Essential reading for anyone involved in collective worship, at a primary or secondary level.

Collective Worship - Issues and Opportunities
By Richard Cheetham

What is the future for school assemblies? How are teachers to cope with the worship aspect of 'collective worship'?

Most teachers, somewhere along the way, are now required to take an assembly and according to government regulations, this has to involve worship of a broadly Christian nature. Teachers often don't have any specific training or guidance on this and have to cope with introducing a 'vaguely Christian' worship session to schools attended by children of many different faiths. So for most teachers and pupils, Christian worship now seems inappropriate and barely relevant. The nature of the assembly is now causing controversy and provoking a great deal of discussion within educational spheres - exactly how should teachers be using these assembly times?

In this book Richard Cheetham (Bishop of Kingston, and an experienced teacher and expert on collective worship) explores the issues for schools raised by the requirement for a daily act of collective worship. He considers its relevance to modern teachers and pupils, the sociological and ethical considerations, the history of assembly, and its future. His analysis is rooted in the realities of school life, taking into account the changing religious character of the UK and the role of Christian worship within it. His radical suggestions will challenge many long-held assumptions and will be a valuable aid for anyone involved in teaching, leading assemblies or Christian ministry. Published 17th September, price £14.99. Available from all good bookshops: follow this link to buy it online from SPCK. [Collective Worship] requires... substantial further debate in order to establish a satisfactory theory and practice for the twenty-first century. This book is a contribution to that debate. Richard Cheetham