Collective Worship
We hold daily acts of Collective Worship at Saxilby Church of England Primary. It is an important part of our school day; a time for the school community to gather together, to share common values and to strengthen our sense of hope, dignity, wisdom and community. These four pillars underpin all aspects of Collective Worship and school life.
Our Collective Worship reflects the traditions found in the Church of England and recognises and follows the Christian liturgical year.
In church schools, Collective Worship is planned to be Inclusive, Inspirational and Invitational.
Inclusive
A time where all children and adults, of all faiths and of none, can feel welcomed and be present with integrity to participate actively or reflectively.
Inspirational
A time of the day when the school community can reflect on our lives and those who inspire us; a time to support spiritual development, an opportunity to reflect individually and together and to consider our actions, thoughts and feelings that might inspire us to be courageous advocates and agents of positive change in the world around us.
Invitational
Anyone in our Collective Worship, children and adults alike, are invited to reflect, pray or think, and it is each individual’s choice how they respond.
In Saxilby Church of England Primary, we follow the same pattern of worship throughout the school, whether we are gathered together as a whole school, worshipping in phases, in individual classes or at St Botolph’s Church. This consistent structure helps to create a calm, reflective and familiar experience for all members of our school community
Welcome
We welcome the school community to our worship with music, through singing, liturgy and lighting three candles to welcome God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit into our school, reflecting the Trinitarian nature of our worship.
Learning
We share parables, stories that are carefully chosen to engage pupils and adults with the Christian message. We give children the opportunity to discover different stories, enabling them to encounter challenging questions about the world and inspiring spiritual curiosity.
Reflect
Pupils and adults are invited to discuss, reflect, pray or sing, helping them to share their thoughts and ideas freely.
Respond
We revisit the message of the worship and ask pupils and staff to consider how it will affect their day, learning and behaviour, so that they can become agents of positive change in the wider world.
We close our worship with a final prayer and a message to carry forward into the day ahead.
Monday – Led by Mr Jackson:
Mr Jackson introduces the main theme for the week, using carefully chosen texts to underpin key messages. This act of worship focuses on important Bible stories that help us explore and strengthen our Christian virtues.
Tuesday – Led by the Staffing Team:
The staffing team leads worship that builds on Monday’s collective worship, continuing to explore the weekly theme through stories, reflections, and activities. This time helps pupils connect the message to their own lives, consider different viewpoints, and deepen their understanding of our Christian values.
Wednesday – Led by the Collective Worship Council:
These sessions take place in the classroom, creating a more personal and reflective environment. This setting allows for rich spiritual opportunities, greater pupil contributions, and valuable time for children to apply their learning and reflections from earlier in the week.
Thursday – Led by our Collective Worship Lead, Mrs Hicks:
During this worship, Bible stories are explored in greater depth, helping children uncover their meaning and relevance. Pupils are encouraged to “put these stories in their pocket,” carrying them as sources of guidance, comfort, and wisdom that they can draw upon throughout their lives.
Friday – Celebration Worship:
This is a special time where the whole school comes together to celebrate achievements from both inside and outside of school. Children share how others have strengthened the school community or shown personal growth, recognising acts of kindness, effort, resilience, and success. It is a joyful way to end the week and honour the positive contributions of our pupils.
For our planning, we use Roots and Fruits as a key resource, and for up-to-date cultural and global affairs we draw on Picture News to enrich our themes. As reading to learn is central to our school vision, we also incorporate high-quality texts throughout our planning to support key messages and deepen understanding. We love welcoming visitors to deliver Collective Worship, and we value our termly sessions with Reverand Jane, Jonathan Wainwright and Andy from the Joy Foundation. Their contributions bring richness, warmth, and diversity to our worship and strengthen our whole school community.
Prayer Week
Reverand Jane came into school to deliver a very calming collective worship about different ways in which we can pray. She asked us all to close our eyes and imagine a place where we feel safe, peaceful and happy. The hall became so quiet as everyone was transported to their own special place.
We created our prayer tree to go in one our reflection areas. Children created prayers as they listened to calming music. They chose bright colours and patterns to bring joy.
We have learnt that through prayer Christians feel closer to God and feel strengthened bt Him. Prayer can be done in different ways it can be personal and quiet, shared or even through song.
Our wonderful Collective Worship Council led the Year 6's in creating some five finger prayers.
During prayer week, the year 5 children were lucky enough to visit St Botolph's Church. They spoke about miracles and when you might call upon God through prayer.
Collective Worship Out of School
We love providing children with opportunities to take part in Collective Worship beyond the school grounds. We hold celebratory services at St Botolph's Church, where each year group leads worship once a term, strengthening their confidence and connection to our church community. We also visit Lincoln Cathedral for their school carol concert and other special opportunities that enrich pupils’ spiritual experiences. In addition, we visit other houses of worship so children can share and appreciate a diversity of faith experiences. During residentials and school trips, we offer spiritual reflection moments, giving pupils time to pause, think deeply, and connect with the world around them.
We also love when children choose to share their spiritual moments from home, whether it’s a reflection, a special experience, or something that made them feel thankful. These moments help strengthen the connection between school, family, and each child’s personal spiritual journey.
Our School Prayer
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Collective Worship Policy | [pdf 413KB] |
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