Collective Worship

Collective Worship is at the heart of life at Skirlaugh CE Primary School. Rooted in our Christian vision, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart" (Colossians 3:23), it brings our whole school family together each day to worship, reflect and celebrate.

Through stories, prayer, music, discussion and moments of quiet reflection, children explore our Christian values of respect, courage, compassion and joy and are encouraged to Be Brave, Be Kind and Be Your Best. Worship also provides opportunities to celebrate achievements, reflect on the wider world and consider how we can make a positive difference through courageous advocacy.

A much-loved part of our worship is Open the Book, led by Reverend David, Mrs Evans and our wonderful team of volunteers, who bring Bible stories to life through interactive storytelling. We are always delighted to welcome new volunteers from our school and wider community—if you are interested in getting involved, please contact Reverend David or Mrs Pitois.

Collective Worship takes place daily at the end of the school day.

Collective Worship Policy

[pdf 135KB]

What does collective worship look like at Skirlaugh?

Monday	Tuesay	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Praise through singing	'Open the Book' led by Reverend Messer, Mrs Evans & Church Group	Local, national and world events through Picture News	Journey through the Bible	Celebration of the Week & Headteachers' Awards

Community Support

We are incredibly fortunate to be supported by members of our local church and wider community, who enrich the life of our school in many different ways.

Each week, Reverend David Messer and Foundation Governor Paula Evans lead our much-loved Open the Book worship, bringing Bible stories to life through interactive storytelling. These engaging sessions help children explore Christian values and understand how they can live them out in their everyday lives.

As an experienced teacher and Lay Reader, Paula also works alongside school leaders to support and quality assure our Collective Worship, helping us to continually develop meaningful and inspiring experiences for our children.

Pupil-led Worship

Pupils play an important role in shaping Collective Worship at Skirlaugh CE Primary School. Our Worship Leaders work alongside staff to prepare the hall for worship by setting the worship table, lighting the candles, selecting music and welcoming the school community. They also take on active roles during worship, including supporting our Open the Book sessions.

Each class also has the opportunity to lead one church service each year, giving children the chance to share their learning, reflect on our Christian vision and values, and develop confidence in speaking to an audience.

Pupil voice is central to the ongoing development of Collective Worship. Children regularly share their views and ideas, helping us to ensure that worship remains meaningful, engaging and relevant for everyone in our school community.

Headteacher Awards

Every half term the school community comes together to celebrate our pupils' successes as part of our Headteacher's Awards Assembly. Awards are given to two pupils in each class who have demonstrated:

A committment to their learning and the school
A demonstration of the school's Christian values

During the celebration we celebrate children's birthdays through the giving of birthday books and share recent school events and successes. We also share house point, attendance and Timestable Rockstar leaderboards. All parents are invited (please see the school claendar for exact dates) and parents of pupils receiving awards will be notified in advance.

Worship Calendars

Please see below for an overview of our Collective Worship offering for each term.
Please note that dates and events may change to help us adapt to the needs of the pupils and school.

	Autumn 2026 - Worship Planner	[pdf 57KB]
	Summer 2026 - Worship Planner	[pdf 57KB]
	Autumn 2025 - Worship Planner	[pdf 65KB]