Collective Worship

Proud to be a Church of England School

At Astbury, we are proud to be a Church of England school. All staff and Governors are committed to making our school a place where Christian love, hope and a strong sense of belonging are lived out each day. Through our actions and relationships, we create a nurturing environment where every member of our community feels valued, supported and inspired. Our Christian vision underpins all that we do, helping us to strengthen community cohesion and contribute to a more equitable and tolerant society.

We believe that every child and every adult in our school family should flourish. Our Christian ethos, and the values we uphold, are evident in every aspect of daily life. Although we are firmly rooted in our Christian foundation, we warmly welcome and respect those of all faiths and none, fostering an inclusive, caring and compassionate community where everyone can grow in confidence, character and wisdom.

Religious Education has an important place within our curriculum. We have strong links with our parish church, St Mary’s, and pupils benefit from regular opportunities to learn from and engage with our church family. We enrich pupils’ understanding further through visits to a variety of places of worship, helping them to develop respect, curiosity and a deeper awareness of the diverse world around them.

Worship at our school

Each day children have the opportunity to take part in collective worship which is broadly Christian in character. Collective worship is usually held in the hall, and is led by our headteacher, Miss Cook or Reverend Steph (Vicar at St Mary's) or children from the school. Once a week, children get the chance to worship together in the their classrooms and respond in their Worship and Wonder book. The Ethos Council lead collective worship once a week. 

Christian Values

Our worship reflects the core values arising from our vision:

• Self-control 
• Kindness 
• Peace

These values are rooted in scripture and underpin all aspects of worship and school life.

Legal Requirements

Collective worship is invitational, inclusive and reflective, never coercive.

Aims

Through collective worship we aim to:

• Foster awe and wonder in God’s creation
• Develop understanding of love, hope and belonging
• Explore meaning, purpose and big questions
• Promote reflection and stillness
• Encourage courageous advocacy and service
• Strengthen community and relationships

The Act of Collective Worship

Collective worship at Astbury St Mary's School is invitational, inclusive and inspirational.

We structure worship using our Spirituality Policy framework:

• Windows – looking out at the world with awe and wonder
• Mirrors – reflecting on ourselves and our lives
• Doors – responding with action and making a difference