Collective Worship

‘Working, learning and caring together in God’s love’

Our mission is to create a healthy, happy, engaging and safe learning environment, which promotes high achievement and mutual respect within a Christian ethos.

In order to achieve this:

  • We value the diversity of our school community and celebrate the unique nature of individuals.
  • Leaders are committed to excellence in Catholic Education which encourages and enables all to grow and thrive academically, spiritually, socially and creatively.
  • Prayer, whether it be traditional, reflective or spontaneous is central to school life.
  • As Christians we recognise our duty to look after God’s worldand to develop a true sense of social justice.
  • Service leadership and loving charity where the needs of others come first are at the heart of all that we do.

“Love is always at the service of others. Because love is seen in actions, not words.” Pope Francis

At St Anthony’s we aim:

  • Through WORK, to develop all to l their full potential as part of the community and as a unique person made in the image and likeness of God.
  • Through WORSHIP, to learn to know and love God and to recognise and respond to the person of Christ in others.
  • Through WITNESS, to celebrate Gospel messages of justice and peace

Introduction

We believe that Christian worship in a Catholic school is concerned with giving glory, honour, praise and thanks to God. It is our loving response, in word and action to God’s invitation to enter intorelationship, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit.

At St Anthony’s there is a daily act of worship for all pupils. The act of worship is not designated curriculum time and will not be subsumed under any part of the curriculum, including religious education.

The Place of Collective Worship in the Life of Our School: We endorse the belief that Collective Worship takes into account the religious and educational needs of all who share in it:

  • Those who form part of the worshipping community in church
  • Those for whom school may be their first and only experience of church
  • Those from other Christian traditions, or none
  • Those from other faith backgrounds
  • It will be an educational activity or experience to which all can contribute and from which all can gain

We will continue to foster and deepen the children’s personal relationship with God our Father daily in prayer. We do this by helping them become aware of God’s Presence in their lives and of His love for them by leading them to respond to Him in a manner suited to their age. This may be in one of the following ways: 

  • Prayer of silence
  • Spontaneous prayer
  • Praying through gesture or action
  • Formal prayer

The Aims of Collective Worship: We believe that Collective Worship in our school aims to provide opportunity for all pupils and staff:

  • To contemplate something of the mystery of God

  • To reflect on spiritual and moral issues

  • To explore their own beliefs

  • To respond to and celebrate life

  • To experience a sense of belonging and develop community spirit

  • To develop a common ethos and shared values

  • To enrich religious experience

  • To grow in liturgical understanding and development

  • To reinforce prayers that are part of the Catholic tradition

  • To reinforce positive attitudes

  • To participate fully

  • To make time to ‘wonder at’, ‘to come to terms with’ and ‘to give worth to’

The Wednesday Word publication is now issued as an online resource and shared with parents each week on Class Dojo.

Principles: 
All acts of Worship in this school will: 

  • Give glory and honour to God 

  • Be a quality activity fundamental to the life of the school and its Catholic Character 

  • Give children positive liturgical experiences appropriate to their age, aptitude and family 
backgrounds in order to prepare them for the liturgical life of the Church.
In order to achieve the above, Collective Worship is organised as follows:
  • Monday – Whole School Liturgy
  • Tuesday – Singing Assembly

  • Wednesday – Class based Collective Worship or Child led worship
  • Thursday – Whole School assembly based on liturgical year and school themes. 
  • Friday – Whole School Celebration Assembly 

Planning: 
 Collective Worship in this school is planned following a structure with reference to the Church’s seasons, The Way, the Truth and the Life, significant dates and the RE Curriculum Directory. 

  • Scripture will be the focus for most acts of worship 

  • It will relate to the school community in the light of the school’s aims and Mission 

  • There will be flexibility to respond to changing situations within the school and the wider 
community 

  • We will aim to teach children the skills to enable them to prepare, organise and lead worship 

Monitoring and Evaluation: Throughout the year, as part of the school’s monitoring calendar, the school’s provision of worship will be evaluated to consider whether it meets the needs of pupils and whether it truly reflects the aims and mission of the school. 



Eucharistic celebrations form a very important part in our Collective Worship strategy. The celebrations will take the following forms:
  • Whole school masses 

  • Class Masses and Liturgies 

  • Key Stage Liturgies 

  • The whole school will also take part in the Mass on Holy Days of obligation if they occur in 
school time.