How our Vision and the Anglican foundation of Marwood shapes worship and spirituality

• The whole school community recognises and values worship as the heartbeat of the school. Pupils and adults talk with enthusiasm about worship and can explain how it influences their lives both in and out of school. Evidence from Collective Worship observations completed by foundation governors and analysis of pupil voice show that worship at Marwood is invitational, inclusive and inspiring.
• As we live out our Vision, seeking to transform lives, pupils and staff look forward to gathering together in Collective worship at the end of each day. It is a special, sacred time for the school to come together as one to reflect and think deeply, celebrate and ponder, develop spiritually and be present with God.
• Our collective worship schedule is carefully planned to include the teachings of Jesus and the Bible as well; as special times from the Christian Calendar. It also embeds global citizenship from Christian Aid’s Citizenship calendar. As a result, all pupils have age-appropriate opportunities to reflect on issues of global poverty, injustice and exploitation of the natural world during the academic year and are able to reflect upon their own behaviours, values and attitudes surrounding issues of injustice and exploitation of the natural world. They learn the importance of considering, valuing and treating all people with dignity and respect.
• There is a clear structure to collective worship. Guided by our core Christian values, worship is fully inclusive with clear opportunities for spirituality. Children enter the worship space for collective worship in a calm and respectful manner, listening to music and understand that collective worship is a special time for the school community.  Worship leaders from Year 2 prepare the worship space with worship symbols and the Trinity candles. There are set call and response phrases spoken by the adult leading worship and the Year 2 worship leader. A hymn or song, linked to the theme of the worship, is sung and a Year 2 worship leader oversees playing accompanying music. Worships are inspiring, interactive and invitational with opportunities for children to reflect deeply and offer spontaneous prayer. Handheld tactile palm crosses are used by children when leading prayer. Adults may invite children to take action at an interactive prayer chair which is changed each half term by Trinity Group (e.g., add a ribbon to a weaving reflecting on how we are all different and special with unique skills and talents and together we create a colourful, beautiful world)
• The impact of our Collective worship is evident through children’s behaviours at home and outside of worship. Children make links between what happens during collective worship and what happens at school and at home. Children carry on living out our Vision in the community – taking Grandparents to the community garden, litter picking on the beach etc. They are developing into young people who care about the world and know that they can take action.