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This short section is included to mark the contrast between the provision for school worship in community schools (and those schools in other categories that have no religious character) and the provision for those schools that have a religious character.
The statutory requirements are different for community and Church schools regarding the context of collective worship. They are the same, however, with regard to frequency. Church schools should be aware that pupils who transfer into their school may have experienced a very different approach to worship elsewhere.
The most difficult is what constitutes worship. This is a particular concern for community schools, less so for Church schools where the foundation of the school makes clear what the parameters of worship will be. Ofsted and Estyn inspection guidance, together with advice in the DFE Circular 1/94, (10/94 in Wales) is intended to be helpful to schools. What follows is an extract from the Ofsted Handbook for Inspecting Secondary Schools, p67 (London: TSO, 1999)
You should evaluate collective worship in all schools which do not provide denominational education. Evaluation should focus on whether acts of worship are well planned and encourage pupils to explore questions about meaning and purpose, values and beliefs. Compliance with statutory requirements on collective worship should be recorded in Form S3. The law requires schools other than Pupil Referral Units to provide a daily act of collective worship. Taken over a term, the majority of such acts of worship should be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character. The school prospectus should make clear the parents' right to withdraw their children from collective worship.
In forming a judgement about the character and quality of worship in schools, the following points may be helpful:
worship is generally understood to imply the recognition of a supreme being. It should be clear that the words used and/or the activities observed in worship recognize the existence of a deity;
collective worship should not be judged by the presence or absence of a particular ingredient. It might include: sharing values of a Christian nature; opportunities for prayers or meditation; opportunities to reflect upon readings from holy texts or other writings which bring out religious themes; and performance of music, drama and /or dance;
each act of worship in a school should be considered for its individual qualities. However, before reaching a judgement about the activities observed during the inspection they should be set alongside the evidence of what has occurred, and is planned, over a term. On balance, if it is judged that what the school provides is not in keeping with the spirit of the law, then this should be recorded and explained.
Worship may be judged not to fulfil statutory requirements but could still be observed to make a powerful contribution to pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. That should be made clear in the report.
The new Handbook for Inspecting Secondary Schools is due to be published in late May 2003. The new Framework is already available for viewing at www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Where the governors of a community school believe that conducting school worship 'wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character' would be inappropriate in their school, they can apply to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council for a 'determination' under section 4 of Schedule 20 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This would have the effect of enabling the school to provide worship, which, while not of a broadly Christian character, was not distinctive of any particular faith.
The legal framework for collective worship can be found in the Education Act 1996 Part V, Chapter III, sections 385-388. Community schools must provide a pattern of worship that is 'wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character' - Education Act 1996 Part V, Chapter 3, section 386 (2).
Further legal guidance as regards school worship in community schools can be found in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 Part II, Chapter VI, section 70 and Schedule 20 of the same act.
What is worship?
As far as the DfES is concerned this is set out in DFE Circular 1/94 (10/94 in Wales) paras 50, 57 and 63
Can we apply for a determination?
Yes, if you are a community school. No, if you are a voluntary school or a foundation school with a religious character
On special occasions, could collective worship take place elsewhere than on the school premises?
Yes. See Schedule 20(b) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Further information on this can be found elsewhere on this site.
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