The Church of England's Vision for Education states a core desire that children will experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10). At St. Mark's, we believe that we need to give all of our children the chance to allow them to succeed and reach their full potential. 

What is Spirituality?

Spirituality is about how we experience life and therefore how we live our own lives. It is also about our relationship with our self, others, the world and with God. It even makes us aware of things bigger than ourselves and this often makes us say ‘WOW’ but sometimes ‘OW'. It gives us the confidence to reflect and ask questions about the world around us.

"Spirituality is about our relationships with ourselves, our family, friends, those around us, to God and to all of creation." - Professor Ursula King. 

The Four Elements of Spirituality:

Spirituality explores our relationships and connections. These are relationships with ourselves, others, the world and beyond.

Self - Developing self-awareness, reflection, personal values and an understanding of one's own beliefs and emotions. 

Others - Nurturing positive relationships, empathy, compassion, respect and a sense of responsibility towards others. 

The World - Fostering awe and wonder, appreciation of beauty, and a commitment to caring for God's creation.

The Beyond - Developing an understanding of God through Christian teaching, prayer and worship, while encouraging pupils to explore life's big questions, meaning and faith. 

Windows, Mirrors and Doors

At St. Mark's C of E Primary School, we recognise that a shared approach to spirituality is the best way to ensure our school family flourishes and develops spiritually. We use the Windows, Mirrors and Doors approach to encourage our children to think about the world around them, reflect upon themselves and respond by putting their believes into action. 

Windows:

Windows allow the children to look out and learn about the world around them. It allows them to learn about life’s WOW’s (things that are amazing) and ‘OWs’ (things that bring us up short). By looking out at the world around them, the children are learning about life in all its fullness.

Mirrors:

Mirrors allow the children to reflect upon their experiences. They consider meaningful questions and consider possible answers. 

Doors:

Doors give the children the opportunity to step into the world around them and put their own beliefs and values into action.

Spirituality Question of the Week

Each week, we have a Spirituality Question of the Week which allows our children to reflect and respond. Our spirituality question is linked to our Collective Worship value for the half-term. Please see below an example of a Spirituality Question of the Week linked to the value of perseverance. Copies of the children's reflections are kept in our class Collective Worship books.

Planned Opportunities for Spiritual Development:

We create opportunities for spiritual growth through:

Collective Worship - Held in school and church, providing planned spiritual development for our pupils and staff. It provides daily moments of prayer, quiet thought and discussion.

Religious Education - Explores big questions about the meaning of life, their own beliefs and an understanding of different faiths, traditions and world views.

Educational Visits and Experiences - Trips to places of worship, historical sites, and nature to inspire awe, with time to take in and reflect on surroundings. 

Recognising and Celebrating Achievements - Star of the Week, Values VIP and sporting achievements etc. 

Whole-School Charity Events - Encouraging children to contribute and understand their impact of how we, as a school community can make a difference.

Discussion and Reflection - Encouraging thoughtful conversation across the curriculum, with the creation of a supportive atmosphere to support this.