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Collective Worship
“You are the light of the world. Let your light shine.”
Matthew 5:14–16
Collective worship at West Ashton
Collective worship is at the heart of life at West Ashton Church of England Primary School. It is a special time when we come together as a school or class community to reflect, celebrate, ask questions and consider the things that matter to us and to the world around us.
Rooted in the Christian faith, our worship gives children and adults opportunities to encounter the life and teachings of Jesus, explore Bible stories and Christian traditions, and reflect on how our vision and values can shape the way we live.
Our vision encourages us to recognise the light in ourselves and others. In worship, we explore how we can let our own lights shine and help others to shine too. Everyone is welcome, whatever their faith, beliefs or background.
Our SHINE values
Our five values—Serve, Hope, Include, Navigate and Endeavour—are woven through collective worship. Through stories, reflection and examples from everyday life, we explore what these values mean and how we can put them into practice:
- Serve: showing kindness and using our gifts to help others.
- Hope: believing in possibilities and encouraging one another.
- Include: recognising that everyone is valued and belongs.
- Navigate: making thoughtful choices and finding a way through challenges.
- Endeavour: approaching difficulties with courage and continuing to learn and grow.
We revisit these values throughout the year, connecting them with Christian teaching, our experiences and events in the wider world.
What happens in collective worship?
Collective worship takes place every day, bringing children and adults together as a whole school or in classes. Worship provides a calm space within the school day to pause, listen, reflect and connect.
Our worship may include Bible readings and stories, music and singing, prayer, moments of silence, questions to discuss and examples of people whose actions make a difference. Children are invited to consider what they have heard and how it might relate to their own lives and the lives of others.
For example, when exploring Endeavour, children might hear a story about someone facing a challenge, reflect on the things they find difficult and consider how encouragement, support and perseverance can help. They may be invited to share a thought, sit quietly or join in a prayer.
Worship also provides opportunities to celebrate achievements and recognise the ways children and adults live out our vision and values. Children have opportunities to contribute to, lead and reflect on worship as they develop confidence and understanding.
Every Friday, we invite families and friends into our school to celebrate the achievements of the children.
Inclusive, invitational and inspiring
Inclusive
Our worship is for everyone in our school community. We recognise and respect that children and adults come from different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds. We aim to make worship accessible and meaningful, without assuming that everyone shares the same beliefs.
Invitational
Everyone is invited to engage in a way that is meaningful to them. Children may choose to join in with prayer or singing, or use the time for quiet reflection. No one is required to express a belief that they do not hold.
Inspiring
We want worship to encourage curiosity, hope and thoughtful action. By exploring Christian teachings, the example of others and questions about life, we invite children to reflect on who they are, how they treat others and how they can make a positive difference.
Spirituality and reflection
At West Ashton, we describe spirituality as taking time to notice, feel, wonder and connect. Collective worship offers opportunities to do this through reflection on:
- Ourselves: our thoughts, feelings, hopes and experiences.
- Others: our relationships and the ways we care for one another.
- The world: beauty, nature, our community and the wider world.
- Beyond: God, faith and life’s big questions, with space for different beliefs and perspectives.
Our aims
Through collective worship, we aim to give children opportunities to:
- explore our Christian vision and SHINE values and consider what they mean in daily life;
- encounter the life and teachings of Jesus and learn about Christian beliefs and traditions;
- reflect on their own beliefs, experiences and questions in a respectful environment;
- develop spiritually, morally, socially and personally;
- find inspiration in the actions of others and consider how they can serve their communities;
- celebrate achievements, belonging and the contributions of others; and
- contribute to, lead and reflect on worship.
Collective worship helps us grow together as a community where everyone can
BELONG, FLOURISH, SHINE
