Spirituality

Spirituality 

‘Spirituality is ‘relational awareness whereby individuals relate to self, others, the world around them and to a divine other’

Rebecca Nye 

Rationale:

Our school vision based on Hebrews 10:24 ‘and let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds’ ensures that all staff and pupils see the need to support one another towards a common goal. Just as the writer of the letter to the Hebrews encouraged them to be more Christlike in their actions towards one another, so we as a school family will support each other emotionally and spiritually. We aim to ensure that our school vision is lived out daily and that staff and children live out our values of love, forgiveness, spirit, aspiration and hope in their actions towards one another, making our school a place where everyone feels truly valued and able to share their feelings. We encourage open communication, where people feel listened to and supported, so that we may spur one another on in all that we do. 

Spirituality is a powerful force that determines what we are, and our self-understanding.  It forms the basis for successful relationships, and shapes our behaviour and outlook on life, others and the world.  

Spiritual development relates to that aspect of inner life through which we acquire insight into our personal experiences which are of enduring worth.  

Within our schools and academies, the Trust vision and school’s ethos enables and encourages all children to grow and flourish spiritually.  

It is our aim that the children’s individual spiritual development is fostered as an integral element of the range of learning opportunities and experiences they encounter as part of the curriculum, and that it permeates all strands of school life.  

The four elements of spirituality consist of:   

Self   

• Awareness of feelings; ability to reflect and express   

• Awareness of our uniqueness; happiness with who we are   

• Gratitude for the things we have and the person we are   

• Exploration of personal faith   

• Development of imagination and creativity   

Others   

• Empathy and understanding; respect, tolerance   

• To love and be loved (loving your neighbour)   

• Making a difference; duty   

Beyond -Transcendence (Beyond Human Physical Experiences)   

This element of spirituality is specific to our Church schools: 

• Encountering/experiencing God (having a sense of what lies beyond the material/physical)   

• Ability to formulate and discuss the ‘Big Questions’ (eg, about life, death, suffering, nature of God)   

• Opportunities for prayer, connecting with God   

• Making sense of the world   

Beauty and Nature 

• Developing a sense of awe and wonder   

• Enjoying the miracles of everyday life   

• Taking time for what really matters   

• Appreciating beauty in art, music, nature 

Aims:  

The aims for spirituality in all of our Primary Schools are:  

• To provide a context of faith (Church schools), security and loving relationships to support each child’s spiritual search.  

• To foster the spiritual development of each child, regardless of age, sex, ability or cultural background.  

• To foster self-awareness and promote a feeling of self-worth.  

• To develop a set of values, principles and beliefs.  

• To develop positive human qualities.  

• To develop respect and empathy for other people and their beliefs.  

• To foster a respect for different people’s feelings and values.  

• To develop the children’s enthusiasm to explore and learn through enquiry and first hand experiences.  

• To enable the children to attribute meaning to experiences.  

• To enable the children to value the non-material dimension of life.  

• To foster reflection and stillness.  

• To foster a sense of meaning, purpose and direction in life.  

• To encourage imagination and creativity.  

• To develop a sense of awe and wonder at the miracle of creation, life and the natural world.  

• To enable the children to experience a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others, and the world around them, including the intangible.  

• To share Christian stories and respond to Christian festivals, rituals and symbols, particularly those from the Anglican tradition.  (* Church school specific) 

Please see the full policy below which includes implementation and organisation of opportunities to explore spirituality in our school.

‘A WOW Window in Our Local Environment’

As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, schools are required to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the school and of society- something that we value highly at Blackpool School, and is interweaved through all areas of our curriculum and school day. This term’s home learning project has a whole school theme, where children in all year groups are invited to take part in a rich opportunity to support their spiritual development. Spiritual Development in a Church of England primary school relates to having a better understanding of ourselves and forms the basis for successful relationships, shaping our behaviours and outlook on life, and others in the world regardless of religious faiths or beliefs. The home learning project this term for your child focuses on the aspect of:

‘Beauty and Nature’.

This links to the learning about creation in their Religious Education lessons. We would like all children to capture a ‘wow’ in their local environment.