Worship

At St Mary’s, every member of our school community is warmly welcomed to take part in our invitational and inclusive Collective Worship. This daily time of calm, reflection and togetherness is a valued part of our school life bring our golden thread of Spirituality to life as it is woven through all that we do. We describe spirituality not as something we see, but as something we feel within ourselves. It is about awe and wonder, asking thoughtful questions, finding inspiration, and becoming aware of something greater beyond our immediate experience. We hope that through our Collective Worship we ensure all our children experience this.

Our Collective Worship is led by clergy, staff and pupils, offering opportunities to encounter God in a variety of forms – through story, scripture, music, prayer, silence, drama and creative reflection. Worship invites all children to explore faith, meaning and purpose in ways that are accessible, respectful and deeply rooted in our Christian vision and values.

We gather for three whole‑school worships each week, each one linked to our termly theme and Christian value. These shared moments bring pupils and staff together to celebrate faith, reflect deeply, explore big questions, and consider how they can make a difference in God’s world. We always pose a simple but powerful challenge:

When you walk out of the door today, what will you do differently because of what you have experienced?

Spirituality and Collective Worship in EYFS

In EYFS, our approach to spirituality focuses on spiritually awakening for our youngest children. Through a nurturing, exploratory and play‑based environment, children begin to develop their innate curiosity and sense of wonder. Activities such as imaginative play, creative expression and outdoor exploration help children form meaningful connections with themselves, their peers and the world around them.

Teachers intentionally weave themes of kindness, empathy and appreciation for nature into daily routines, laying strong foundations for children’s emotional, social and spiritual development. Our EYFS spirituality is further enriched through Wiggle Worship, which is a phase and class based approach to worship that links to our whole‑school worship overview and is rooted in our Christian values each term.

Spirituality and Collective Worship in KS1 and KS2

As children move into KS1 and KS2, our RIPPLE Collective Worship approach builds on the strong spiritual foundations established in EYFS. RIPPLE is an evidence‑based model and is designed to deepen children’s understanding of each Christian value over a six‑week cycle. It ensures worship remains meaningful, reflective and context‑specific for our school community and follows our whole school themes.

Each week focuses on a different stage of the RIPPLE journey:

• R – Recognise Children explore what the Christian value means, what scripture teaches about it, and how it is revealed in Bible stories. (Spirituality lens: Mirror – looking in)

• I – I (me) Children reflect on themselves: how they show the value, why it matters to them, and how it shapes their behaviour. (Spirituality lens: Mirror – looking in)

• P – People Children look outward to examples of the value in others — in the Bible, in history, and in people who inspire them today. (Spirituality lens: Window – looking out)

• P – Partner Children consider how they can act with others to make a difference, becoming courageous advocates who improve the lives of others. (Spirituality lens: Window – looking out)

• L – Lead Children explore how they can be role models, learning from Jesus’ example and reflecting on how their actions influence others. (Spirituality lens: Door – going out)

• E – Equip Children decide how they will respond: what they will do differently, how they will live out the value, and how they can equip others. (Spirituality lens: Door – going out)

Across the half term, children engage with scripture, Bible stories, reflection questions and opportunities for courageous advocacy. This structured, spiral approach enables them to reconnect with key spiritual concepts each year — understanding themselves, learning from others, noticing the wonder of the world, and exploring the idea of “beyond”.

RIPPLE helps children deepen their spiritual awareness, develop theological understanding, and reflect on how Christian values shape their choices, relationships and impact in God’s world.

Our Termly Spirituality Focus

Autumn Term – Self and Others

Children explore the concept of self, developing an awareness of their inner thoughts, feelings and identity as unique individuals. This progresses into a deeper understanding of others, encouraging empathy, compassion and reflection on how personal values influence relationships.

Spring Term – The Natural World and Beauty

Children develop a growing relationship with the physical and creative world. They respond emotionally to the beauty of nature and human creativity, exploring how these experiences shape their perception of and connection to the world around them.

Summer Term – The Concept of Beyond

Children become increasingly aware of experiences that reach beyond the everyday. They begin to explore transcendence, meaning and purpose, reflecting on their place within the wider world and the greater scheme of things.

 "Collective worship clearly expresses the Christian vision and is an integral part of the day. Staff and pupils are heavily involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of worship. This allows spiritual growth and gives pupils regular encounters with the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. Pupils confidently lead prayer."  SIAMS March 23