Spirituality at St Mary's

What is Spirituality?

At St Mary's, we believe spirituality is about noticing, reflecting and growing. It is about those moments that make us stop and think, ask questions, wonder, connect with others and discover more about ourselves and the world around us.

Spirituality is not something that happens only in collective worship or Religious Education. It is woven throughout school life and can be experienced by everyone, regardless of faith or belief.

Through our Sunrise Curriculum and Christian vision, we encourage every child to flourish and recognise that they are never too young to make a difference.

Our definition:

Spirituality is not something we can see, it is something we feel inside ourselves, it is about awe and wonder, asking questions, inspiration and being aware of something ‘bigger’ outside of ourselves.   

We use child-friendly, fun language to help us ground our understanding of spirituality. This also helps us condense the definition into easy to remember chunks.  

Our Spirituality Windows

At St Mary's, we explore spirituality through three windows:

Looking In 🌱

This is about understanding ourselves.

Children are encouraged to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, beliefs and experiences. They learn who they are, what matters to them and how they are growing as individuals.

Examples include:

• Reflection time

• Mindfulness and stillness

• Personal goal setting

• Celebrating achievements

• Considering life's big questions

Looking Out 🤝

This is about connecting with others.

Children learn to show compassion, empathy and respect. They are encouraged to think about how their actions affect others and how they can make a positive difference in the world.

Examples include:

• Charity work

• Young Leaders Award

• Care Fair

• Community projects

• Supporting one another

Looking Up ✨

This is about awe and wonder.

Children are encouraged to explore mystery, beauty, faith and the things that inspire us. We create opportunities for children to experience wonder and ask questions about the world around them.

Examples include:

• Collective worship

• Prayer and reflection

• Exploring nature

• Visits to places of worship

Spirituality in Action

Spirituality can be found in many aspects of school life:

📸 Collective Worship

📸 Spirituality Days

📸 RE Lessons

📸 Outdoor Learning

📸 Church Visits

📸 Young Leaders Award

📸 Care Fair

📸 Acts of Kindness

 

Our Flourishing Moments

At St Mary's, we recognise that spirituality often grows through significant moments in our lives.

Our Collective Worship Buddies have reflected on times when they felt they were flourishing. These moments remind us that flourishing looks different for everyone, but often involves growth, support, achievement, courage, connection and joy.

 

The St Mary's Promise

We want every child to leave St Mary's as a curious, compassionate and courageous individual who is ready to flourish and make a positive difference in the world.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example..." (1 Timothy 4:12)