Intent

At JHN, we are a creative community that builds understanding, respect and empathy in young people through our vision ‘Let your Light Shine’ (Matthew 5:16). Pupils, staff and parents of all faiths and those of different world views are welcome as our Collective Worship recognises that the school community is a collection of unique individuals. Thus, our acts of Collective Worship are sensitive to the collective character of individual schools and are inclusive, whilst following a distinctive Christian character.

At JHN we like to refer to worship as the definition ‘worth-ship’, which we ensure our collective worship is giving worth to different things, for example celebration, community, singing. It gives children and adults time and space to give worth and reflect on these things.

Collective worship provides an opportunity for members of the school community to pause from activity, to gather, to remind them of and to reflect upon the school’s vision and values which bind the school community together. It also allows those with a religious commitment the possibility of entering into worship and those with no religious commitment to sense what worship is and to reflect deeply. In this way we aim both to affirm and to protect the integrity of all members of the school community.

In particular, collective worship at JHN:

• provides an opportunity for all members of the school community to stop activity, to pause and to reflect on important issues;
• fosters a sense of fellowship and belonging
• builds up the sense of group identity, fostering concern for the needs of each other;
• gives pupils the experience of being still or silent;
• provides an opportunity for celebrating times of success or joy and in times of sadness or sorrow;
• provides an opportunity for highlighting and reflecting upon core school values and vision.
• offers the opportunity to mark significant points in the year, such as festivals and school events.

Collective worship at JHN aims to:

• 1) contributes to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
• 2) be inclusive, inspirational and invitational
• 3) Educational

Implementation

At JHN, Collective Worship is inclusive, invitational and inspirational. While our school has a Christian foundation, worship provides opportunities for children to explore a range of beliefs, values and worldviews. All children are encouraged to participate in a way that is meaningful and comfortable for them.

Through Collective Worship, children learn about Christianity and other faiths and cultures, helping them to develop respect, understanding and appreciation of diversity. Worship also promotes British Values, including democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance, preparing pupils to be thoughtful and responsible citizens.

Our programme supports social cohesion, within our diverse context of Littlemore, by fostering a strong sense of belonging, community and shared values. It encourages children to explore Spirituality by being able to reflect on themselves (In), connect with others and the world (Out), and explore questions of meaning, purpose and faith (Up). Together, these experiences help children flourish spiritually, morally, socially and culturally.Usually, our collective worship holds the following pattern, however this can change to respond to local and global events and topics:

The Head of School and Senior Leaders have oversight over our collective worship and undertake regular monitoring and evaluation alongside our governors.

• All staff and children may be involved in leading acts of worship, whether whole school, phase or class based
• There is a timetabled act of worship for every class, every day, with additional acts of worship, such as visiting the local church or additional in school events such as carol services or prayer space which are planned throughout the year
• Every child has opportunities for further reflection and time for personal reflection throughout the week which may include use of our spirituality structure of 'Up, Out and In'.

Our School Prayer

Christian prayer books and bibles, and the school Canon of Prayer

Collective worship regularly includes the Lord’s Prayer, and every assembly ends with the Littlemore Prayer, also spoken in the local church:

‘Loving Lord,

May Your shining light fill the hearts of all who live, work and worship in Littlemore.

Amen’

You can listen to the Littlemore Prayer here:

You can listen to the Grace here:

You can listen to some of our children talking about RE here:

Watch our actions to help us understand spirituality through the help of our local Reverend