship, while reflecting the aims of our Mission Statement are:

• To provide opportunities for spiritual development
• To offer opportunities for traditional and individual prayers, reflection and spontaneous intercessions
• To enable children to develop a relationship with God
• To guide the children on their faith journey
• To enable the children to consider spiritual and moral issues
• To provide the children with opportunities to explore their own beliefs
• To encourage participation and response and enable children to lead and be creative
• To develop in children a sense of community spirit
• To promote a common ethos with shared values and to reinforce positive
  attitudes

Collective Worship (CW) is a term used in legislation; all schools are expected to provide Collective Worship. In Catholic Education, we use the terms ‘Prayer and Liturgy’.

Prayer:

• Can be formal or informal, routine or spontaneous, private or shared
• May include familiar prayers, prayers written for the occasion, spontaneous prayers, silence – prayer focus around school where children can pray spontaneously, stations of the cross, morning prayer, prayer before meals, Rosary etc

At St. Mary’s, this type of prayer happens several times throughout the day, every day

Liturgical Prayer (or it can be called ‘liturgy’ or ‘class liturgy’)

• A communal prayer that follows liturgical patterns
• Texts, symbols and gestures draw on the Catholic tradition
• Liturgical prayer allows schools greater freedom for creativity within these limits E.g. Gather (Welcome) – Word (Scripture) – Respond – Send (Witness).

Liturgy:

• A rite of the Church.
• Taken from official books
• Prescribed structure, gesture, words, symbols
• Limited room for adaptation E.g. Mass, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Divine Office

All classes contain a focal point for prayer and worship, updated regularly to ensure it is in line with the RE curriculum and Liturgical Season.  It is in addition to the RE curriculum wall.

The prayer focus will always have the Word of God, a candle and a cross.  These are our three chosen common symbols that we use for Celebration of the Word. It will also have an invitation to respond to the Scripture in a personal way.

The prayer focus may also display prayers (including those offered by the children), statues, children’s work, flowers or anything that the class feels will help them to focus and/ or develop spiritually.

EYFS & KS1

Developed appropriately according to their age, experience and ability, children in EYFS and KS1 will co-plan some of the aspects of their celebration with their teacher.  This may involve them choosing different responses from a selection provided or making suggestions about how to ‘respond’ to the scripture.

LKS2:

Throughout Year 3 and 4, with the help of good adult models, scaffolds, quality resources and guidance from others the children will take responsibility for independently planning and leading part of the class celebration of the Word.  As a class or group, the teacher will support them to reflect on what they have done and how they may change it next time.

 

UKS2:

By the end of Year 6, pupils will have grown in understanding, knowledge and confidence to be able to plan and lead a celebration of the word in a small group for their class.  They will use the structure provided if they wish.  They will be guided to evaluate their thoughts and what they have done so we can continually build on the spiritual development of our whole school family.

Every Monday, Mrs Killoran leads key stage hymn practice. Following the lifting of Covid restrictions on singing, the children now love to come together again to raise the roof with their hymn singing each week.

Mrs Killoran begins this weekly gathering with prayers followed by practicing old and new hymns together. Children also learn British Sign Language for popular hymns.

Class and phase liturgical Prayer

Key Stage 1:

Every Tuesday morning, Years 1 and 2 join together in the hall, for liturgical prayer following our ‘Statements to live by’

Key Stage 2:

On a rota basis, each class does:

• P4C one week – these are often based around a topical/current issue, Big questions
• Class liturgical prayer the second week – again based around a relevant topic for that class at that particular time
• Phase liturgical prayer in week 3 – these are usually based around our statements to live by
• Every day Class prayers:
• Every class prays together several times each day on a daily basis. Children pray together in class every morning, before lunch and at the end of the day. See appendix 1 for school payers.

Fridays assembly always begins with the whole community praying together and the theme is based around current or topical issues/liturgical year/relevant feast days etc. The second part of the assembly is a celebration of the children achievements and gifts and talents. Children share achievements and awards are presented. Parents and parishioners are invited to this weekly assembly. This is a practical demonstration of the way the home, school and parish work together to support the achievements of our children.
Fridays celebration assembly plays an important part in promoting the ethos of the school. It is a very happy, joyous occasion and the children sing and dance together!

In each classroom, a Prayer Corner is adorned with a candle, appropriate statues/cross etc and laid with the current appropriate liturgical colour cloth. This is used as a focus for a few moments of quiet reflection at various points during the school day, especially at the end of the day; when the children reflect on the day and what they have learnt and can learn from that day.
Each class in key stage 2 also has a holy water font where they bless themselves as a sign that as they enter school, it is a place where God is with us.

Each key stage 2 class also takes part in regular Philosophy For Children (P4C) approximately every third week. These sessions allow the children to relax and really speak and listen to God. They discuss and ask ‘Big questions’ in an effort to develop further understanding of what God is saying to them. This is a safe environment where they can express their feelings and opinions and all are respected.

We are lucky to have the church on our doorstep. We have a rota system so every child attends mass at least once per half term. We usually begin each half term with a whole school mass, then starting with Year 6 down to Year 2. Each class plans, prepares and leads their own class mass in church with one class every week. The older children take more ownership of the mass. We also have whole school mass for special feast days and important liturgical occasions. Parents, Governors and the Parish community are invited to attend school Masses on a weekly basis. In May, the whole school honours and glorifies Mary, our school Saint, in our annual May
procession, where the children bring flowers

School Prayers

Collective Worship Policy