Religious education and collective worship

This chapter recounts the story of how religious education and collective worship became disconnected. Arguments for a (re)connection between collective worship and religious education and arguments against are both considered. A number of influential studies are reviewed, as well as more recent discussions. Case studies of collective worship in four schools, two primary, one secondary and one special are used to illustrate what can be done and the influences needed for collective worship to be successful. Collective worship covers themes that are relevant to religious education and to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students. Questions at the end are designed to help religious educators think about how they would respond to the call to take part in or conduct acts of worship.