Collective Worship at Ridgeway Farm
At Ridgeway Farm CE Academy, collective worship is a central part of our school life. It reflects our Christian vision to Believe, Learn and Grow together as part of God’s family. Rooted in the parable of the mustard seed, we want every child to grow from small beginnings into a strong and flourishing individual, rooted in values, full of hope, and able to offer strength and care to others. Our worship helps children and adults pause, reflect, ask big questions and grow spiritually together.
Collective worship at Ridgeway Farm is invitational, inclusive and inspirational. We warmly welcome everyone, of all faiths and none, and create opportunities for all members of our community to engage in worship in ways that are meaningful and respectful. Worship gives space for stillness, prayer, reflection, music, story and shared thinking about how we live well together. Through this, pupils are supported to explore faith, values, belonging and what it means to live life in all its fullness.
Our vision in worship
Our school vision is for all children to:
Believe
- that they can fulfil their God-given potential
- that each voice is important
- in themselves and in each other
Learn
- securely and broadly
- in a happy and safe environment
- to love themselves and celebrate their uniqueness
- to become independent and resilient
Grow
- in wisdom, love and compassion
- in aspiration and curiosity
- into active citizens
- together as part of God’s family
Collective worship helps bring this vision to life. It helps pupils understand that they are known, valued and loved, and that they are called to grow in character, faith, wisdom and service.
Our Christian values
Our worship is shaped through a two-year cycle of twelve Christian values:
Thankfulness, Trust, Perseverance, Justice, Friendship, Truthfulness, Generosity, Compassion, Courage, Forgiveness, Service and Respect.
These values give children a shared language for thinking about faith and for living well together. They are explored through Bible stories, prayer, reflection, song, discussion and opportunities to respond in daily life.
Our weekly pattern of worship
Collective worship takes place daily and follows a weekly rhythm:
Monday – whole-school worship led by the Headteacher, introducing the weekly theme linked to the term’s value.
Tuesday – Key Stage worship led by staff, building on the theme and sometimes making links with current events or celebrations from different faiths and communities.
Wednesday – singing worship, where we gather through song and music to deepen understanding of the value and the Christian message.
Thursday – worship led by local church partners, continuing the weekly theme or exploring an aspect of the value.
Friday – Merit Worship, where we celebrate, give thanks and recognise the contribution that each individual makes to our school family.
How worship is structured
Our Collective Worship Leaders begin worship with the words:
“Peace be with you. We have gathered in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”
Worship is supported by meaningful symbols and routines that help children engage and reflect. Our worship table includes a Bible, a cross, candles, value prayers and Ubuntu stones. Each child and adult has a glass pebble in a bowl to represent themselves as part of our school family, reflecting the idea of Ubuntu – “I am because we are.” The cloth on the worship table follows the colours of the liturgical year, helping children notice the rhythms and seasons of the Christian calendar. Singing and music are an important part of worship, and candles are lit at the beginning and extinguished at the end to mark this special shared time.
Windows, Mirrors and Doors
We use a Windows, Mirrors, Doors approach to worship. This helps children to:
- look out at the world and notice important ideas, questions and experiences
- reflect inwardly on what these mean for themselves
- consider how they might respond and make a difference in the world
This approach encourages spiritual development by helping children wonder, reflect and act.
Pupil leadership in worship
Children are active participants in worship at Ridgeway Farm. Each class has democratically chosen Worship Leaders who meet regularly with the Headteacher to share ideas and feedback. They help to lead worship through reading, prayer, drama, song choices and evaluation. They have also helped to write the school prayer and have contributed to the development of worship across the school. Our Values Tree, designed with pupil input, visually represents our twelve values and helps children remember and reflect on them.
Spiritual development
Collective worship plays an important part in nurturing spirituality across our school. We understand spirituality as helping children to:
- wonder and ask big questions about life
- reflect on themselves and others
- experience joy, hope and belonging
- recognise that they are part of something bigger than themselves
This is supported through our developing Spirituali-tree approach, which helps children think about spirituality through relationships with:
- self
- others
- the world
- God
We also value the spontaneous moments of awe, wonder, beauty, connection and reflection that arise naturally in school life.
Partnership with church and community
We work closely with our church partners to enrich worship and spiritual life at Ridgeway Farm. Clergy and church visitors regularly lead worship, and pupils also take part in experiential worship around key Christian festivals such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. These experiences help children engage deeply with the Christian story in memorable and meaningful ways.
The impact of collective worship
Collective worship strengthens the calm, reflective and caring ethos of our school. It helps pupils to understand Christian belief, explore values in action and reflect on their own choices. Children grow in confidence, respect and thoughtfulness, and they learn to listen well, ask questions and respond with compassion. Staff and families value worship as a time that builds community, belonging and shared purpose.
Collective Worship Policy
You can read our full Collective Worship Policy below.
Please contact the school office if you would like a paper copy of this policy.