National updates – Collective Worship
News from NASACRE
After correspondence with the DfE at
the beginning of the pandemic, NASACRE was able to confirm that LA
schools with Determinations
in relation to Collective Worship
could continue to operate as if such a determination were still in
force even if, in fact, it had actually lapsed at some point in the
spring or summer terms. This was in recognition of the fact that
schools had other significant issues to face during such a
challenging time and it would not be realistic to expect them to
engage in the process of applying for a renewal. Now that schools
have returned, some SACREs are asking if this 'period of grace'
might be extended until the spring to give time for appropriate
preparations to be made by those schools.
Although the DfE has reminded us that technically, there is no
legal period of grace (there has been no change in or relaxation of
legislation) in the current circumstances, it would be reasonable
for administrative reasons for LAs/SACREs to allow those schools
that may have been due for reconsideration during lockdown or are
due for reconsideration this term, a little longer - for example,
until the end of autumn term - to submit their renewal
applications. The ESFA is likely to take a similar position in
relation to academies.
Please note York SACRE at present does not have any determinations but our guidance can be found here: https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/2999/york-sacre-appendix-2-collective-worship-determination-guidance
Groupings for Collective Worship
The other point that has come up in
discussion with some schools and with SACREs is about groupings for
Collective Worship (CW) – the guidance says that any
groupings already in place within a school can be used for
Collective Worship – traditionally, this has been interpreted
to mean the whole school, key stage groups, year groups and
individual class groups. In the present circumstances, other
groupings such as ‘bubbles’/ ‘pods’ formed
by schools to manage appropriate social distancing could also be
included in this list.
This is in accordance with the legislation (Schedule 20 of the
School Standards & Framework Act 1998) which states that:
(2) The arrangements for the required collective worship may, in
respect of each school day, provide for a single act of worship for
all pupils or for separate acts of worship for pupils in different
age groups or in different school groups.
(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) a “school
group” is any group in which pupils are taught or take
part in other school activities.
The DfE view is that this gives schools a lot of flexibility to
conduct CW in any grouping that they think appropriate, including
‘bubbles’ or ‘pods’.
Please note York SACRE guidance including model policy and self-evaluation documents can be found here: https://www.york.gov.uk/SACRE