Spiritual Development

We believe that Spiritual Development is very much about the development of our values and the opportunities we give ourselves and our children as part of these.

It relates to the search for meaning and purpose in our existence. It leads towards the understanding of self and others. It has to do with feelings, emotions, attitudes and beliefs. It is not linked to solely to a particular faith, spiritual development is therefore accessible to everyone.

Spirituality is something that touches us all and it is not something that can be clearly defined. It is not something we can see, it is something that we feel inside ourselves. Spirituality is about how people connect deeply with each other and the world around them.

We believe our children are given opportunities to reflect upon the meaning of spiritual experiences and for us, believe that spirituality is:

Being curious.
Feeling awe and wonder.
Making time for stillness and silence.
Caring for yourself and others.
Belonging and feeling content.
Noticing what is around us.

Our school supports children's spiritual development by:

Giving children the opportunity to explore values and beliefs, including religious beliefs and the way in which they impact peoples' lives
Giving children the opportunity to understand human feelings and emotions, the way they impact on people and how understanding of them can be helpful
Developing an ethos within which all children can flourish.
Tolerating and understanding difference and respecting the integrity of individuals, including those with different faith and beliefs
Promoting learning opportunities which value children's questions, encourage deeper questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns.
Recognising and giving the time for stillness and calm.

The spiritual development of pupils is shown by their:

Ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people's faith, feelings and values.
Sense of pride in their work and their ability to be reflective in their answers.
Attitudes to learning and self motivation.
Abilities to engage with the wider communities and those of different faiths and backgrounds.
Their appreciation of the world, of nature and of silence.
Their voice and the way that they express empathy and genuine care for others.

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and it's leaf does not wither. In all that He does, He prospers" Psalm 1:3

Overview of embedded opportunities to develop spirituality.