Spiritual Development
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Developing pupils’ Spiritual Development
The school has reached a shared definition of spirituality. We believe Spirituality is about being aware of yourself and the world around you and can include: • faith in God and a deep friendship with God, including prayer • an appreciation of the natural world • connecting to the present moment - mindfulness • deep questioning about the what really matters to you in life • reflecting on your emotions and how you feel • awe and wonder and a sense of mystery • delight and openness in learning new skills As a school we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable pupils to: • Promote pupil well-being and self-esteem through rich learning experiences. • Develop their capacity for critical and independent thought. • Foster their emotional life and express their feelings. • Experience moments of stillness and reflection. • Discuss their beliefs, feelings, values and responses to personal experiences. • Form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships. • Reflect on, consider and celebrate the wonders and mysteries of life. • Recognise and reflect on Christian approaches to Spiritual Development. Spiritual development is wholly cross curricular. It should encourage pupils to recognise the spiritual dimension of their learning, reflect on the significance of what they are learning, and to recognise any challenges that there may be to their own attitude and lifestyle. This type of learning may need to be made explicit to pupils. Class discussions, worship and circle time will give pupils opportunities to: • Talk about personal experiences and feelings. • Express and clarify their ideas and beliefs. • Speak about difficult events, eg bullying, death etc. • Share thoughts and feelings with other people. • Explore relationships with friends/family/others. • Consider others’ needs and behaviour. • Show empathy and a respect for others • Develop self-esteem and a sense of belonging. • Develop the skills and attitudes that enable pupils to develop socially, morally, spiritually and culturally — eg empathy, respect, open mindedness, sensitivity, critical awareness |
Children's Definition of SpiritualityWhat is Spirituality?
Spirituality is about being aware of yourself and the world around you. It can be about: • faith in God and a deep friendship with God, including prayer • an appreciation of the natural world • connecting to the present moment - mindfulness • deep questioning about the what really matters to you in life • reflecting on your emotions and how you feel • awe and wonder and a sense of mystery • delight and openness in learning new skills 
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