Worship

We aim to help every child:

Let Your Light Shine;

on everyone, everywhere, everyday.

Matthew 5:16

The first part of our vision is from Matthew 5:16 in the Bible 'In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.'  We feel it is vital for our children to let their lights shine in so many ways in school but also to help others’ lights shine.  This is why we have included everyone, everywhere, everyday to show children how it is important to shine in many different ways.

Shining on everyone is about the ways in which we live out our school values in school and with others in our local and global communities.

Letting our light shine everywhere is about making sure we share and show our school values wherever we are, whether this is in school or outside in our local communities.

We also think it is important that children let their light shine everyday in lots of different ways, sharing good with the world.

Theological Roots
The phrase 'Let your light shine' comes from the Bible, specifically from the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 16, in which Jesus says, 'In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.'

This is Jesus encouraging his followers to live in a way that is exemplary and that brings honour to God, so that others may see their good deeds and be drawn to God. In other words, they should be a good influence on others, and by doing so they will show the love and grace of God to the people around them.

In school, we have a reflection area that is linked to our image of a flame/candle/star/sun, Children are able to focus on our school value and reflect in our box.  We then share these reflections in our weekly worships.

Statement of entitlement

At Canon Popham C of E Primary Academy we  are committed to offering high quality collective worship. We recognise and value collective worship as central to fostering a sense of community and to express our schools Christian vision. Collective  worship is held daily and is an opportunity to reflect on larger questions of meaning and purpose.  It is a chance to foster a sense of fellowship and cohesion within the school community. 

Our worship is inclusive, invitational and inspiring. We aim to 'Nourish those with faith, encourage those of other faiths and challenge those with no faith'. We are passionate about worship impacting the children's lives beyond the classroom and encouraging all children to 'Live life in all its fullness' and give them a sense of hope for the future. 

We follow a recognisable structure and as a Church of England school will use our collective worship times to build on the rich, lived diversity of Anglican tradition and identity.  

At Canon Popham C of E Primary Academy, pupils and their families can expect a high-quality religious education (RE) curriculum that is rich and varied, enabling learners to acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of a range of faiths and world views. We teach according to the Doncaster Agreed Syllabus.

As a church school, the teaching of Christianity is at the heart of our RE curriculum. Links with our school vision, and support for pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development are intrinsic to our RE curriculum and have a significant impact on learners. We provide a wide range of opportunities for learners to understand and to make links between the beliefs, practices and value systems of the range of faiths and world views studied.

RE is an academic subject that has a high profile in our school curriculum. It is a priority for senior leaders, who ensure that the teaching, learning and resourcing of RE is comparable with other curriculum subjects.

This means that the RE curriculum:

 - is intrinsic to the outworking of our distinctive Christian vision in enabling all pupils to flourish. In addition, it contributes to British values and to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
 - is delivered in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner to engage and challenge all pupils through an exploration of core concepts and questions. Lessons provide meaningful and informed dialogue with a range of religions and worldviews.
 - reflects a good balance between the disciplines of theology, philosophy and human science, to enable pupils to develop their religious literacy. (Religious Literacy: Helping children and young people hold balanced and well informed conversations about religion and belief.) (Key Principles of a balanced curriculum in RE.)
 - enables pupils to acquire a rich, deep knowledge and understanding of Christian belief and practice, including the ways in which it is unique and diverse, whilst engaging with biblical texts and theological ideas.
 - provides opportunities for pupils to understand the role of foundational texts, beliefs, rituals, and practices and how they help to form identity in a range of religions and worldviews.
 - supports the development of other curriculum areas and other general educational abilities such as literacy, empathy and the ability to express thoughts, feelings and personal beliefs.
 - encompasses the full range of abilities to ensure that all flourish academically, using a wide range of teaching and learning strategies which consider the task, outcome, resource, support and pupil grouping as appropriate to pupils’ needs
 - offers tasks that are age appropriate, challenging and sufficiently demanding to stimulate and engage all pupils, whilst extending the most able and providing support for those who need it.
 - ensures that all pupils’ contributions are valued in RE as they draw on their own experiences and beliefs

Roots and Fruits
'A tree is known by its fruit' - Matthew 12.33

Roots and Fruits is what we base our Christian Values and collective worship on. It is rooted in Bible teaching and twelve Christian values represent the fruit that grows as the teaching is lived out in everyday life. Each term focuses on one value (theme) which links with the season of the Church year. We promote Christian values in all we do with particular emphasis on:

Cycle A - Generosity, Compassion, Courage, Forgiveness, Friendship, Respect

Cycle B - Thankfulness, Trust, Perseverance, Justice, Service, Truthfulness

Church Calendar

The church calendar is made up of seasons that follow the life of Jesus. The church year begins in late November or early December with Advent, a time of preparation for Jesus’ birth. In Christian churches one of four colours – purple, green, gold (or white) and red – referred to as ‘liturgical colours’, are used for altar linen, clergy robes and various hangings. The colour reflects the season, so that for instance in Advent purple is used, a colour of royalty because we are preparing to welcome the coming of a king. Purple is used again in Lent because it also symbolises suffering and pain.

At Christmas and Easter the colour changes to white or gold, both bright optimistic colours for festivals, times for joy and celebration. Between the festivals green cloths symbolise all living things, renewal and promise of new life. And finally, red is the colour of fire, used in churches to celebrate Pentecost and saints’ days.

Worship Leaders

The Worship Council is made up of worship ambassadors from Year 6.

Worship Council’s role is to help lead collective worship, monitor collective worship and help promote reflection and collective worship around the school. 

Spiritual Development

Spiritual Learning 

DSAT – Empowering every child to flourish without limits

As a church school and 'a place where everyone can flourish' we aim to create an environment that will nurture people’s minds, body and soul. We believe that spirituality should influence all areas of education and life. Therefore, we ensure that throughout the curriculum there are rich deep-thinking opportunities which contribute to pupils’ spiritual development. 

Spiritual development relates to fundamental questions about the meaning and purpose of life which affect everyone, and is not dependent on a religious affiliation.

As a church school we are guided by the Christian faith and Christian values which Christians hold dear. However, we truly welcome all and we openly encourage children to reflect in the way that suits them best, enabling them to participate in an ongoing process of spiritual realisation and to flourish in a way that will help them find peace, comfort and strength throughout life's ever-changing journey. 

Let Your Light Shine – Matthew 5:16

School prayer