Fresh thinking on Assemblies

At a recent conference on the way forward for Religious Observance, delegates suggested a number of fresh approaches:

• Small-group discussions allowing pupils of all ages to decide which moral or religious issues to explore
• Discussion and debate stimulated by a visiting speaker, a TV programme or a short article
• Everything should be based on understanding the needs of the school community and its local community. If it meets young people’s needs, it won’t be irrelevant (obviously!)
• “One size fits all” just isn’t good enough; neither is “religious tokenism” – Nativity plays may be popular, but are there better ways of helping children think through spirituality for themeselves?