Us as a Church School
Our shared Christian Vision
We are a place where safe, happy and remarkable children can influence the world.
Our Core Christian Values
Courage
Compassion
Respect
Inspired by Jesus' teaching in the gospel of John 10.10
"I came that they might have life - life in all its fullness." Children's International Bible
Collective Worship
Our collective worship policy strengthens and supports the distinctiveness of our school, reaffirming our vision and associated values. Our worship reflects the variety of traditions found in the Church of England, and will recognise and follow the Christian liturgical year. The daily act of collective worship is central to our ethos and is supported by all staff and governors.
In our school, collective worship is the unique heartbeat of the school and is offered as part of a wider opportunity for pupils and adults to encounter faith by engaging in conversations about God, both as individuals and together. We want pupils to leave school with a rich experience and understanding of Christianity, and we are committed to offering them an encounter with Jesus Christ and with Christian faith and practice in a way that enhances their lives. Collective worship in schools, including prayer, reading and reflecting on the Bible, liturgy, sacrament and experience of the musical and other imaginative riches of Christianity, provide a vital opportunity for this.
Therefore Collective Worship at South Kilvington Church of England Academy is planned to:
- Explore the school’s vision and how that underpins shared values and virtues. In doing so, it will reflect on moral values such as compassion, gratitude, justice, humility, forgiveness and reconciliation; and develop virtues such as resilience, determination and creativity that develop character and contribute to academic progress.
- Help pupils and adults to appreciate the relevance of faith in today’s world by encountering the teachings of Jesus and the Bible and developing understanding of the Christian belief in the Trinitarian nature of God.
- Offer the opportunity, without compulsion, to all pupils and adults to grow spiritually through experiences of prayer, stillness, worship and reflection.
- Enable all pupils and adults to appreciate that Christians worship in different ways, for example using music, silence, story, prayer, reflection, as well as through the varied liturgical and other traditions of Anglican worship, festivals and, where appropriate, the Eucharist.
- Enable pupils to develop skills through engaging in the planning, leading and evaluation of collective worship in ways that lead to improving practice.
- Be inspirational and inclusive, engaging all learners. They can talk about the impact it makes on their relationships and on life in the school.
- Help all learners to understand Anglican and other Christian traditions found in the UK and worldwide.
- An opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for achievements within the school, local and international community and occasions of significance, including festivals.
There are a number of resources available to form the basis of collective worship planning. The Imaginor ‘Roots and Fruits’ resource is used to form the foundations of our planning for collective worship and this resource is enhanced by a wider range of support resources. The 2 year cycle of collective worship revolves around these 18 Christian values.
Our pattern of Collective Worship
Whole School Worship is held 5 times a week. The plan for the week is as follows:
Monday: Introduction of the value for the week and a biblical quote linked to this
Tuesday: The value is linked to a story from the Bible
Wednesday: Parish Team to lead at St Wilfrid’s Church or in school
Thursday: Child led worship
Friday: Class Worship (deep reflection opportunity) and Celebration Worship (streamed to parents securely)
Acts of worship generally follow themes that are linked to the schools vision and values and include the pattern of the church’s year.
Parish Team
We are very fortunate to have such an effective, proactive and engaging Parish Team. The team work extremely close with the school to deliver the effective Collective Worship plan and also deliver engaging and reflective services. Each week a member of the team comes into school or meets the children at St Wilfrid's to deliver a collective Worship. The Parish team and the school are the heartbeat of the community.
St Wilfrid's Church and St Mary's Church
We have excellent links with our local Churches. St Wilfrid's Church is situated in our village and we regularly visit to carry out Collective Worships or visit to pay respect for special occasions such as Remembrance Day. We use St Mary's Church in Thirsk to host special services to allow parents to watch. St Mary's offers a large space and a special setting that when the children visit feel a deep sense of belonging and excitement.
We work very closely with the Parish Team to ensure we work in collaboration to develop the children's understanding of how the local Churches bring communities together.
Useful Links
- Click here to visit the Church of England website.
- The National Society is the educational division of the Church of England and has responsibility for inspecting church schools. Click here to visit their website
- We belong to the York Diocesan Family of Schools and Parishes. Our mother church is York Minster – Visit the Diocese of York web page here. As a diocese we have a vision that shapes how we grow and work together – Generous Churches Making & Nurturing Disciples.