Management Information Sheet
Collective Worship in Maintained Schools
We have been asked by the Standing Advisory Council on RE (SACRE) to clarify the nature of worship with a 'broadly Christian character'.
Collective worship takes place within the context of a pupil's education. The background, age, ability and needs of the children will be taken into account, and the following statements should be read in the light of each school's context.
According to the Education Reform Act (1988) collective worship of a 'broadly Christian character' is determined as 'reflecting the broad traditions of Christian belief without being distinctive of any particular Christian denomination'. In other words, school worship will not be like church worship of one kind or another. Collective worship will reflect beliefs shared by all Christians of all denominations.
There are many beliefs Christians hold in common, such as following the example of Jesus' work of love and compassion. In addition, there are many broadly Christian traditions that may be shared by those of other religious belief systems and those who hold a secular world view. For example, all major religions share the belief that the material world is not all and that there is a way to live that gives life meaning and purpose. Many religions share the idea of stewardship of the world, and the idea of good overcoming evil; these are 'broadly Christian' themes.
The values of love, peace, forgiveness, justice and truth are held by many people, including those with no faith stance, as being important. These expressions of beliefs and values may be celebrated and explored in collective worship and can be said to reflect the broad traditions of Christian belief even if specific Christian material is not used.
Schools can choose to make their collective worship 'wholly or mainly' of a broadly Christian character. This will often take into account the circumstances and setting of the individual school and the background of the pupils. Every act of collective worship need not be 'wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character', this phrase applies to a whole term where the majority of the acts of worship must reflect the broad traditions of Christian belief. This means that a significant minority of the acts of worship need not be broadly Christian.
Some examples:
Collective worship could be wholly of a broadly Christian character. This worship will still reflect the fact that there are many different Christian traditions.
Collective worship could be 'mainly' of a broadly Christian character. The majority of acts of collective worship (at least 50% plus 1) will use Christian material and examples, but will also use material from other religious traditions and life stances.
Collective worship could be mainly 'of a broadly Christian character'. The acts of worship on three days a week may be broadly Christian, on the other two days the acts of worship will explore beliefs, traditions and festivals from other faith traditions and secular world views.
By using the above principles, SACRE believes that schools can provide collective worship of a broadly Christian character even where a large majority of children have no faith, or where a significant minority follow a faith other than Christianity. With careful planning the 'Values for Life' material, which has been highlighted in recent collective worship training, would enable a school to provide wholly or mainly broadly Christian worship.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this information or wish to discuss it further. Please contact in the first instance Kathryn Wright (Adviser to Norfolk SACRE) by emailing Carol Burgess.
Collective worship takes place within the context of a pupil's education. The background, age, ability and needs of the children will be taken into account, and the following statements should be read in the light of each school's context.
According to the Education Reform Act (1988) collective worship of a 'broadly Christian character' is determined as 'reflecting the broad traditions of Christian belief without being distinctive of any particular Christian denomination'. In other words, school worship will not be like church worship of one kind or another. Collective worship will reflect beliefs shared by all Christians of all denominations.
There are many beliefs Christians hold in common, such as following the example of Jesus' work of love and compassion. In addition, there are many broadly Christian traditions that may be shared by those of other religious belief systems and those who hold a secular world view. For example, all major religions share the belief that the material world is not all and that there is a way to live that gives life meaning and purpose. Many religions share the idea of stewardship of the world, and the idea of good overcoming evil; these are 'broadly Christian' themes.
The values of love, peace, forgiveness, justice and truth are held by many people, including those with no faith stance, as being important. These expressions of beliefs and values may be celebrated and explored in collective worship and can be said to reflect the broad traditions of Christian belief even if specific Christian material is not used.
Schools can choose to make their collective worship 'wholly or mainly' of a broadly Christian character. This will often take into account the circumstances and setting of the individual school and the background of the pupils. Every act of collective worship need not be 'wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character', this phrase applies to a whole term where the majority of the acts of worship must reflect the broad traditions of Christian belief. This means that a significant minority of the acts of worship need not be broadly Christian.
Some examples:
Collective worship could be wholly of a broadly Christian character. This worship will still reflect the fact that there are many different Christian traditions.
Collective worship could be 'mainly' of a broadly Christian character. The majority of acts of collective worship (at least 50% plus 1) will use Christian material and examples, but will also use material from other religious traditions and life stances.
Collective worship could be mainly 'of a broadly Christian character'. The acts of worship on three days a week may be broadly Christian, on the other two days the acts of worship will explore beliefs, traditions and festivals from other faith traditions and secular world views.
By using the above principles, SACRE believes that schools can provide collective worship of a broadly Christian character even where a large majority of children have no faith, or where a significant minority follow a faith other than Christianity. With careful planning the 'Values for Life' material, which has been highlighted in recent collective worship training, would enable a school to provide wholly or mainly broadly Christian worship.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this information or wish to discuss it further. Please contact in the first instance Kathryn Wright (Adviser to Norfolk SACRE) by emailing Carol Burgess.