AT THEALE C of E Primary School, in Berkshire, they have had similar experiences with collective worship to those of Baldwins Gate. While they have not conducted a formal survey, they have anecdotal evidence about the importance of singing, and are exploring how the church-school partnership can work.
Catherine Morley has been head teacher at Theale for 20 years. A piano player, she integrates music into all that they do. She believes that singing in school is a very important part of school life.
“Music is particularly important in worship because it’s quite unique, in that it’s an opportunity for everybody to be part of something,” she said. “But it’s also a leadership opportunity. We like children to lead in music. If you’re singing as part of a choir, and you’re singing to other children, then you’re trying to convey meaning.”
Mrs Morley and her staff work hard to offer a wide repertoire. They teach the children the Lord’s Prayer (African Sanctus) by David Fanshawe, which mixes the Latin text of the Lord’s Prayer with a blend of Western and African musical traditions. When presented with complex pieces, the children at Theale seem to rise to the challenge.
“When they’re singing, the children show a real commitment to what it means,” Mrs Morley said, “and that’s lovely to see.” The children also sing works by the established choral composers Bob Chilcott and John Rutter, as well as contemporary songs.
“That means wherever they go in their faith journey, they will hear music they recognise,” Mrs Morley said. “Whatever they do in the future, I want the music they hear to be familiar to them. That ritual in music has always been hugely important to me; I want the children to have some experience of that.”
The Rector of Holy Trinity, Theale, the Revd Martin Davy
At Theale, the children gather three times a week for whole-school worship and reflection. On Mondays, Mrs Morley tells a story that helps them to understand Bible teachings. On Tuesdays, they celebrate children’s achievements. On Wednesdays, worship is led by the Rector of Holy Trinity, Theale, the Revd Martin Davy. Collective-worship time on Thursdays and Fridays is class-based, focusing on the themes of Monday’s story and considering current affairs.
Mr Davy is a school governor, and very serious about his 20 minutes leading collective worship each week. “My perspective is that my assembly should be the best assembly of the week,” he said, smiling. “My prep and planning shouldn’t be run-of-the-mill.”
He has found his own way of making the church-school partnership work. Even though it’s a Church of England school, Mr Davy doesn’t feel it’s his “right”, as rector, to be there. “I’m there by invitation of the head. That helps frame the whole conversation, because I’m then working alongside the school in everything.”
In contrast to the deep choral pieces promoted by Mrs Morley, Mr Davy’s assemblies are “very energetic”, he said, with lively action songs. He uses online resources such as Maynard’s Groovy Bible Tunes! and Awesome Cutlery, which offer short pop songs based on Bible stories.
“They respond so well,” Mr Davy said. “Music is a big part of our primary school, by virtue of Catherine being so brilliant at that. So they’re very versatile, they love singing, they’ve got beautiful voices, and they love trying new things. If I overrun and we have to cut the singing, they’re very cross with me.”
Some young people, after they leave, attend services at Holy Trinity because they miss the rich, eclectic worship that they enjoyed at primary school. A 12-year-old who attends told Mr Davy: “I’ve been to secondary school, and I hate it. I don’t hear anything about Jesus any more.”
