Spirituality Policy

Spirituality Newsletter January 2024

At St Luke’s, we recognise that, there is no universal definition of ‘spirituality’, because it is a very personal experience. It differs from person to person, and often spirituality changes within people during their lifetime.

 

Luke 2:52 states that Jesus, the example and inspiration for Christians, ‘grew in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and all the people’, as he developed as a young man. This verse suggests he developed the academic wisdom of his mind, his physical body and also as a social and spiritual being. At St Luke’s we strive to develop the body, mind and spirit of our school community, to enable them to become fully rounded individuals. Within spirituality lies the heart of all religious expression and belief.

The Doughnut Analogy 

Through our daily worship, we have been exploring the concept of ‘spirituality’ and spiritual development with our children. We began thinking about a ring doughnut. We explained simply that there is a hole inside all of us that needs filling in order for us to be whole. It’s an invisible hole that is filled when we feel a connection to something bigger than ourselves and find meaning in our lives, resulting in peace and joy.

Here is Miss Lingard introducing the whole school to the Doughnut analogy of Spirituality

   

As spiritual development cannot be seen in isolation from personal development, time is spent on this so that it will also affect inter-personal relationships within the classroom and as a result contribute to the positive ethos of our school. For spirituality is not only about Christian prayer and worship; it is also about knowing and being ourselves, being aware of and caring for others, and about knowing the world around us. Thus, spiritual development at St Luke’s means being concerned with a child’s inner growth, with emotional growth, understanding of and acceptance of oneself. Spiritual growth always results in the positive growth of the whole being.

 

Spirituality in Worship

Windows, mirrors, doors –encouraging spirituality 

Windows are for looking out onto the world and becoming aware of its wonders, both the ‘wows’ and ‘ows’; things that are ‘awe-full’ and make us wonder and be grateful and things that are ‘awful’ and make us wonder and ask questions. Here at St Luke’s CE Academy, the whole curriculum and life itself are full of opportunities to recognise this sensitively.  

 

Mirrors are for looking into and reflecting, alone and together, to see things more clearly, for thinking and asking important questions learning from our own and each other’s responses. At St Luke’s CE Academy, we allow time for this for individual and group reflection and sharing of perspectives. Some subjects and times allow for this specifically, such as religious education and collective worship but in all subjects, there will be opportunities, unexpected or planned, when things just ‘crop up’. We make the most of all these times, so that it becomes a natural part of our lives. 

 Doors are for looking through in order to then act or express this in some way in response; for moving on, making choices, and doing something creative, active and purposeful in response. This can simply be done through a change in attitude or behaviour or thinking. It can also be expressed powerfully through music or art or drama or dance and through some form of social action or specific acts of giving. 

 

Spirituality in our curriculum ( More information about spirituality through our whole curriculum can be found on individual curriculum pages.)

SUBJECT WE PROMOTE SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT WE PROMOTE MORAL DEVELOPMENT WE PROMOTE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WE PROMOTE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Maths

 

By making connections between pupils’ numeracy skills and real life

 

By considering pattern, order, symmetry and scale both man made and in the natural world

By engaging pupils playfully; for example, in unequal shares of resources, why might someone be upset if they received less than other people?

 

By reflecting on data that has moral and ethical implications; for example pupils might consider the difference in amounts of money spent on non-essentials

By the sharing of resources within the classroom, the negotiating of responses and group problem solving By asking questions about the history of maths: for example, ‘What do the Egyptians, Greeks and Indians discover that we still use in maths today?’
English In responding to a poem, story or text; pupils can be asked ‘I wonder what you think happens next?’ ‘How would you feel if you were the person in the story?’ ‘Where have you met these ideas before?’

 

By appreciating the beauty of language

By exploring stimulus for thinking about the consequences of right and wrong behaviour; pupils can speculate and apply their learning to their own lives. When they do this they are developing their speaking, listening and higher order thinking skills.

 

By considering different perspectives

By supporting conceptual and language development through an understanding of and debates about social issues By providing opportunities for talk in a range of settings By pupils telling stories from their own cultures and backgrounds creating the idea that ‘everyone has a story to tell’ By providing opportunities for pupils to engage with texts from different cultures
Science By demonstrating openness to the fact that some answers cannot be provided by Science.

By creating opportunities for pupils to ask questions about how living things rely on and contribute to their environment.

By offering pupils the chance to consider the wonder of the natural world and the inventions which have made the world a better place.

 

By encouraging pupils to speculate about how science can be used for both god and evil.

 

By considering that not all developments have been good because they have caused harm to the environment and to people.

By using opportunities during Science lessons to explain how to keep other people safe and how they might protect a younger or vulnerable young person.

 

By exploring the social dimension of scientific advances e.g. environmental concerns, medical advances, energy processes

By asking questions about the ways in which scientific discoveries from around the world have affected our lives. There is a rich heritage of scientific discoveries from Hindu, Egyptian and Muslim traditions.
MFL By exploring the beauty of languages from around the world By exploring the way language is constructed By helping pupils to have an accurate and truthful understanding of another culture By learning the skill of communicating in different ways By appreciating the language and customs of others
History By considering how things would be different if the course of events had been different; for example what difference would it have made if the Vikings hadn’t invaded? By exploring the results of right and wrong behaviour in the past

 

By considering some of the characteristics of people who have had a bad influence and caused suffering to others. What have others done to stop injustice? Are there examples from their own local area?- Josiah Wedgewood

 

By going beyond the facts and asking pupils to make hypotheses and pose questions such as ‘what if…?’

 

 

By giving the trigger for discussions about how groups and communities organised themselves in the past.

 

By considering questions about social structure in the past.; for example, What might pupils say about the rights of children in earlier times? Is it important that society looks after young children? Are there people who still don’t get a fair deal?

By encouraging pupils to talk to their parents and grandparents when learning about the past.

By exploring local history and history around us

 

By taking pupils on visits to heritage sites such as Middleport Pottery and Ford Green Hall

Geography By using Google maps and asking pupils to imagine what it might be like to live in different parts of the world.

By making links with history when exploring the environment and speculating on why the landscape is as it is.

 

By comparing their lives with those living in other countries such as Africa or other part of the UK

 

By considering how people treat the environment; posing questions such as, ‘How are we changing our surroundings – are some things for the better and others for the worse?’ Who benefits and who suffers? What should be our personal response to these? Who should look after our environment? By providing positive and effective links with the wider community

 

By considering social responsibility e.g care for the environment, impact of traffic on the local area, tourism

By learning about other cultures around the world.
RE By experiencing wonder and joy through learning about and from stories, celebrations, rituals and different expressions of religion and worldviews

 

By asking and responding to questions of meaning and purpose

By considering questions about God and evaluating truth claims By exploring spiritual practices such as worship and payer, and considering the impact of these on believers and any relevance to their own life

By exploring morality including rules, teachings and commands such as The Golden Rule, the ten commandments.

By investigating the importance of service to others in Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism By exploring religious perspectives and responses to evil and suffering in the world

 

By asking questions about the purpose and meaning of reconciliation and salvation e.g, Christian salvation story.

By exploring the qualities which are valued by a civilised society – thoughtfulness, honesty, respect for difference, independence and interdependence By exploring similarities and differences between faiths and cultures

 

By learning about UK saints and those to which our school is named after-St Luke

 

By engaging with text, artefacts and other sources from different cultures and religious backgrounds

PSHE By developing awareness of and responding to others’ needs and wants

 

By exploring meaning and purpose for individuals and society

 

By developing resilience and inner strength

By being a dementia friendly school.

 

By exploring what is right and wrong and to work out what we need to do in this particular community to make sure everyone thrives.

 

By making explicit links to the school’s distinctive ethos as a church school

By helping pupils to engage in a democratic process for agreeing the rules for community life.

 

By creating opportunities for pupils to exercise leadership and responsibility; pupils might be asked ‘Why do we think this important?’ ‘What could we do about it?’ ‘Who would like to take it further?’

By exploring how different cultures can offer great insights into how we lead our lives
Art/DT By providing plenty of rich opportunities for pupils both to explore the spiritual dimension and natural phenomena e.g. Natural disasters

 

By promoting the process of ‘reviewing and evaluating’

 

By enjoying and celebrating personal creativity By reviewing and evaluating created things

 

By exploring how emotions and inner feelings are expressed though painting, sculpture and architecture.

 

By responses to and use of visual images to evoke a range of emotions

By sharing of resources. By exploring social conflict and resolution.

 

By exploring art as a powerful social tool e.g. in advertising,

By experiencing a wide range of creative media from around the world.

 

By working towards the ‘Arts Mark’ Platinum award.

Music By allowing pupils to show their delight and curiosity in creating their own sounds. By making links between their learning in literacy (or other curriculum area) with music being played as background

 

By considering how music makes one feel and can ‘move us’ deeply

By exploring how music can convey human emotions such as sadness, joy, anger… By appreciating the self discipline required to learn a musical instrument By exploring how an orchestra/ choir/ band works together By discussing What would happen if musicians in a band/group didn’t co-operate

 

By appreciating how music is used in different ways in different settings e.g. for pleasure, for worship, to help people relax

By giving all pupils an opportunity to learn a musical instrument and to take part regularly in singing.

 

By encouraging pupils to listen and respond to traditions from around the world.

 

By appreciating musical expression from different times and places

computing By wondering at the power of the digital age e.g. use of the internet By understanding the advantages and limitations of ICT

 

By using the internet as a gateway

By exploring the moral issues surrounding the use of data By considering the benefits and potential dangers of the internet – eg campaigns for charities and injustice as a force for good. Cyber bullying By links through digital media services with other schools and communities By highlighting ways to stay safe when using on line services and social media

 

By discussing the impact of ICT on the ways people communicate

By exploring human achievements and creativity in relation to worldwide communications

 

By developing a sense of awe and wonder at human ingenuity

PE By delighting in movement, particularly when pupils are able to show spontaneity

 

By taking part in activities such as dance, games and gymnastics which help pupils to become more focused, connected and creative.

 

By being aware of one’s own strengths and limitations

By discussing fair play and the value of team work. By developing qualities of self-discipline, commitment and perseverance

By developing positive sporting behaviour

By developing a sense of belonging and self esteem through team work

 

By developing a sense of community identity through taking part in inter school events

By learning about the history of sport, and where they originate from

 

By making links with national and global sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics

 

By exploring rituals surrounding sporting activitieS