How long should an assembly or collective worship be?
Keep it short and sweet. You want enough time for a bit of reflection and learning, but not so long that fidgeting kicks in. Around 15 minutes is usually spot on.

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What music should I use for the children to come in to?
Music sets the mood! You could go traditional with something calm and classical – or switch it up with something upbeat and inspiring. There’s no rule that says assembly music has to be sleepy. If you fancy mixing things up, we love this playlist from All Stars Kids Club.

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What’s the best way to get everyone’s attention back after discussion time?
Ah, the golden question! The trick is to have a method that works every time. If your classes use a specific attention signal, try using the same across the whole hall. Or go old-school with clapping patterns – you clap a rhythm, they clap it back. Simple and effective.

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How do I make my collective worship INVITATIONAL?

Great question! The key is to offer, not insist. Try starting your worship with a gentle call and response—but don’t make it compulsory. Just invite the children to join in if they’d like to. The same goes for prayer. You could say, “If you’d like to make this prayer your own, say Amen.” It’s all about creating space for children to take part in a way that feels right for them.

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How do I get the children to join in with the singing?
If singing isn’t your school’s thing (yet), it can feel a bit like pulling teeth – especially with the older children. Our tip? Make it fun. Try setting out a few special chairs at the front and tap a few keen singers to come and sit there mid-song. Give the chairs a cool name – like the Fab Five or Super Singers – and you’ll see the enthusiasm spread!

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How do I get the children to leave the hall in silence?
Do you need to? Silent exits are fine, but sometimes a lively exit keeps the buzz of the assembly going. You could sing on the way out or keep the final reflection question going as they walk. A chatty exit can be a sign that the message stuck.

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Is there an easy way to get children involved in reviewing assemblies?
Yes – and it’s brilliant! Hand a few Year 5 or 6s a sticky note pad and a review question (like “What’s one thing you remember from today’s assembly?”). As everyone heads back to class, get your mini-reviewers to stop two children each and jot down their answers. Pop the sticky notes on a wall or display board and have a peek at the end of the week or term. Spoiler alert: they’ll say they love the Out of the Box assemblies – but you’ll also get some gems about what’s really landing!