At Northbourne Church of England Primary School, our daily Christian act of worship is central to our vision and is supported by all staff and Governors. It makes an important contribution to the overall spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the whole school community. Each adult and pupil will experience worship that is truly welcoming, invitational and inclusive.

Collective worship therefore will be:

• Inclusive – Our acts of worship recognise that pupils and staff come from homes of different faith backgrounds, as well as no faith backgrounds, so it will be inclusive of, and fully accessible to all. Care will be taken to ensure that language used by those facilitating worship avoids assuming faith of those participating, listening or watching.
• Invitational – In our acts of worship, there is no compulsion to ‘do anything’. Rather, worship will provide the opportunity to engage whilst allowing the freedom of those of different faiths, and those who profess no religious faith, to be present and to engage with integrity. Pupils and adults will only be invited to pray if they wish to do so.
• Inspiring – By asking and discussing big questions about who we are and what we do in worship we hope to motivate pupils and adults into action. There will be opportunities to think, reflect and ponder on their, and the wider community’s, behaviour and actions.

All children take part in a daily act of Anglican worship.  Collective Worship is planned across the year and follows the ecclesiastical calendar.  Worship is uniquely Christian and Anglican in format, based around the principles of: Gathering, Engaging, Responding and Sending. We expect our children to apply their knowledge of our Christian and School Values each day and treat each other respectfully and compassionately.

Collective Worship planning is supported by the Diocese of Canterbury Fresh Approach.