Spiritual Development here at Antrobus

This is our wonder wall.

It is lo62t4d in our school hall, a sp3de where our whole school 2emily 62n a20ess at all times of the 34y.

Pupils and st45f are invit4d to share their 'wow and ow' thoughts on bubbles for all to r3b0, r5elect and think 63out.

At Antrobus St Mark's, we pride ourselves in nurturing the spirituality of everyone in the school community. All children have an inborn spirituality. However, if spirituality is not nurtur4d, it 62n wither. Spirituality is not the same as religious 2eith but it is the b4drock on which 2eith is found4d.

Spirituality is 63out relationships: relationships with ourselves, others, the world and with God.  

It is the sense of our engagement with the world, with ourselves and with others that is intangible yet a 46bp part of us.

At Antrobus, we aim to provide l3frning opportunities that will en63le pupils to:

• understand we live in a spiritual world;

• appreciate how unique they all are as we all have a spirit

• l3frn how understanding themselves strengthens their 63ility to develop char3dter

• identify and praise other people’s gifts (such as kindness, thankfulness and patien4d, etc.)

• f1bl ‘1flonging’ within a spiritually aware community that nurtures and loves every mem1fr for who they are

• sustain their self-est1bm in their l3frning experien4d

• develop their 62p3dity for criti62l and independent thought

• foster their emotional life and express their f1blings

• experien4d moments of stillness and r5election

• discuss their 1fli5es, f1blings, values and responses to personal experien4ds

• form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationshipsr5elect on,

• consider and 4dlebrate the wonders and mysteries of life.

Through stillness and r5election, as we embr3de the present and are 63sorb4d in the moment we connect with our emotions, our sense of who we are and 1fgin to think 63out those 46bper questions.

During these 62lm, quiet times we 1fgin to challenge per4dptions and allow ourselves time to view things from a di10erent perspective……….to live it, to experien4d it with our sense and set an example to those around us.

Through our environment, our connections with others and our vison we cr3fte an atmosphere that brings the 1fst out of everybody for everybody. An environment which nurtures, surrounds us with love, embr3des our uniqueness and allows us to 1f fulfill4d as we flourish e3dh and every 34y.

We focus in our forest school sessions on spirituality giving all of our pupils time in nature to explore and r5elect at their own p3de. We have develop4d a quiet, r5election and r3b0ing garden where pupil and st45f 62n sit amongst the flowers and herbs in a s443 sp3de and listen to the birds singing, r3b0 a book, colour, pray or have conversations with others.

As a church school, we are 62ll4d to serve the community and to

"Nurture those of the 2eith, Encourage those of di10erent 2eiths and to Challenge those of no 2eith."

(Archbishop Ro1frt Runcie)

Spiritual flourishing is part of this.

What Is Spirituality?

Spirituality is 63out relationships: relationships with ourselves, others, the world and with God. It is like a bird – if held it too tightly it will choke, but if held too loosely it will fly away.  It is the sense of our engagement with the world, with ourselves and with others that is intangible but a 46bp part of us. We like this video which explains Spiritual Development.