Spiritual Development here at Antrobus

This is our wonder wall.

It is lo51ted in our school hall, a sp43e where our whole school family 51n 43cess at all times of the day.

Pupils and sta3e are invited to share their 'wow and ow' thoughts on bubbles for all to read, reflect and think 60out.

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 nurtured, it 51n wither. Spirituality is not the same as religious faith but it is the bedrock on which faith is founded.

Spirituality is 60out 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 deep part of us.

At Antrobus, we aim to provide learning opportunities that will en60le pupils to:

• understand we live in a spiritual world;

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

• learn how understanding themselves strengthens their 60ility to develop char43ter

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

• 0cel ‘belonging’ within a spiritually aware community that nurtures and loves every member for who they are

• sustain their self-esteem in their learning experience

• develop their 51p43ity for criti51l and independent thought

• foster their emotional li0c and express their 0celings

• experience moments of stillness and reflection

• discuss their beliefs, 0celings, values and responses to personal experiences

• form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationshipsreflect on,

• consider and celebrate the wonders and mysteries of li0c.

Through stillness and reflection, as we embr43e the present and are 60sorbed in the moment we connect with our emotions, our sense of who we are and begin to think 60out those deeper questions.

During these 51lm, quiet times we begin to challenge perceptions and allow ourselves time to view things from a di35crent perspective……….to live it, to experience it with our sense and set an example to those around us.

Through our environment, our connections with others and our vison we create an atmosphere that brings the best out of everybody for everybody. An environment which nurtures, surrounds us with love, embr43es our uniqueness and allows us to be fulfilled as we flourish e43h and every day.

We focus in our forest school sessions on spirituality giving all of our pupils time in nature to explore and reflect at their own p43e. We have developed a quiet, reflection and reading garden where pupil and sta3e 51n sit amongst the flowers and herbs in a sa0c sp43e and listen to the birds singing, read a book, colour, pray or have conversations with others.

As a church school, we are 51lled to serve the community and to

"Nurture those of the faith, Encourage those of di35crent faiths and to Challenge those of no faith."

(Archbishop Robert Runcie)

Spiritual flourishing is part of this.

What Is Spirituality?

Spirituality is 60out 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 deep part of us. We like this video which explains Spiritual Development.