Collective Worship

Legal Framework

Terminology

Legal Framework• Education Reform Act 1988

• Education Act 1996

• School Standard Framework Act 1998

Legal Framework• Daily act of worship for all pupils

• Any time of school day• Single act of worship for all pupils OR• Separate act of worship in different

school groups

Responsibility• In Voluntary Aided Schools:

GOVERNORS

• In consultation with the HEADTEACHER

• To ensure Legal Requirements are met

• Delegated to Co-ordinator for CW

Collective Worship is central to the life of a Catholic school

• Parents have a right to withdraw their children from Collective Worship

• Planned & spontaneous acts of worship take place in a variety of contexts i.e. during lessons

Catholic Life of the School

• Collective Worship in a Catholic school shall be consistent with the rites & practices of the Catholic Church

• The Catholic character of the school should be reflected in Collective Acts of Worship

CW & School Inspections• There are TWO Inspections of Voluntary

Aided Catholic Schools: S5 (OFSTED) & S48 (Diocese of Leeds)

• S5 is required to report on whether the Catholic school is fulfilling its legal requirements

• The content (QUALITY) of CW is inspected by S48

Is CW Curriculum RE?• The Act of Worship must be distinctive and be able to be identified as such

• The Act of Worship is not designated curriculum time

Where must CW take place?

• As a rule, acts of worship will take place on the school premises

• In a Catholic school, an Act of Worship can be held elsewhere e.g. a church

Terminology• “Collective Worship” is a legal

phrase from the Education Acts

• “PRAYER” & “LITURGY” are terms more familiar to Catholics

Prayer• What is it?

• What does it consist of?

• What are the forms of prayer?

Liturgy• What is it?

• How does it differ from prayer?

• Is all liturgy a form of worship?

• Is all worship a form of liturgy?

Assembly• Assembly is a “COLLECTIVE” but

it is not “WORSHIP”

• Assembly is a time of gathering for …???

Principles