Church School

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full – John 10:10

Collective Worship Themes

Autumn 1

At the start of the new school year, we take time to understand ourselves – our thoughts, beliefs and feelings. We find our own voice and use it to interact with our teachers and other learners in a positive way.

Spring 1

Now that we are comfortable with ourselves and those around us, we widen our view to those in the past who have created something that lasts. We use a long view, looking at past, present and future and consider our role in the flow of humanity.

Summer 1

We are now in a place where we can take risks and allow our minds to ask ‘What if?’. We take known facts based in reality and expand this beyond what can be – we are free and wild, but can communicate our ideas to others very clearly and powerfully.

Autumn 2

Now that we have found our feet in our new year group, we begin to work as effective teams within our own classes and beyond. We explore how things are linked and related, and use this approach to build a secure web of understanding between subjects and learning areas.

Spring 2

Half way through the year, our confidence and skills have grown. We are ready to take risk and push the boundaries of what we have experienced and understood so far. It might be dangerous, but we will embrace the challenge.

Summer 2

The end of the school year is a time to pause and reflect, and begin dreaming about what could be in the future. We consider multiple possible realities and the pros and cons of these. We debate and make powerful choices.

What makes a church school distinctive?

BLESSED

1. BIBLICAL

The school’s values are based on the teachings of Jesus as found in the Bible – focusing on 12 core values (Compassion, Thankfulness, Courage, Trust, Generosity, ). Through Collective Worship and R.E. teaching, children will learn about the life and teachings of Jesus, and how these affect the lives of those who follow them. They will find out what the Bible means to Christians, and reflect on what it means to them.

2. LITURGICAL PATTERN

The Collective Worship times are structured to follow the ‘liturgy’ or pattern of Church of England services. The four elements are Gathering, Engaging, Responding and Sending, and bring the school community together in a time of reflection and celebration with messages from the Bible, prayer and reflection time and singing. We greet each other with phrases such as ‘The Peace of the Lord be with you/ and also with you’ to familiarise the children with language and form they might here in a church setting.

3. EUCHARIST (Communion)

Once a year, members of the school community will be invited together to share a Communion Service (the sharing of bread and wine) to celebrate their shared beliefs and purpose. This will be a special time of fellowship and ‘coming together’ explored in a very creative and exciting way.

4. SEASONAL

The school follows the Church of England calendar of events including;
Harvest, Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, Pentecost, Lent, Ascension Day and Patron Saints feast days.
These are explored and celebrated in really creative, interactive and exciting ways through all areas of the curriculum, and often staged as whole school theme days with competitions and performances.

5. SYMBOLIC

Symbols are an important visual aid to reflecting on our core values. You will see crosses and other Christian symbols at key places around the school building, as well as display boards and reflective prayer areas.

6. ECUMENICAL

Barrow CEVC School aims to work together with a range of local churches, including All Saints and the West Suffolk Vineyard Church. We welcome clergy from these churches to come in to lead assemblies and speak to the children about local church events such as Holiday Clubs and Bible Clubs.

7. DIVERSE

The Anglican Church is diverse and world-wide and is a fantastic vehicle for exploring Global Links. At St. Mary’s, children will have a chance to explore what it means to be a Christian in different countries, cultures and contexts through projects such as the Kagera project.

What is collective worship?

It aims to give pupils and school staff alike the opportunity to:

Express praise and thanksgiving to God
Foster respect and deepen spiritual awareness
Reflect on the character of God and on the teachings of Christ
Affirm Christian values and attitudes
Share each other’s joys and challenges
Celebrate special times in the Christian calendar

Collective Worship is legally required to take place every school day and ‘shall be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character’ (1988 Education Act).

http://www.churchofengland.org/education/national-society/teaching-learning/collective-worship.aspx

http://www.worshipworkshop.org.uk/

What will my child experience in Collective Worship at Barrow?

A s a Church of England School, Collective Worship is at the heart of school life. It happens every day, in various different forms, which give all children an opportunity to learn, celebrate and respond to Christian Values drawn from the Bible. We use them as a forum to explore our ‘Barrow Big Ideas’ which change every half term from many different perspectives, particularly growing in understanding of the Christian faith and its expressions.

What makes it C of E?

Barrow’s Collective worship is based on the liturgy or pattern of Church of England Services. This helps staff and children to become familiar with its language and traditions so when they visit the church building, they can understand and take part in their services in a meaningful way.

We’re not a religious family! What will my child get from Collective Worship?

Collective Worship is set up so that all children and adults, of any faith or none, are invited to find out what Christians believe about God, the world and themselves, and have reflection time wondering about big questions of life. Staff and pupils alike value the time of quiet and stillness as a way to bring the community together.

Our Curriculum

We are judged as an Outstanding Church School by SIAMS and Beliefs and Values (R.E.). is a key part of the values-based Curriculum.

Pupils are given the opportunity to explore the practices and beliefs of those from the Jewish faith, Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism as well as Christianity. Key strands are explored across all faiths to find the similarities and differences between them – for example, Beliefs and Questions, Special Books, Leaders and Teachers and others.

Religious Education (Beliefs and Values) at Barrow CEVC Primary School

As a Church of England school, RE (which we name Beliefs and Values) is regarded as a core subject in line with Literacy and Numeracy. We consider ourselves specialists at teaching RE.
The four key attitudes for RE from the Suffolk syllabus (respect for all, open-mindedness, appreciation and wonder, and self-awareness) form the heart of our teaching, and are displayed in classrooms and referred to in lessons.
RE is planned using the enquiry model, where questioning is used to explore key concepts from across different religions
Every child has a separate ‘Beliefs and Values’ book. These will be used to collect evidence of the children’ s RE learning and spiritual development over their time in school. RE learning will be recorded in this book, as well as reflections and thoughts on special events such as Christian festivals or values. The book will accompany the children throughout school. These books are marked and children given feedback on how to improve by the teacher, peers and their own evaluations.