Collective Worship & Spirituality

Collective Worship

Collective Worship is central to our identity as a Church school. It is invitational, inclusive and inspiring, providing every child with the opportunity to engage at their own level and experience a sense of awe, reflection and community.

Our worship:

• Reflects our Christian vision and values
• Is based on biblical teaching
• Encourages pupil leadership
• Provides space for reflection, prayer and spiritual growth
• Connects faith to everyday life
• Encourages children to share and celebrate achievements 

Worship is led by senior leaders, teachers, clergy, visitors and our pupil faith group.

Children say:

“It helps me think about how to be a better person.”

“Worship gives me time to be calm and reflect.”

“I like learning how Bible stories link to our lives.”

“It makes our school feel united.”

Collective Worship strengthens children’s spiritual development, moral understanding and sense of belonging, and helps them to live out our values in everyday life.

Our Collective Worship Policy outlines:

• Our theological foundation
• The structure and planning of worship
• Opportunities for pupil participation
• Inclusion and parental rights of withdrawal
• Monitoring and evaluation procedures

The full policy is available to download here.

Spirituality at St Michael's

What Do We Mean by Spirituality?

At St Michael’s, we understand spirituality as relationship and connections. We teach spirituality as the development of meaningful and life-giving relationships:

With ourselves – recognising our identity as unique children of God and reflecting on our purpose and emotions

With others – building empathy, forgiveness, compassion and respect

With nature – experiencing awe and wonder and acting as responsible stewards of creation

With the Divine – exploring prayer, faith, belief, doubt and a growing awareness of God

Our vision to SHINE is deeply connected to spirituality. When children understand themselves, care for others, value the world around them and explore a relationship with God, they are equipped to shine brightly in their own unique way.

Spirituality is not confined to Religious Education or Collective Worship. It is intentionally woven throughout:

• Curriculum learning
• Collective Worship
• Outdoor education
• Creative arts
• Reflection opportunities
• Everyday relationships

What Spirituality Looks Like in Our School:

• Planned opportunities for stillness, prayer and reflection
• Safe spaces to explore big questions about meaning and purpose
• Reflection areas in classrooms
• Experiences of awe and wonder in nature, art, music and science
• Opportunities for reconciliation and restoration
• Adults modelling integrity, compassion and courage

Through this relational approach, we nurture children who are self-aware, outward-looking, environmentally responsible and open to growing in their relationship with God.