Collective Worship at Winterslow

We value the daily opportunity to join together as children and staff to share together in prayer, praise and reflection. Whilst it is a statutory duty for schools to provide a daily act of worship, we do not do so merely because we have to. These times are led by staff, children and at times by visitors from local churches and attended by children and adults.

We continue to learn from the ‘Open the Book’ team of parishioners who tell Bible Stories through drama, which the children greatly enjoy and benefit from.

The week follows a pattern which includes:

Monday: Whole school vision and values worship with Mrs Malcolm

Tuesday: Whole school worship with Rev Simon Chambers and the 'Open the Book' team

Wednesday: Whole school worship led by class teachers which includes school specific focus and singing

Thursday: World news worship led by Mr Morgan our Senior Teacher

Friday: Thanks and Celebration worship including recognition of those who have 'sparkled' in their learning/behaviour with Mrs Malcolm/Mrs Groth

We want our children to learn and experience what it means to worship. We acknowledge that each one of us, whether child or adult, is travelling our own spiritual journey. We offer the opportunity to find a point of peace and quiet in the day where we can explore ideas, and learn from the examples of Christian teachings and aspects of other faiths and cultures how we can best live our lives.

Our worship is inclusive and delivered so everyone present feels included, whilst respecting the integrity of the different families and backgrounds we serve. The themes we cover supplement RE teaching and include our vision, values and key times and celebrations within the Christian calendar. 

Our Collective Worship Team

Our Collective Worship Team are responsible for the reflection and development of Collective Worship in our school.

The Collective Worship Team meet once a term with Mrs Payne. This year our team will be helping to plan and lead Collective Worship once a term. They will be supporting and leading key Christian celebrations including our Harvest, Christmas and Easter services as well as leading other important times of celebration/reflection such as Remembrance. 

Please see 'Our Voice' display in the School corridor for further information about our team and visit the Pupil Voice section of our website for our latest updates. 

Spirituality at Winterslow

We aim to support each individual and encourage them to flourish. Pupils are encouraged to explore and develop their own values and beliefs (which may or may not be Christian), and to appreciate the richness and diversity of the world. This is coupled with the promotion (and modelling) of high standards of personal behaviour and positive, caring, attitudes – all based on a firm bedrock of Christian values.

Spiritual development cannot always be structured and opportunities may arise spontaneously out of the school day. A range of experiences and curriculum areas provide opportunities for spiritual development (eg. Circle Time, P4C, drama, PSHE, science, history, PE, Forest School, music and RE).

Spirituality is an innate human capacity. It enables us to become aware of God, one another, the world around us and ourselves. At Winterslow, we define spirituality as the act of being fully human by revealing ourselves, our relationships with others, with beauty and the beyond. We provide children with openings for spiritual development through windows, mirrors and doors. This is for the ‘wows’ and ‘ows’ that we experience in the world.

• Self: Spiritual learners become increasingly aware of the concept of self – the inner person and the way that this shapes an individual’s perception of themselves as a unique human being. Spiritual learners reflect on the relationship that they have with their sense of being a unique person.
• Others: Spiritual learners become increasingly aware of the concept of others – a growing empathy, concern and compassion for how to treat others. Spiritual learners reflect on how their values and principles affect their relationships with others.
• World and Beauty Spiritual learners become increasingly aware of the concept of a physical and creative world – a growing relationship with beauty through the ability to respond emotionally to experiences of the wonder of the natural world and the results of human creativity. Spiritual learners explore their understanding of beauty and the affect this has on their perception of and relationship with the world.
• Beyond: Spiritual learners become increasingly aware of the concept of the beyond – a growing relationship with the transcendental and the ability to explore experiences beyond the everyday. Spiritual learners search for meaning in their very existence and their place in the greater scheme of things.