Collective Worship
Collective worship is a central part of our ethos as a Church of England school. It is an opportunity for the entire school community to come together to reflect, pray, and explore spiritual and moral issues in a way that is respectful and inclusive of all faiths or none. Through collective worship, we aim to nurture a sense of community, develop a deeper understanding of Christian values, and provide a space for quiet reflection and spiritual growth for every member of our school.
Weekly Schedule
Collective worship takes place daily at 1:10 PM every day for 20 minutes. (Fridays change to 2.40pm only when a class is sharing their work.) Our weekly schedule is as follows:
- Monday: Picture News in class, allowing for discussion and reflection on current events.
- Tuesday: Led by a member of the Epping Anglican Ministry Team with pupils, providing an opportunity to share their faith and lead a collective worship session.
- Wednesday: Christian-based worship, led by school staff, focusing on stories from the Bible and core Christian teachings.
- Thursday: Singing worship, a joyful and uplifting time for the school to sing together.
- Friday: Celebration worship, where we come together to celebrate achievements.
Picture News
Picture News is delivered by the teacher in the classroom. Teachers have access to Picture News website, funded by our PTA.
Staff will usually merge the ‘Primary Picture News Resource England’ and ‘Collective Worship PowerPoint’ into one presentation to include the slides for the bible reading, prayer, discussion, British Values, Protected Characteristics and UN Rights of the Child.
Planning for Collective Worship
We follow the GERS model: gathering; engaging; responding; sending out.
Parents/carers right to withdraw their child from RE
Parents have the right to choose whether or not to withdraw their child from RE without influence from the school, although a school should ensure parents or carers are informed of this right and are aware of the educational objectives and content of the RE syllabus. In this way, parents can make an informed decision. Where parents have requested that their child is withdrawn, their right must be respected, and where RE is integrated in the curriculum, the school will need to discuss the arrangements with the parents or carers to explore how the child’s withdrawal can be best accommodated. If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Pupils will usually remain on school premises.