Collective worship is an important part of life at St Michael’s. Each week, our whole school comes together to pause, reflect and explore the Christian faith through Bible stories, prayer, music, discussion and moments of quiet reflection. Our worship programme on a Tuesday follows a three-term journey across the school year:
Autumn – Building Our Community
We explore what it means to belong, to care for one another and to build a community rooted in respect, kindness, curiosity and faith.
Spring – Following Jesus
We journey through stories from the Bible and learn from the life and teachings of Jesus, exploring themes such as love, forgiveness, courage, service, hope and new life.
Summer – Living the Good News
We consider how we can put our faith into action, showing kindness, serving others, caring for God's world and making a positive difference wherever we go.
Our worships are rooted in the Christian story and the teachings of Jesus, while providing opportunities for children of all faiths and none to reflect on important questions about themselves, other people, the world and God.
A key part of our approach to spirituality is our simple framework of Looking In, Looking Out and Looking Up.
- Looking In – thinking about ourselves, our feelings, choices and experiences.
- Looking Out – considering other people, our community and the wider world.
- Looking Up – wondering about God, faith and the bigger questions of life.
We want children to leave worship with something to think about, something to talk about and something they can put into practice.
Shahne Vickery has been joined by international storyteller Bob Hartman as well as poets, artists, photographers and a team of educational professionals to produce this inspirational collective worship resource. 12 Christian values are explored in a 2 year programme of fully worked, creative material.
Clearly rooting all learning in the Bible and the Church year, Roots and Fruits is designed to support SIAMS requirements and meets the criteria set out in the Evaluation Schedule.
Each assembly follows the pattern established in earlier Imaginor publications and includes the four elements of Welcome, Learning, Reflecting and Responding – which match the Windows, Mirrors, Doors strategy that has proved so popular with teachers.
The worship is enriched by the use of:
- 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
- Fruits from the Roots – ideas to develop the theme of the worship through the week
Our worship journey continues beyond the hall. On Thursdays, each class takes part in a short follow-up activity linked to the week's collective worship. This might take place in the classroom or our spirituality area outside.Â
These activities give children the opportunity to explore the week's theme in greater depth, discuss their ideas, ask questions and consider how they might put the message into practice in their own lives.
This might involve a discussion, creative activity, reflection, prayer, Bible exploration or a practical challenge. Activities are adapted appropriately for different ages, from EYFS through to Year 6.
Through this weekly rhythm of worship, reflection and response, we hope to help children grow spiritually and develop the confidence to live out our school values of respect, kindness, curiosity and faith in their everyday lives.
Our favourite school songsÂ