Assembly template
The purpose of these assembly packs is to save you time when faced with preparing an assembly. They should be adaptable, so that they can be used in any school. The philosophy behind the packs is to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural values of the school community in an inspiring and engaging manner.
The template is a tool for creating your own assemblies. You can download the PDF or Word version and adapt this to your own needs.
Read hints and tips on writing if you're creating your own assembly from scratch.
Download the assembly template.
Read the requirements for collective worship and setting a collective worship policy.
Assembly template guidance
The assembly plan should be a walk through of the actual assembly. It is broken up into four key sections: aims, introduction, main presentation and summary. It should be a step-by-step outline rather than a script, so that others using it can alter it according to their school or circumstances.
The assembly should last for 15 minutes. You can make suggestions for extending or shortening the assembly at the end.
| Title and date (if fixed): | E.g. St Valentine's Day (February 14) | |
|---|---|---|
| Year group: | List all years for which this assembly would be suitable (R to Year 13). | |
| Key subject: | The subject to which the assembly is most relevant. Only one of the following can be selected: RE, PSHE, citizenship. | |
| Cross-curricular: | Others subjects covered by the assembly (can also include RE, PSHE and citizenship). This is optional and you do not have to enter details here. | |
| QCA scheme of work: | Where possible, include the unit references. | |
| Useful equipment: |
Anything that would help conduct the assembly, e.g. whiteboard, OHP, cassette player, piano. |
The assembly plan
Aims
(Approximately 50-80 words)
- Briefly outline the theme of the assembly, stating the key date or event in the opening sentence.
- Explain the topical relevance (if it is topical) or the reason for the assembly.
- Set out the aim/s of the assembly as bullet points.
- Try to provide a context in which the assembly would best be delivered, and identify any circumstances that would not be conducive to the assembly being delivered to its full potential.
Introduction
(Add timing)
- Add a one-line or two-line introduction.
Main presentation
(This can be bullet-pointed paragraphs).
(Add timing)
You should consider the following points when you are writing your assembly:
- Who is it aimed at?
- Is it pitched at the right level?
- Will you need any resources?
- What teaching objectives/learning objectives does your assembly support?
- Will you involve any audience participation? If so, who?
- Is the assembly fully inclusive?
- Are there any underlying values it reflects, e.g. green issues, human rights or equal opportunities issues, e.g. with regard to gender or ethnicity?
- Will your assembly be suitable for use in any school?
Summary
(Add timing)
- Insert a scripted line as a way of ending the assembly.
- Bring together all the elements of your assembly and sum up the point/s you were trying to get across.
- You could end this section with a prayer or a moment of reflection.
Additional notes
- These should be any additional notes that a teacher would find useful, e.g. the size of group that this assembly is suitable for.
- Does your assembly contain any elements that may be morally or ethically unsuitable for some groups? If so, give details.
Extension/shortening tip
To shorten
- Ideas for making the assembly shorter.
To lengthen
- Ideas for making the assembly longer.
Recommended resources
These should be useful additions to your assembly. They could include
relevant books, music, songs, websites, objects or videos that are relevant to
your assembly and which most teachers would be able to access. Add in as much
detail about the books as possible, e.g. title, author, ISBN number. Note that
TeacherNet cannot recommend websites from which books might be purchased.
Published: 19 November 2003
