The connection?

The bug struck. Pandemic spread. Health and care workers are doing all they can. And so are teachers. And now there's Russian brutality, along with impending climate catastrophe. 80 years ago our nation was in no less acute acute peril. The entire world was at war. To safeguard the long-term future, new laws for both universal health care and education were passed. Centrally, at the heart of the 1944 Education Act was the focus on beliefs and values expressed in a requirement for effective religious and moral education: Religious Education. This included assembling in collective worship. In the law of the land RE comprised both subject teaching ('RI') and assembling ('CW'). It's no surprise to find that football ritual takes the knee to what’s of special worth.

Why now?

The perils now are multiple and global. As well as the plague and war, there’s climate change, racism and increasing inequality. There’s also uncertainty about the nation’s future in the world and confusion over beliefs and values. Schools have the opportunity for concerted response, engaging these concerns with both mind and heart.

What’s proposed?

A revitalisation of ‘collective worship’, not in a way that presumes uniformity of belief, but open-heartedly towards what matters most in life. All state-funded education has the opportunity to celebrate British identity as Christian, Secular and Multi-Faith. This initiative will explore how primary and secondary schools might enrich their academic teaching with assemblies that communally stretch horizons and deepen reflection. They’ll be called Commonwealthing – with connotations of personal, theological and constitutional significance.

Is there a model?

An illustrative annual calendar for twice-weekly Windowing has been developed. It’s been extensively discussed with teachers, education advisers, faith community leaders, and academic specialists. It needs to be trialled in volunteering schools and academies. This is projected as a local regional trial, and, if appropriate, wider application and national affirmation thereafter.

How optional?

This is not envisaged as ever being required by government statute. However, it does provide a timely and intelligent way to reinterpret the existing law which still requires daily collective worship. It makes good educational sense. It could be applicable in all schools and academies, including ‘faith schools’, and adopted by LAs, Dioceses and Multi-Academy Trusts. It would benefit from further development and resourcing by local Standing Advisory Councils on RE (SACREs).