Upham CE(A) Primary school is committed to offering high quality collective worship. This is an important time where the whole school community comes together and is a key component in how we enable all children and staff to flourish and to ‘live life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10). Collective worship is part of the heartbeat of the school and enables us to have conversations about God and belief and encounter faith. Our trust deeds from 1847 describe the purpose of the school ‘for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church’. Though the definition of ‘poor’ does not mean the same as it did in 1847, the principle remains the same, to encourage all children, regardless of context, to be included within our Christian hospitality of the Anglican church, wherever they may be on the journey of faith and belief. Our school vision is based on steering this journey with our Christian values of ‘Love’ and ‘Care’ at it’s heart. This vision is informed by the prime commandment:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it. Love your neighbour as yourself’.                                                                                                                                               (Matthew 22: 37-39)

In line with the 1988 Education Reform Act, which states that Collective Worship should be ‘wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character’, we base our Collective Worship on the teachings of Christ and the traditions of the Anglican Christian Church. However, we conduct our Collective Worship in a manner that is sensitive to the faiths and beliefs of all members of the school and the ages, aptitude and family backgrounds of the children.

To find out more about our Approach to Collective Worship, please read our Policy:

Inclusive: Families, children and staff at Upham CE Primary School come from a variety of different faith backgrounds as well as no faith backgrounds and many pupils will be at different stages of their spiritual journey during their time through school. Collective worship is always inclusive of everyone’s context and prior experiences and children are given time to reflect, ask questions, consider what they think (which may be to agree or disagree) and develop their own opinions.

Invitational: Children, families and staff can expect to encounter worship which is invitational in that there is no compulsion to do something or think a certain way.

Inspiring: Collective worship is about asking questions, many of which cannot be easily answered. Through reflection about themselves and others, worship should encourage children to want to change and develop themselves positively. They may be inspired to find out more, act in a different way, try to influence someone or something about the world or want to speak to someone.

Collective worships are lead by the headteacher, by teachers and also includes visits from clergy and family workers from our local church. Children are involved in worship and also regularly lead aspects.

At key celebration times during the year; Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Year 6 Leavers, a collective worship will take place at the Blessed Mary Church, Upham. Families are invited to attend, though are not required to do so. The event is an act of collective worship and will therefore contain elements such as: traditional/ formal and newer liturgy, songs of worship (balance of classical and modern hymns and songs), sharing of prayers including The Lord’s Prayer (traditional and modern versions), sharing of bible teachings with application to wider life and wherever possible and a blessing from an available member of clergy.

Right of Withdrawal

All children are entitled  to attend Collective Worship. However, a parent can request permission for their child to be excused from religious worship, and the school will make alternative arrangements for the supervision of the child during that part of the worship. Parents do not have to explain or give reasons for their request. This right of withdrawal complies with the 1944 Education Act, and was restated in the 1988 Education Reform Act.

The headteacher keeps a record of all children who have been withdrawn from Collective Worship.