Collective Worship at Loxley C of E Community Primary School

At Loxley C of E Community Primary School, Collective Worship is the heartbeat of our school day. It is the moment when we come together as one community — to reflect, to sing, to pray, and to grow. Each act of worship is carefully planned to be invitational, inclusive and inspirational: inviting everyone to participate fully, inclusive of all backgrounds and beliefs, and inspirational in the way it connects our children to the life and teachings of Jesus and to the wider world.

Worship at Loxley is not just something that happens in the hall before lessons begin. It is a thread that runs through the entire school day — from morning assembly to lunchtime grace, from class reflection journals to Friday celebrations with families.

Every morning begins with an act of Collective Worship at 9:00am. Each day of the week has its own character and focus:

• Monday — Whole-school Values Worship, led by Mr Dale. Each week focuses on our current school value, exploring it through story, discussion, prayer and the 'Big Question' that children will carry into class worship later in the week.
• Tuesday — Global Worship, led by Mrs Thackway. Children explore current world events and news through the lens of our Christian values, developing their awareness of and compassion for the wider world. Our Collective Worship Committee also use this session to share reflections from the previous week's Big Question with their classes.
• Wednesday — Singing Worship, led by Mrs Geldard and Mrs Ballentine. Music is central to worship life at Loxley — children sing hymns, worship songs and reflective music together, with joy.
• Thursday — Class Worship, led by the Collective Worship Committee. Children lead worship for their own classes, supported by their class teacher. This is when the Big Question from Monday is explored in depth, and children add their responses to the class Collective Worship Journal.
• Friday — Whole-school Celebration Assembly. Parents and carers are warmly invited to join us as we share achievements, celebrate our values in action through the 'Catch Me…' card system, and send children into the weekend with joy and gratitude.

Every act of worship includes music and song, prayer, a moment of quiet reflection, and a connection to our Christian values and the teachings of the Bible. Worship is planned around the Christian calendar, ensuring that children experience the full rhythm of the Church year.

Reverend Linda MacDermott visits the school every two weeks to lead Collective Worship with the whole school, deepening our relationship with St Nicholas Church, Loxley, and bringing the life of the local church into the heart of school.

Reward Systems

Our 'Catch Me…' card system brings our Christian values to life beyond the walls of assembly. When a child is 'caught' demonstrating one of our six values — in class, in the playground, or in the wider community — they receive a stamp on their 'Catch Me' card. A completed card earns a certificate and a leaf to add to our whole-school Tree of Values — with Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum leaves recognising each milestone. Leaves are celebrated together in our Friday Celebration Assembly.

Our Collective Worship Team

Children from across the school have the opportunity to apply for a place on the Loxley Collective Worship Committee — one of the most valued roles in school. Our Worship Committee members take an active part in leading daily worship: organising the worship space, choosing and playing music, leading prayers, and sharing the Big Question with their classes on Thursdays.

The Collective Worship Committee meets regularly with Mr Dale to plan and evaluate worship, ensuring it continues to be inclusive, inspirational and meaningful to everyone. They are also the guardians of the class Collective Worship Journals — the beautiful books in which every child has the opportunity to record their thoughts, questions and responses to the week's Big Question.

Younger members of the committee support whole-school worship by helping to lead prayers and share our school vision — growing in confidence and faith as they do so.

Every classroom at Loxley has its own Collective Worship Journal. Each week, following Monday's whole-school assembly, the Big Question is brought into class worship on Thursday by the Collective Worship Committee. Children are then invited to respond — through writing, drawing, or reflection — recording their thoughts in the class journal. These journals are a beautiful record of our children's spiritual journey through the year, capturing their growing understanding of faith, values, and the big questions of life.

The Right to Withdraw

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from Collective Worship. If you would like to discuss this, please speak with our Headteacher in the first instance. We would always welcome the chance to talk with you about what worship looks like at Loxley — it is our hope that families of all backgrounds and beliefs feel that our worship is a welcoming and positive part of their child's school experience.