Collective Worship

Our school is designated a Voluntary Controlled School.

Worship is an important part of the school day as it gives us the opportunity to come together as a school family to think more deeply about who we are, how we relate to others, our responsibility to the environment and wider world and consider life beyond. As we consider the questions and values linked to our four school values of: Belong, Encourage, Endure and Serve, this is linked to biblical narratives and bible verses to build our understanding of God. 

We understand worship as a time of reflection, revelation, challenge and celebration which is led by staff, children and members of the local clergy (Churches together in Westbury Schools team). The structure of our worship invites everyone to participate. 

Aims of Collective Worship

Our aim at Dilton Marsh C of E Primary School is that worship should:

• reflect our Mission statement and values of the school;
• instil a sense of awe and wonder in the children;
• provide an opportunity for the children to worship God;
• be inclusive and an occasion where each individual’s integrity is respected;
• will have a strong focus on God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit enabling all learners to embark on an understanding of the Trinity;
• offer opportunities for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development;
• reflect some of the practices and traditions of the local church;
• be regularly monitored and evaluated;
• underpin the Christian values and ethos of the school;
• celebrate the values and worth of the school community;
• help children explore and develop their own spirituality;
• enable children to explore and evaluate their own beliefs;
• celebrate special occasions in the Churches year and the life of the community;
• show appreciation for the God given gifts and talents of the school community;
• celebrate and give thanks for achievements within the school, local and international community and occasions of significance, including festivals.

We conduct our Collective Worship times in a dignified and respectful way. We tell children that collective worship time is a period of calm reflection. We regard it as a special time and expect children to behave in an appropriate manner. We ask them to be quiet and thoughtful and to listen carefully to the teachings and participate fully in prayer and hymns. We create an appropriate atmosphere by using music and candles or sometimes other objects that act as a focal point for the attention of the children. Our worship usually take place within the school hall, however a number of services a year are held in the church itself and then a larger congregation of parents can join in the worship. We also have the grounds to hold worship outside.

We hold a daily act of collective worship in our school. We meet as a whole school every day unless it is a class worship.

Our weekly worship routine is as follows:

• Monday – Whole School Worship
• Tuesday – Whole School Worship/Clerlgy Worship
• Wednesday – Singing Worship
• Thursday – Class Worship
• Friday – Celebration Worship