RE and Worship

St James' Church, Religious Education and Collective Worship

Growing Together in Faith, Love and Service

At St James' Church of England Primary School, our Christian vision and values are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive and nurturing school community where every child and adult is valued, supported and encouraged to flourish. Our close relationship with St James' Church is a valued and important part of school life. Together, we celebrate our Christian heritage, strengthen our sense of community and provide opportunities for children to explore faith, spirituality and the importance of serving others. Religious Education (RE), collective worship and opportunities for spiritual development are integral to daily life at St James'. We celebrate the rich diversity of our school community, encouraging children to learn about and learn from Christianity and a range of other religions and worldviews. Through this, we promote understanding, compassion, respect and a sense of belonging for all.

Our Christian Vision

Guided by our Christian Values we endeavour to inspire, cherish and serve our school community. We strive to be exceptional in all we do. We will nurture a love of all God's children. We seek to build respect for all faiths and beliefs.

‘Serve one another in love.’ — Galatians 5:13

Our vision inspires our decisions, relationships, curriculum and the opportunities we provide. It encourages everyone within our school family to develop their unique gifts, show kindness and compassion, and make a positive difference to the lives of others.

We believe that every individual is precious and has the potential to flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Our Mission Statement

“Together we value, inspire and develop each other within a happy, safe community based on Christian values and respect for other faiths.”

‘Show respect to everyone.’ — 1 Peter 2:17

Our mission reflects our commitment to providing an environment where children and adults feel safe, respected and included. Through our Christian values, we encourage everyone to live well together, celebrate differences and demonstrate love and respect towards others.

St James' Church

We are proud of our strong and developing partnership with St James' Church and warmly welcome Rev Daniel, our new vicar, into our school family.

Rev Daniel plays an important role in strengthening the links between our school, church and wider community. We look forward to developing this partnership through shared worship, Christian celebrations, opportunities for prayer and reflection and regular engagement with the life of the church. Our relationship with St James' Church provides children with meaningful opportunities to experience Christian traditions, explore the significance of faith and develop their understanding of belonging to a wider community.

Through our partnership, we aim to:

• Strengthen children's understanding of Christianity and the Anglican tradition.

• Celebrate important events in the Christian calendar, including Harvest, Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

• Provide opportunities for children to participate in worship, prayer, reflection and services in Church and School.

• Build positive relationships between pupils, families, school staff, clergy and the wider parish community.

• Encourage children to put their faith and values into action through kindness, compassion, generosity and service to others.

Our church partnership is an important expression of our Christian vision, helping children understand what it means to ‘serve one another in love’.

Collective Worship and Spiritual Development

Collective worship is a special and valued part of each school day. It provides opportunities for our school community to come together, reflect on our vision and values, explore teachings and consider how we can make a positive difference in the world. Our worship is invitational, inclusive and inspiring, welcoming children and adults of all faiths and none while respecting individual beliefs. Through worship, children are encouraged to ask big questions, reflect on their own experiences, develop spiritually and consider how Christian teachings can influence their choices and actions. Pupils are encouraged to take an active role in planning, leading and evaluating worship, developing their confidence, leadership skills and sense of responsibility. We also recognise that spiritual development takes place throughout school life. Through moments of reflection, creativity, relationships, the natural world and experiences of awe and wonder, we provide opportunities for all members of our school community to flourish spiritually.

Religious Education: Learning About and Learning From Faith

Religious Education is an important part of our curriculum and contributes to children's understanding of themselves, others and the wider world. Through high-quality RE, pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of Christianity as a living and diverse world faith, alongside a range of other religions and worldviews. Children are encouraged to explore important questions about life, faith, belonging, identity, meaning and purpose. They learn to listen respectfully, think critically, express their own views and appreciate the beliefs and experiences of others. We celebrate religious festivals and significant occasions throughout the year, helping children develop an understanding of the diverse faiths, cultures and traditions represented within our school and wider community. We follow the Blackburn Diocesan recommended Syllabus: Questful RE. Please see our RE Policy and Curriculum Pages for more information.

Living Out Our Christian Vision

Our Christian vision is not simply something we talk about; it is something we strive to live out every day. Through positive relationships, charitable activities, pupil leadership, community partnerships and opportunities to care for our world, we encourage children to recognise their responsibility to others. Our commitment to courageous advocacy inspires pupils to speak up about issues that matter, challenge injustice, care for God's creation and take meaningful action to support those in need, both locally and globally. By developing compassion, responsibility and respect, we aim to equip our children with the confidence and character to make a positive contribution to society.

Working Together as a School and Church Family

Our partnership with St James' Church, Rev Daniel, families and the wider community helps us to nurture a school where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Together, we seek to create opportunities for all children and adults to grow, flourish and experience the love, hope and joy that underpin our Christian vision.

‘Serve one another in love.’ — Galatians 5:13

Further Information

For more information about Religious Education, collective worship and our Christian ethos, please visit:

• Our Policies Page: Collective Worship Policy and Religious Education Policy.

• Whole School Curriculum Overview: RE learning, collective worship themes, weekly Christian values and religious festivals.

• St James' Church: Information about our Parish Church, Church services and opportunities for families to become involved. Blackburn St James's, the Church on the Hill - A Church Near You 

Section 48: National Society Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) Report

The school was judged to be 'EXCELLENT' because:

• The school’s Christian vision is carefully and biblically rooted in the Christian message. It is understood, valued and demonstrated by all members of this welcoming and harmonious community.
• Leadership at all levels is exceptional. It focuses on identifying each individual’s unique potential as a child of God. As a consequence, all are nurtured for emotional resilience, academic success and professional fulfilment. The inspiring headteacher receives excellent support from dedicated governors and talented colleagues.
• Relationships based on the Christian vision and the core Christian values of love, respect and courage are a tangible strength of the school and recognisable in all interactions.
• Inclusion is excellent. Adults are creative and caring in the way that they support individuals so that they flourish in a manner that is life changing for some and life enhancing for all.