Collective Worship
Context
Under the 1988 Education Act, governors, with the LEA and the Headteacher, share the responsibility for ensuring the provision of RE complies with the law in that all registered students take part in an act of collective worship. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE or collective worship, or both. The right of withdrawal rests with the parents, not the student.
The arrangements for worship are made by the Headteacher, after consultation with the governing body. No teacher can be required to participate in collective worship or teach religious education.
Circular 10/94 restated the regulations concerning collective worship. The responsibility is:-
“………….to ensure pupils take part daily in an appropriate act of collective worship, the majority of which acts each term must be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character”
The assembly co-ordinator is Bruno Sznerch. However, all staff and students are encouraged to participate and lead at appropriate times.
Parents are informed of their rights in relation to collective worship.
Arrangements
Each Year group attends assembly and collective worship in the school hall on at least one day per week. During the remainder of the week, pupils will have collective worship in form time. Larger groupings are arranged for special events and for festivals, as appropriate.
Services are conducted on a rota basis by Headteacher, senior managers and progress managers etc. Special services are held at certain times e.g Harvest, Easter and Christmas. On these and other occasions, members of the clergy are invited to conduct the service.
Students attend “House” assemblies once each half term and these services are conducted by the respective head of house.
Following collective worship, notices/instructions are usually given by Headteacher, senior managers, progress managers or form tutors.
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