At Deddington CE Primary School, our daily act of Collective Worship is an important part of the day when we gather as a school community to reflect, think and pray. It is a time when we think about our School Values and promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children.

In line with requirements we provide a daily act of Collective Worship for all registered pupils. However, we recognise that parents have legal right to withdraw their children from the Daily Act of Worship; a parent wishing to do so will need to make a written request to the Headteacher.

Collective Worship is led by a range of people during the week. Worship can take place as a whole school, a Key Stages or phase, or as a class. Children play an active part in collective worship through interactive worship, pupil-led worship, as well as though the pupil worship planning and evaluating group. Families are always invited to attend any of our collective worship services in Church as well as our weekly Friday Celebration Assembly where children's achievements are celebrated as a whole school community. As a school we have strong links with St Peter and Paul’s Church in Deddington. Reverend Nick plays an active role in the life of the school; she leads collective worship weekly, as well as supporting our Religious Education teaching and being a School Governor.

Our whole school community visit the church at various times of the year, including Harvest, Christmas, Easter and our end of year Leaver’s Service. We welcome our families and the wider community to these services.

The Teaching of RE at Deddington Primary School

As a Church of England school, the Governing Body of Deddington CE Primary School has adopted the Oxfordshire Agreed Syllabus, which is delivered through an enquiry-based approach allowing for deeper reflection and questioning; each unit begins with a ‘Big Question’ to inspire our children. During their time at Deddington Primary School children will cover units on Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, in addition to focussing on Christianity. We believe that Religious Education contributes to the general ethos and values of the school and helps to equip children for life in a multi-cultural society.

The principle aim of RE is to help children to achieve knowledge and understanding of religious experiences, insights, beliefs and practices. This will equip them to make, in time, informed choices and decisions, to develop and deepen their beliefs and to respect the freedom of other people to hold beliefs different from their own. The teaching of RE in primary schools across England is internationally admired for its concept of ‘learning from religion’ as well as ‘about religions’. Good RE always includes opportunities for the children to: engage, enquire, explore, reflect, evaluate and communicate.

At Deddington CE Primary School we make RE an enjoyable learning experience; we offer challenging and effective RE to pupils, encouraging them to use higher order thinking skills that will impact on all their learning. We recognise that effective teaching and learning starts with an enquiry based curriculum. Planned progression built into the RE curriculum means that the children are increasingly challenged as they move through the school. As the children progress in RE they acquire a wider and more detailed knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, practices, stories and symbols. The children will become more fluent and competent in their use of religious language and terminology and will develop skills in responding to questions of identity, meaning, purpose, values and commitment.

Alongside the new Oxfordshire Agreed Syllabus and in conjunction with our ODBE Advisor, we have recently created a LTP to enhance the children's learning and enjoyment of the RE curriculum.

We are looking at ways in which we can enhance that learning further with opportunities for outdoor learning, reflection and worship.