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Christian Distinctiveness

"Collective worship is the unique heartbeat of a Church school and is offered as part of a wider opportunity for pupils and adults to encounter faith by engaging in conversations about God, both as individuals and together"

Guidance for Collective Worship (Church of England) 2021

At Broad Chalke our Collective Worships are a highlight of the school day. They offer the opportunity for the whole school or class to come together as a school-family. 

Daily Collective Worships also give pupils and staff the opportunity to:

  • 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.

Every term, the Collective Worships are focussed on a Christian value.

Every classroom  has a reflection space which encourages pupils to ask important questions and explore their thinking further. 

                                                                

In the centre of the school is a large interactive Reflection Space which encourages the whole school to respond to key questions each term and offers pupils different activities based on the termly value. 

              

                                                           

At the end of every term each class completes a reflection based on the term's theme. This provides an opportunity for the whole class to discuss what impact the term's value has had on their lives. Pupils also respond to the theme through a piece of work in their reflection journals. This is an opportunity for pupils to think individually about what they have learnt, what they think and what they now do differently as a result of the term's learning and experiences. Some of the work the children create is phenomenal and  shows 'deep thinking'. 

   

To support us with planning high quality Collective Worships we use two resources: Roots and Fruits and Picture News.

Root and Fruits 1& 2

Every Collective Worship follows the 'Windows, Mirrors, Doors' approach, which encourages pupils to look outwards, look inwards and respond. 

 

 

Roots and Fruits helps to enrich our worships by offering:

  • Quotes and questions to encourage deeper thinking about each value
  • Photographs and posters to root the teaching in the everyday experience of children
  • Stories, poems and art, much of which has been especially commissioned for this book
  • Prayers and guided reflections from traditional and contemporary authors

Picture News

The Picture News planning includes resources which are designed to expose children to current affairs, discover their interests and bring the world closer to their everyday lives.

Each Collective Worship also links to British Values and Protected Characteristics.

Children have the opportunity to respond to the weekly news article via our interactive whole school Reflection Space.