Teachers Testimonies

What do Teachers think of Child Led Collective Worship?

It has been wonderful to see the children take ownership of ‘their’ worship. They developed skills that will transfer way beyond their time at primary school.
Thank you!”
Mrs Emma Burton, Class teacher, St Katherine’s CE Primary School, Christchurch

The children responded well to the opportunity to lead worship and enjoyed the support in preparation. The questions helped them structure their delivery. They had greater confidence to lead worship for their peers. The resources are supportive and simple for children to use. Pauline’s session to get the children started helped staff have the confidence to repeat it.
Headteacher Suki Pascoe Y3-6, North Cerney and Bibury CE Primary Schools

What went well?

  • The passion and enthusiasm for planning and practising the collective worship.

  • The enthusiasm from the children watching.

  • The delivery of the worship.

What went well?

  • The passion and enthusiasm for planning and practising the collective worship.

  • The enthusiasm from the children watching.

  • The delivery of the worship.

Mrs Emma Burton, Class teacher, St Katherine’s CE Primary School, Christchurch

The children were engaged and enthusiastic. They had the instruction that they needed to lead and present their individual groups presentations. You gave them your expertise and insights.
Reverend Linda, St James CE Primary CE School West End, Southampton

Staff Training Sessions Feedback

  • Having first-hand experience captured on video, helped me to see CLCW in practice.

  • Great practical advice given and a clear list of ideal expectations of the leading CW.

  • Lots of ideas how to present questions and different responses to include all children.

  • Great to see examples from a range of year groups and children responding with real life examples.

  • Easy to use/follow resources- planned, structured, colourful.

Various Schools 2019

“We find that worship led with CLCW resources leads to greater discussion and the children enjoy leading these worships more due to the questions given to help them explore the story in greater depth which out of the box worships do not offer. Thank you for creating these resources which has made supporting our worship team SO MUCH easier in the busy life of a school!’

Mrs Caryn Smith, Deputy Head Teacher & Collective Worship Subject Manager

St James’ C of E Primary School, Cheltenham SIAMs February 2019, was awarded an ‘Excellent’ grade for Collective Worship:

’Pupils have an excellent understanding of their roles as leaders of worship which is ensuring its high quality development at the heart of the school’s vision. Pupils’ attitudes are extremely positive because they feel included and involved. Worship promotes Christian values exceptionally well, rooting them in biblical teaching. Pupils are highly enthusiastic and passionate about their roles as worship team leaders.”

Benefits of Child Led Collective Worship as reported by Glesni Clayton and Ellie Maskell, teachers at Bitterne CE Primary School, Southampton

  • The children are responsible for teaching each other how the Bible fits into everyday life and how we should live

  • Children often look at things differently

  • Children can unpick biblical concepts in new ways

  • The children realise the Bible links to how they should live/behave and provides great examples of how this has been carried out in history

  • All children get a chance to share ways in which they have modelled the value e.g. wisdom, courage; this reinforces good behaviour/kindness

  • Helps them understand sometimes tricky Christian concepts such as wisdom

Child-Led Collective Worship in Schools from Pauline Abbott on Vimeo.

Developing Collective Worship in Schools
Children in Year 5 from St John’s Academy, Coleford, Gloucestershire, prepare their Collective Worship. They worked with founder Pauline Abbott.
Year 5 children at St James CE Primary, West End, Southampton acting out the parable of ‘The Four Friends’ for their Collective Worship about Responsibility.