An Ofsted perspective on Spiritual Development Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their: Ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them Use of imagination and creativity in their learning Willingness to reflect on their experiences. Aims In order to foster spiritual development, the school aims to provide children with opportunities to: Develop an appreciation of their uniqueness and value as a child made in the image of God; Develop an understanding of the distinctive ethos of this church school as well as the context, language and symbolism of the Christian faith; Develop knowledge and understanding of the school’s core Christian values and the Biblical teaching that underpins them; Develop an appreciation of what it means to be a part of a community (e.g. using their gifts and abilities in the service of others); Develop the skills and language required to enable them to reflect upon the big questions and mysteries of life; Develop an awareness that experiences of disappointment, failure and loss may be occasions for spiritual growth; Understand the value of difference and diversity through involvement with others. Teaching and learning Through teaching and learning, the school pursues these aims by ensuring: The curriculum and all areas of our community life will be explicitly rooted in Christian values, such as forgiveness, thankfulness, peace and trust, as documented in all school policies; Opportunities for spiritual development will be pro-actively planned into the curriculum and actively encouraged in all areas of school life; Collective worship will celebrate the love of God for every individual and provide opportunities for children to respond to this; The school building and outdoor environment will provide appropriate spaces for silence, stillness and prayer (e.g. in reflection areas, the spiritual garden and interactive prayer stations); That children’s spiritual capacities such as imagination, empathy and insight will be fostered through the creative arts and interactive multi-sensory teaching strategies; That children’s moral development will be linked to spiritual development through strategies such as windows, mirrors and doors (see Reflection Journal);
An Ofsted perspective on Spiritual Development Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their: Ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them Use of imagination and creativity in their learning Willingness to reflect on their experiences. Aims In order to foster spiritual development, the school aims to provide children with opportunities to: Develop an appreciation of their uniqueness and value as a child made in the image of God; Develop an understanding of the distinctive ethos of this church school as well as the context, language and symbolism of the Christian faith; Develop knowledge and understanding of the school’s core Christian values and the Biblical teaching that underpins them; Develop an appreciation of what it means to be a part of a community (e.g. using their gifts and abilities in the service of others); Develop the skills and language required to enable them to reflect upon the big questions and mysteries of life; Develop an awareness that experiences of disappointment, failure and loss may be occasions for spiritual growth; Understand the value of difference and diversity through involvement with others. Teaching and learning Through teaching and learning, the school pursues these aims by ensuring: The curriculum and all areas of our community life will be explicitly rooted in Christian values, such as forgiveness, thankfulness, peace and trust, as documented in all school policies; Opportunities for spiritual development will be pro-actively planned into the curriculum and actively encouraged in all areas of school life; Collective worship will celebrate the love of God for every individual and provide opportunities for children to respond to this; The school building and outdoor environment will provide appropriate spaces for silence, stillness and prayer (e.g. in reflection areas, the spiritual garden and interactive prayer stations); That children’s spiritual capacities such as imagination, empathy and insight will be fostered through the creative arts and interactive multi-sensory teaching strategies; That children’s moral development will be linked to spiritual development through strategies such as windows, mirrors and doors (see Reflection Journal);
SMSC-Guidance-and-Model-Policy-Doc-2017-1.docx