Collective Worship and the Law

Brookside School complies with legal requirements by providing a daily act of collective worship for all pupils on the school roll, unless they have been withdrawn by their parent(s) ‘on grounds of conscience’. Teachers also have the right not to attend or lead an act of collective worship ‘on grounds of conscience’.

Collective Worship – Character and British Values

The majority of our acts of collective worship are ‘wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character’ whilst recognising the religious, spiritual, moral, social and cultural insights provided by other principal religions and life-stances represented in England and Great Britain. This relates to the school’s position on promoting British Values. For further information on the relationship between Brookside School and British Values, please see the school’s Promoting British Values statement.

In addition, Collective Worship at Brookside School is one of a number of means that the school uses to support the children’s understanding and engagement of their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Where can Collective Worship take place?

Collective worship can take place anywhere appropriate, such as within the classroom, the school hall or the school’s outside areas.  It can be a single class, a year group, a Key Stage or the whole school community.

It is not always possible for the whole school to gather in one place, although it is desirable to try to do this at least once a week.  All pupils at Brookside School who are expected to engage in an act of collective worship gather on at least one occasion in the week.

Collective worship at the Brookside may include:

  • Readings (including from the Bible)
  • Stories
  • Singing
  • Media clips
  • Reflective silence
  • Drama
  • Art
  • Use of artefacts

Parents can withdraw their children from collective worship

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the daily act of collective worship without giving a reason for doing so.  At Brookside we are able to recognise this wish and ensure a duty of care for any pupils withdrawn from collective worship.