RE and Worship

The daily act of collective worship plays a central part in the life of Beresford Memorial School Leek and is a means by which the school’s Christian vision and values are expressed.

Our collective worship themes are firmly rooted in biblical narrative.  Worship is linked each half term to our whole school values and children are rewarded for demonstrating Christian values in their school life. A bible quote / and / or story is introduced at the beginning of each half termly worship theme and is displayed and referenced throughout.

Our whole school worship format includes a Trinitarian opening, the lighting of a three-wick candle, an Anglican greeting and a sending out all led by the school’s worship leaders.  Songs/ hymns/ reflective music are used, along with the reciting of our school vision and child led prayers.

Trust Deed and 1988 Education Act

Our daily act of collective worship is in accordance with the Trust Deed of our academy which requires worship to be consistent with the faith, principles and practices of the Church of England.

We also take into account the 1988 Education Act that states,

‘…all pupils in attendance at a maintained school shall in each school day take part in an act of collective worship’
and that this should be, …’mainly of a broadly Christian character’

Our aims and organisation of worship

• Monday: Songs for worship* led by Deputy Head (Mr Brown) / Visitor led worship led by Abigail Ratcliffe (Children’s and Families worker South Moorlands Methodist Circuit)
• Tuesday: Whole school worship led by Rev Matt Malins
• Wednesday: Whole school worship led by Head teacher (Mrs Quinn)
• Thursday: Class worship* led by class teacher
• Friday: Celebration worship led by Head teacher (Mrs Quinn)

* These follow the same format as outlined above for collective worship.

Celebration worship – is a time where we gather to celebrate the children’s achievements both in and outside of school.  Teachers will identify our ‘Star Learners’, children who have achieved one of our ‘Secrets of Success; (concentrate, don’t give up, imagine, improve, push yourself, try new things, understand others, work hard), in order to help them ‘achieve their God given potential.’ Staff and children often talk about the values they have explored in worship and how this causes them to reflect on their behaviour. The impact of this is shown when children are awarded a certificate for those who have best ‘lived out’ and demonstrated one of our School Core Christian Values (Respect, Hope, Kindness, Creativity, Courage and Honesty) at the end of each week. This is communicated to parents via a weekly email and photograph. The achievements of our four House Teams are also celebrated, through the top spellers in the school from each year group. This is still regarded as an act of worship through reciting our school vision at the beginning and ending with a prayer.

Children met the characters from the nativity and asked them questions at Trinity Church.

Thanking God for the Harvest. The children donated food to our local Food Bank, helping the local community.