Collective worship is central to the life of St Patrick's Church of England School, and provides a daily focus on aspects of life in the context of our Christian vision and ethos. Worship is distinctively Christian and offers children and adults the opportunity to grow spiritually individually and together so that the school’s vision of the blessings God gives us as we go forward and bear His fruit for future generations can be realised. Our Collective Worship is fully inclusive, and is set to inspire the hearts and minds of our children and staff, as they go through each day demonstrating God's love and God's teaching.
Our school worship reflects the Anglican foundation of the school. However, we recognise that many in our community come from different faiths or world views. Equality, diversity and inclusion in religion, race and culture is a celebrated aspect of our school community, and the integrity of our pupils and staff, and that of the faith communities which they represent, is always respected. Our aim is that all in our community are both invited to join worship and feel included in this important part of our school day, and are also welcomed to share details and celebrations from their own faith with us.
Each child experiences a daily act of collective worship. There is a distinction made between assembly, where routine notices and a celebration of achievement take place and collective worship where God is acknowledged and His nature and purposes are reflected upon. However, all assemblies and collective worship are closed with prayer.
Our collective worship, particularly in church, but also in school, provides pupils and staff the opportunity to:
- Celebrate Christian seasons and festivals
- Celebrate pupils' and adults' achievements
- Experience prayer, stillness, worship and reflection
- Understand the school’s vision and its theological inspiration
- Understand the school’s Christian values and how they influence behaviour and relationships
- Encouragement of growth in the understanding of and participation in prayer
- Create a reflective approach to life including the exploration of deep questions
- Develop on our clear and distinctive Christian vision and demonstrate this within the wider community
- Experience a variety of styles of worship
- Participate and respond, through active involvement in the planning, leading and evaluation of worship
- Provide a place where children feel safe to share and affirm their faith
- Providing children with the opportunity to worship God on their own terms.
Worship will reflect aspects of the curriculum and in particular will:
- Nurture spiritual growth
- Enable participants to consider moral questions in a Christian context
- Enhance social understanding and encourage responses to issues through courageous advocacy
- Give participants a chance to reflect on the place and importance of faith in the lives of people today
- Encourage participants to explore beliefs drawn from their own cultural heritage
- Reflect the teachings of Jesus and a Trinitarian theology
