What a complete and utter waste of learning time!

I have a hatred for assemblies (and so does our new head thank goodness!) because I think more often than not, even if they are engaging and enjoyable, there are better uses of children's time.

We have a whole school singing assembly (Hate it, as do the kids. Who decided that children need to spend so much of their school life singing when so few adults need it as a skill!?) that lasts about 30 minutes, and a whole school good news assembly that also lasts about 30 minutes. Neither are meant to be that long, but they are.

Then we have two split-key stage assemblies led by staff. They last 15 minutes.

I think it really sad that your class hate singing assembly. My class can't wait to go every week. We do have KS singing assemblies though, not whole school so maybe that makes a difference?

Whole school assembly is only on Monday morning, first thing. The idea of everyone coming together collectively to start the week is a nice one, but yeah it isn't always all that exciting. And not sure it is hugely worthwhile, children definitely don't get the idea of collective worship and all that.

Then we do a KS assembly which is more light-hearted and class teachers run them. 20 minutes or so is all.

And then achievement assembly which is boring, but important for children. They like getting certificates, but get really fidgety.

That's it.

minnieminx

I think it really sad that your class hate singing assembly. My class can't wait to go every week. We do have KS singing assemblies though, not whole school so maybe that makes a difference?

Whole school assembly is only on Monday morning, first thing. The idea of everyone coming together collectively to start the week is a nice one, but yeah it isn't always all that exciting. And not sure it is hugely worthwhile, children definitely don't get the idea of collective worship and all that.

Then we do a KS assembly which is more light-hearted and class teachers run them. 20 minutes or so is all.

And then achievement assembly which is boring, but important for children. They like getting certificates, but get really fidgety.

That's it.

A few of them like it. But just think, how many people do you know that actually enjoy singing or value it as a skill? I'm just not sure how much use half an hour singing is to our children in later life!

When singing the songs, I find it makes my jaw ache singing the higher notes and just find it annoying and umcomfortable - I can entirely sympathise with our bored children! One song every so often for a purpose - lovely. But half an hour of it just for the sake of it is just too much singing!

When I look around the assembly, there are far far more children looking bored or not joining in, than those that are enjoying it. Surely choir club is enough to provide for those that do?

We have: 

Monday - Whole school assembly: 30 minutes, supposed to be led by the HT but more often than not led by another of us (in a small school, not many staff to spread it round!)

Tuesday - Key stage assembly: 15 minutes

Wednesday - Class assembly: 15 minutes

Thursday - whole school assembly - 30 minutes, again, supposed to be HT but this doesn't happen very often and one of us ends up doing it at short notice

Friday - achievement assembly - 30 minutes, same story with HT

All of our assemblies have to have a prayer, hymn, learning objective and evidence of children's involvement. All has to be meticulously recorded in a folder for scrutiny. We are observed taking assemblies by all and sundry - from governors to the SIP, to the local vicar, to parents. Children also have to have written evidence of their thoughts and feelings related to assemblies once per half term in their "assembly books".

Hate, hate, hate assembly time.

 

 

Impulce, I think you need a new person to take your singing assembly. We do it in key stages, and there is less of a expectation of good behaviour in KS2 anyway so there are a number just sat there doing nothing. In KS1 expectations and inspiration is greater and the children love it. Sometimes they start singing in the corridor on the way back to class, just because. Last week I said something or other in gym that reminded them of a song they do as a warm up in singing assembly and so they all just randomly launched into it!

impulce

But just think, how many people do you know that actually enjoy singing or value it as a skill? I'm just not sure how much use half an hour singing is to our children in later life!

Have you watched the jubilee celebrations? The football? Do you sing on birthdays? Sing along to the radio? Sing at Christmas in church? I can't sing a note in tune and regularly feel left out in life because I can't (out of kindness to other people) join in.

And, actually, sod later life! A half hour having a good old sing song with your friends is a fabulous use of time!

[edited by: minnieminx at 19:02 (GMT 0) on 16-6-2012]

We have 3 whole school assemblies each week, plus a whole school singing assembly and a Celebration assembly ( with parents) every Friday. The Head takes one a week, plus the Celebration one, we have  visitor each week ( local vicar/priest/lay visitor or special interest group-such as a charity ) and the other two are covered by teachers ona  rota. They usually last around 20 minutes ( except for the Friday one which can go on a bit!)

impulce

I'm just not sure how much use half an hour singing is to our children in later life!

 

On that basis we would teach very little in school.

minnieminx

Impulce, I think you need a new person to take your singing assembly. We do it in key stages, and there is less of a expectation of good behaviour in KS2 anyway so there are a number just sat there doing nothing. In KS1 expectations and inspiration is greater and the children love it. Sometimes they start singing in the corridor on the way back to class, just because. Last week I said something or other in gym that reminded them of a song they do as a warm up in singing assembly and so they all just randomly launched into it!

impulce

But just think, how many people do you know that actually enjoy singing or value it as a skill? I'm just not sure how much use half an hour singing is to our children in later life!

Have you watched the jubilee celebrations? The football? Do you sing on birthdays? Sing along to the radio? Sing at Christmas in church? I can't sing a note in tune and regularly feel left out in life because I can't (out of kindness to other people) join in.

And, actually, sod later life! A half hour having a good old sing song with your friends is a fabulous use of time!

I agree. I love singing. As much as possible, even though I'm no good!

At the moment we have an hours music lesson  a week ( split between brass instruments and singing), an hours choral singing-for a concert next month, and half an hour of topic work as singing ( as we are performing an end of term musical!)

We sing non-stop!

 As RE/ worship coordinator, I have been told repeatedly by the Diocese that an assembly should be one minute for each year of the average age of the children participating. We aim for, KS1 approx 7 mins, KS 2 approx 10 mins. Singing is counted as a different time slot.  Whole school assemblies can be significantly longer and when faced with visitors and reward assemblies.

I hate assembly too. We have to go to whole school assembly on Mondays (which is always reallllllly boring, never understand why teachers have to,stay) and Fridays (certificates which I don't mind so much). Rest of the week we don't have to stay, thought agree its not a good use of the kids' time. Singing assembly the enjoy, the rest of it is just bullshit if u ask me. 15 mins a day that could be spent actually teaching them. Or watching paint dry.

Thankfully we are allowed to remove kids from assembly time for interventions and reading, so 3 times a week I do this. At least 1 child is spending that time productively.

Whole school 4 times a week.    All 20 mins long.

One singing practise/assembly fronted by me. 
One led by the head. 
One celebration assembly led on rotation by the staff. 
One led by a member of the clergy. (Church school)

 

Other day is a circle time in class.

 It is so sad to hear such negative attitudes towards assemblies. I have always taught in church schools and so I am obviously speaking with a particular point of view.  Assemblies have always been a valuable part of the day in the schools where I have worked and are certainly not a waste of time.  We come together as a family to share and dare I say it....worship!  How often do children and adults have an opportunity to reflect.  Education is about the whole child and their spiritual development is vitally important - remember the riots last summer?  Staff put a tremendous amount of effort into their assemblies to try and make them meaningful, interesting and fun.  I have given assemblies sat on top of a ladder, thrown eggs across the hall ( the scream from the Head was wonderful), have done magic tricks and sat inside a tent.  If assemblies are dull we can only blame the people presenting them.

McCahey, I hear what you are saying and totally agree in principle - coming together to reflect is a valuable part of the day. However...I teach year 1/2 and never keep the class sitting for more than 10 mins max during any carpet in-put time - they are so young. So surely 15 mins assembly would be a much better timing? Even when they are exciting, meaningful, interesting and fun, I feel that 30 mins is just too long for my little ones to sit through and get the most from. That is the reason I was wondering what other schools do...I would love assembly to be 15 mins and regain that extra 15 mins daily, oh the things I could do with that time!

 I understand what you are saying; I actually think that 15 mins assembly for this age is way too long, let alone 30mins.  If you look at my earlier post on this blog, the Diocese states very clearly that you should be looking at approximately 1 minute of assembly time per year of the child's age. Based on these guidelines, we aim for 7/10 mins for KS1 and 10/ 15 mins for KS2 assembly.  Ok slightly longer than suggested but keep it short, sweet and meaningful.

OK, here's the killer question...as a NQT who very obviously doesn't want to rock any boats or appear pushy in any way whatsoever, how would you raise this subject with your HT? I have already suggested separate Key Stage assemblies thinking that way I could liaise with the Reception teacher and do shorter ones - not OKed. I have suggested moving the assembly to before break and suggesting a 15 minute slot instead - unfortunately this was half agreed - the time slot moved BUT the timing remained as 30 mins. I don't feel as though I can do anything more about the situation. Pulling my hair out about how to change things. Unfortunately don't have the support of other staff members because they like that time to do intervention groups/liaising with TAs etc. Would just like to do the right thing by my kids, that's all. They then go straight in to a Read, Write, Inc 1 hour long session. Hmmmm, will keep thinking...I guess sometimes there are things in school which happen and although you may not agree with them, you just have to live with them?!

Most people like music, sing along to favourite songs etc, yes - but I don't think that's enough reason to dedicate such chunks of the school day to it. Almost anyone can mimic their favourite song or pick up how to sing happy birthday, without having to spend so much time singing at school.

I don't mind singing for the school productions etc as much, as I feel that has a purpose and an outcome. And singing as part of music lessons to learn about rhythm, pitch etc as that has a purpose also.

But..."lets just sing for half an hour" is purely about enjoyment, and only about enjoyment for those that actually enjoy it. There are those children sitting there not opening their mouths whom I just think what use of time is this for them?

The format of our singing sessions does have something to do with it - we have a whole class one, and the songs are often too complex for children in Reception/KS1 who can neither read the words on the screen or understand what most of them mean. The repetative/rhythmic songs from their music sessions they do remember and enjoy much more.

 I think I just feel like it is such wasted time for the children who simply don't enjoy singing - and they're not getting enough of any kind of skill development out of it to justify teaching it to them anyway.

 It sounds likes you've really tried and I happen to agree with you.  Are you a church school? Do you have a worship coordinator? Unfortunately,

..I guess sometimes there are things in school which happen and although you may not agree with them, you just have to live with them?!

 Yep!!

Good luck

Monday - year 1 and 2 hymn practice with music co-ordinator (small hall)

              year 3-6 worship with HT

 

Tuesday - year 1 and 2 worship led by ks1 teachers on rota (small hall)

               year 3-6 hymn practice with music co-ordinator

 

Wednesday - whole school (except EYFS) worship led by deputy HT

Thursday - whole school worship including EYFS led by vicar

Friday - EYFS, year 1 and year 2 'good news' assembly led by ks1 teachers on rota (small all)

           year 3-6 worship led by HT

 

We are a church school. Worship usually lasts about 20mins, we are generally back in class ready to start the mornings lessons by 9.30.