Our vision for Purley C of E primary school is: 

“Let all that you do be done in love”
                                          ^{1 Corinthians 16:14}

Collective Worship is central to the life of our school. Purley CE Primary School is a community that celebrates diversity and encourages dialogue, where pupils, staff and parents of all faiths and none are welcome.

Our worship is rooted in our Christian vision and our motto ‘Learn to Love, Love to Learn’.

Through our values of Love, Courage and Wisdom, worship gives us opportunities to reflect on our relationships with God, ourselves and one another, the choices we make and how we live and learn together.

Inclusive, Invitational and Inspiring

Our worship is inclusive, welcoming everyone while remaining distinctly Christian and rooted in our school’s vision and values.

It is invitational. As with our curriculum, we structure worship around key questions, encouraging children to think, discuss, listen to different perspectives and develop their own responses. Prayer and reflection are offered as an invitation, allowing everyone to participate in a way that is meaningful to them.

Our worship is inspiring, encouraging children and adults to think beyond the time given to worship itself and consider how our Christian values might shape their choices, relationships and actions.

The Pattern of Collective Worship

The whole school comes together for Collective Worship in the school hall three-four times each week. Our elected Year 6 Worship Leaders play an active role in leading and developing worship and encouraging pupil participation.

On the days when we do not gather in the hall, children take part in Candle Time in their classrooms. This provides a quieter and more intimate opportunity for reflection, discussion and prayer. We draw on a range of high-quality resources, including No Outsiders and Picture News, to explore current issues, diversity and the wider world through thoughtful questions and discussion.

Across the year, worship follows the seasons of the Church calendar and marks significant Christian festivals, including Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, alongside important occasions such as Remembrance and our Leavers’ Service. We also have opportunities to worship at St Mary’s Parish Church.

Collective Worship provides a special time within our school week to come together, ask big questions, reflect and consider how we can put our vision into action: to learn to love and love to learn.