Collective Worship at the Heart of Our School
Collective Worship lies at the heart of St Michael’s and is a living expression of our Christian vision: "Believe and Achieve to be the best that we can be!" Inspired by the words of Jesus, "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26), worship encourages pupils and adults to recognise their God-given potential, grow in faith and character, and flourish within a caring Christian community. Through worship, we explore our Christian values of Hope, Koinonia, Compassion, Thankfulness, Forgiveness, Peace, Justice, Endurance, Humility and Trust, helping every member of our school family understand their worth and purpose as children of God.
Our Worship
We all gather together every day for worship, creating opportunities for prayer, reflection, storytelling, music and celebration.
Gather: Each act of worship begins with our shared greeting, "I am here, you are here, we are here together," reminding us of the importance of belonging and community. Meaningful symbols, including our value-coloured cross, Bible and cathedral-blessed candle, help create a special atmosphere and prepare us for worship.
Explore: Through Bible stories, Christian teachings, current events and our Christian values, pupils are encouraged to explore important ideas about faith, character and community. Worship helps children make connections between Christian teaching and the world around them.
Respond: Children are given opportunities to reflect on the theme through prayer, discussion and moments of stillness. This allows them to consider how the message might influence their own choices, actions and relationships.
Send: Worship concludes with a prayer, blessing or challenge, encouraging pupils to live out our Christian values throughout the day and make a positive difference in the lives of others.
This structure keeps the language consistent with the rest of your website while clearly explaining what Collective Worship looks like at St Michael's.
Pupil Leadership
Pupils play an active role in Collective Worship at St Michael’s. Each class leads a worship on a weekly rota, giving children opportunities to plan, prepare and share messages with the wider school community. Pupils from every class are invited to carry the Bible and light the cathedral-blessed candle, helping to create a sense of reverence and responsibility. Our Year 6 pupils also lead the daily call and response at the end of worship, modelling confidence and leadership for younger children. Children are encouraged to reflect on and celebrate one another’s worship, helping them to develop confidence, creativity and leadership skills, while deepening their understanding of worship and their role within our school community.
Community
Collective Worship brings our whole school community together and strengthens our sense of belonging. Worship takes place in a variety of settings, including the school hall, classrooms, outdoor spaces and St Michael’s Church, helping children understand that worship can be part of everyday life. Parents and carers are warmly welcomed to join us for our weekly Celebration Worship on Fridays and for other special services throughout the year.
Our close partnership with Reverend Vaughan and St Michael’s Church enriches worship and strengthens the connection between school, church and community. We actively participate in church festivals and events, giving pupils opportunities to contribute to and serve the wider community. Members of the congregation also join us for school events, including our annual pilgrimage, helping to strengthen the bonds between generations and celebrate our shared faith. Through these shared experiences, children develop a deeper understanding of fellowship, service and what it means to live out our Christian values together.