ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how opportunities for worship can be given to all without breaking that sense of community which is so prime a reason for assemblies. The intrinsic value of gathering everyone together and focusing on what school is for is probably felt by most teachers and headteachers. A recent into the turning around of three community schools which became church aided schools cited worship as a key factor in their success. The report states: Above all, the time for worship encouraged pupils to experience what it is to belong to something bigger than themselves and to look outwards to others. For education and worship have been widely assumed not to belong together. The idea dies hard that education is open while worship is closed, that education promotes a critical approach whilst worship encourages a passive receptive attitude, that education is exploratory and wide-ranging whilst worship is narrow-minded and dogmatic.
