Collective Worship Project -Discussion document

Context:

Website trawl has revealed that there is little information about collective worship available. This may indicate a lack of collective worship happening in schools.

Group A & B members are willing to produce some short films appropriate for collective worship or visit schools for collective worship when possible.

Proposal:

1. Run an online session for community group leaders to cover:

Ø the legal requirements for collective worship (i.e. what is really meant be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character and which schools that actually applies to)

Ø appropriate content

Ø methodology

Ø visit protocols

2. Run an online session to bring together those who attended session 1 with teachers responsible for collective worship . This would be an opportunity for community groups to share any videos/resources they have created, to establish relationships, for schools to share ideas about what they want, as well as reiterating any points from session 1 that teachers may need to hear.

3. Establish an annual network to bring faith groups and teachers together to share collective worship resources and ideas, and possible ultimately RE ideas too.

Implications:

This project would require some funding to cover the preparation and delivery of the additional sessions – if the adviser is used this cost would be half a day for each twilight (on the current contract £200 per session)  

It will require commitment from a range of community groups and schools to make it worthwhile.

The support of the LA officer and/or other members of SACRE would be invaluable.

Provision of Zoom or Teams to facilitate delivery.

Impact:

                Better relationships between schools and community groups
                Better understanding or and higher profile for good quality collective worship
                Better experiences for pupils and greater understanding of a range of faiths and worldviews