Collective Worship

An act of Collective Worship takes place each day at Hawkhurst Church of England Primary School. In keeping with our links with the church, these are Christian in content and reflect the traditions of the Church of England.

Collective Worship is a highly valued time in school where the whole community gathers together. This provides an opportunity for the school community to engage with our own spirituality and Biblical teachings and leave feeling refreshed and inspired.

Our Collective Worship is wholly Christian and based on the Church of England. Our selected values – Compassion, Hope, Community – are central to our collective worship. We Use Roots and Fruits as our values-based collective worship resource to support worship and spiritual and moral development. As part of our worship we use:

• Quotes and questions to encourage deeper thinking about the values
• Photographs to root the teaching in everyday experiences
• Stories, poems and art
• Prayers and guided reflections
• Fruits from the Roots - ideas to develop the theme of worship

Children listen to music and are encouraged to reflect on both the issues and the wonders of our world. We sing songs of worship enthusiastically and always include time together with a prayer or a quiet thought.

Once a week, Rev Judy Rodney leads our worship and we hold different services in St Laurence’s Church. 

All parents have the right to withdraw their child from Collective Worship and Religious Education and any parent wishing to do so should contact the Head Teacher. Pupils who are withdrawn are provided with appropriate alternative activities, according to individual needs.

Each term we follow a new theme for Worship. For the academic year 2023-24 our themes are: Generosity, Compassion, Courage, Forgiveness, Friendship, Respect. Please see our Home School Values sheets for ideas on how you can support these themes at home.