✨ Collective Worship at All Saints’ Church of England Primary School
“Discovering God, Learning Together, Achieving Our Best”
At All Saints’, Collective Worship is the heartbeat of our school—a joyful, inclusive, and spiritually rich time where our whole community gathers daily to reflect, pray, question, and grow together.
Rooted in our theologically rooted Christian vision and inspired by Psalm 32:8 —
“The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life’” —
our worship helps pupils and staff to flourish spiritually, emotionally, and morally.
🙏 What Collective Worship Means to Us
In line with the Church of England’s guidance our worship is:
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Inclusive: Welcoming all, regardless of faith or background. Everyone is invited to participate or reflect respectfully. We ensure that content is relevant to the children, their interests and current events. We plan for worship to be delivered by people from within and beyond the school community especially from Churches Together Marple. It is important that our approach to collective worship encourages our pupils to think, ask questions, consider, contribute and critically reflect. Our collective worship provides 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.
Invitational: Collective Worship at All Saints' has always provided plenty of child-led opportunities including pupil-led collective worship, pupil-led prayer, reflection and opportunities for pupil contributions- e.g. WOWs, OWs, NOWs. No pressure is directed towards anyone —children and adults are free to engage in their own way, with choice and dignity (Invited to put hands together and eyed closed or think about something/ one special and important to them at prayer time and the same for songs of worship to join in what they feel comfortable singing and saying).
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Inspirational: Creating awe and wonder, and encouraging all to live out our school values: Curiosity, Kindness, Respect, Courageous Determination, and Joyfulness. Worship is informed by our vision and values; it empowers and encourages children to have the freedom to respond beyond the collective worship session (some responses are captured in the class Floor books). Our programme of collective worship aims to motivate pupils and adults into action, into thinking differently, and into reflecting on their and the wider community’s behaviour and actions.
🕯️ What Happens in Worship
Our acts of worship:
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Take place daily—whole school, in key stages, or in classrooms
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Follow themes based on our values, Christian festivals, world events, and global issues
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Involve music, bible stories, prayer, stillness, drama, and reflection
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Are co-created with pupils through our Ethos Leaders and Flourish Intergenerational Worship Project (on a Tuesday or in Monthly Flourish Leaders Meetings)
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Are planned and delivered by the Senior Leadership Team, Ethos pupils, local clergy, our Children & Families Worker Mrs. Holton and visiting speakers/ clergy especially from Churches Together Marple in our local community
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Start with the lighting of 3 candles linked to The Trinity - God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit to set the scene for a peaceful worship time and end with the blowing out of the 3 candles on our bespoke All Saints' Crucifix with our school Christian Values displayed on.
👧👦 Pupil Leadership in Worship
Worship at All Saints’ is for children and with children. Our Ethos Group (Y3–Y6) regularly plans, leads, and evaluates worship. Pupils:
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Lead prayers and introduce worship often based around Picture News and what is taking place around the world
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Share Bible stories and reflections
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Choose songs, prepare visuals, and lead drama
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Offer feedback to improve our spiritual life together
🌿 Worship that Enables Flourishing
Through worship, our pupils and staff:
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Grow spiritually through experiences of prayer, reflection, silence, and praise
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Explore the teachings of Jesus and the Bible
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Deepen understanding of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
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Learn about Anglican traditions and Christian practices as well as finding out more about other world religions and festivals that occur throughout the year
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Connect worship to real-world issues such as justice, peace, and community
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Experience a safe, sacred space for wonder, challenge, and hope
🤝 Church and Community Partnership
We enjoy a strong partnership with All Saints’ Church and the Diocese of Chester. Worship is enriched by:
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Weekly visits from clergy and church members
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Our annual Church Week, supported by over 50 volunteers
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Flourish Worship – a Church of England pilot project for intergenerational worship
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Regular worship shared with parents and the wider community particulary held at All Saints' Church for Christian festivals
🌟 More Than a Daily Gathering
At All Saints’, Collective Worship is not just a statutory requirement—it is a sacred opportunity. A time each day to pause, connect with God, grow in wisdom, and be inspired to live well together.
“It is our intention that every act of worship inspires our pupils and staff to flourish as unique individuals made in the image of God, equipped to live with courage, compassion, and joy.”
Prayer at All Saints’ – Connecting Through “Ows, Wows and Nows”
At All Saints’, prayer is a meaningful part of daily life, rooted in our Christian ethos and deeply connected to our theologically rooted school vision: Discovering God, Learning Together and Achieving Our Best.
We use the simple and powerful structure of “Ows, Wows and Nows” to help children develop their spirituality through prayer:
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“Ow” – bringing our worries, regrets, and challenges to God, and reflecting on how we connect with ourselves in times of difficulty.
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“Wow” – offering praise and thanks for the wonder in the world, recognising joy, awe and beauty around us and in each other.
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“Now” – pausing in the present, asking for guidance, support or peace as we face today and look to the future.
Through this approach, prayer becomes a space for self-reflection, connection with others, and relationship with God. It helps children and staff to explore personal values such as compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude, and to grow in moral and spiritual understanding.
Prayer is inclusive and invitational—we respect the diverse beliefs within our school community, and provide space for every child to engage in a way that is meaningful to them.
In collective worship, children are encouraged not just to listen, but to participate, reflect and respond, using the “Ows, Wows and Nows” to shape their personal journey of faith and reflection.
By embedding prayer into our daily routines, we nurture a sense of peace, belonging, hope, and purpose, enabling all children to flourish as they grow in confidence and character, and engage with the world around them.
Welcoming Visitors to All Saints' – Sharing Our Faith and Vision
At All Saints’, we are always honoured to welcome visitors into our school to lead Collective Worship and to experience first-hand what it means to be part of our vibrant Church school community. These visits provide valuable opportunities for our children to grow in faith, explore deep questions, and live out our Christian vision:
Discovering God, Learning Together, Achieving Our Best.
A particular highlight is the annual visit from Bishop Sam, whose time with us is always uplifting, engaging and filled with joy. His worship sessions are rich with meaning, laughter, and spiritual reflection—leaving a lasting impact on pupils and staff alike.
Our Ethos Leaders, along with representatives from each class, relish the opportunity to ask Bishop Sam thoughtful and challenging questions, helping them to delve deeper into his faith journey, the role of a Bishop, and his connection with God. These moments are key in supporting our children to grow spiritually, build confidence in their beliefs, and understand the wider Church family to which we belong.
Bishop Sam also enjoys a tour of the school with our Ethos Team, who are always proud to share the ways they’ve helped shape worship and spiritual life at All Saints’—alongside the occasional slice of cake!
These visits affirm our commitment to being a school where children and adults alike are supported and inspired to live out Christian values such as hospitality, wisdom, and joy, and where faith is not only taught, but lived and celebrated.
Remembrance at All Saints’ – Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future
At All Saints’, Remembrance is a deeply significant part of our school life—a time where we come together as a community to reflect, honour and give thanks for those who have shown immense courage and sacrifice, both past and present.
Each year, as part of their History learning, Year 6 pupils study the World Wars under the passionate leadership of Mr McShane, our Year 6 teacher and Assistant Headteacher. This topic is consistently one that deeply engages children and families alike, opening powerful conversations and connecting learning to real-world experiences and values.
In line with our theologically rooted Christian vision—Discovering God, Learning Together, Achieving Our Best—our Remembrance commemorations are rooted in the values of respect, courage, peace and compassion. These are reflected in the way our children approach this solemn occasion, showing maturity, empathy, and a genuine understanding of the significance of remembrance.
Each November, we actively participate in a range of local community events, ensuring that our pupils are part of something greater than themselves. This includes:
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Hosting our own school Remembrance Service, a reflective and poignant moment where silence is held and stories are shared.
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Inviting veterans into school to speak with the children, offering living history and personal perspectives that leave lasting impressions.
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Taking part in community competitions—including notable successes in Stockport-wide Remembrance projects.
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Representing All Saints’ with dignity and pride as our Head Girl and Head Boy lay a wreath at the Marple Cenotaph on behalf of the whole school.
These acts of remembrance are more than symbolic—they are a spiritual journey of connection, helping our children to understand the cost of conflict and the importance of striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation in today’s world.
By commemorating Remembrance Day in this way, we honour the legacy of those who served and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten. It is through these acts of remembrance that we instil in the next generation a deep sense of gratitude and respect for the men and women—past and present—who have served our country with courage and grace. Their service has paved the way for the peace and freedoms we enjoy today, and we remain forever thankful.
Collective Worship with Local Church Leaders
At All Saints’, we are proud to have strong and growing partnerships with a range of local churches through Churches Together Marple, including Methodist, United Reformed, Catholic and Anglican communities.
Each Monday, as part of our commitment to rich and varied worship, clergy and church leaders from these churches are invited by the school to lead our Collective Worship. This enables our children to encounter diverse expressions of Christian faith and experience worship in different styles and voices. These weekly visits are a valued part of school life, bringing inspiration and depth to our worship.
We are grateful for the time, wisdom and generosity of these leaders, who share key messages from the Bible and support our children in 'Discovering God'—a central part of our theologically rooted Christian vision:
Discovering God, Learning Together, Achieving Our Best.
Through these encounters, children gain a broader understanding of Christian beliefs and traditions, and are encouraged to reflect on how God is at work in the world and in their own lives.
In addition, we have held assemblies on Humanism and Sentientism to help children develop respect, curiosity, and understanding of a wide range of beliefs—including both religious and non-religious worldviews. This supports our commitment to nurturing open-minded, informed, and compassionate individuals within a Christian ethos.
Monitoring Collective Worship
Each term, members of our Ethos Committee—part of the Governing Body—observe Collective Worship across different days and formats to gain a full picture of how worship is experienced by our school community. These visits are an important part of our ongoing self-evaluation and ensure that worship remains invitational, inclusive, inspiring, and rooted in Christian values.
Following each observation, governors write a short report highlighting strengths and suggesting thoughtful refinements. Feedback has consistently been highly positive, praising the quality, relevance, and spiritual impact of worship, while also offering occasional ideas for further enrichment.
This process supports our commitment to continuous improvement and helps ensure that Collective Worship continues to be a meaningful and valued part of daily life at All Saints’.
