Spirituality at NCS

Why do we explore spirituality at Newbold Church School?

• Spirituality is fundamental to our being. We may experience and express our spirituality in different ways, but we are all spiritual in some way - though we may not recognise or acknowledge this. As those responsible for children’s education, we have a duty of care to do all we can to help children develop their spirituality.

• Schools are required to develop children’s spirituality as part of the curriculum requirements in all parts of the UK and therefore as it is written into what we are required to do we cannot ignore it. The good news is that taking onboard spiritual development can make a positive contribution to our individual wellbeing and the wellbeing of the whole school community.

• Exploring spirituality offers a unique opportunity to step back and reflect on why we do what we do in our schools, and also how we do it. It can help us be more intuitive and sensitive. It can connect us more deeply to nature and our precious planet. It can make us more aware of the things we have in common with others despite our differences.

(Exploring Spirituality in the Primary School - David Holmes)

What is spirituality? 

Spirituality has been the subject of debate for centuries.  If you begin to explore spirituality, you can soon find yourself pretty confused! David Holmes in his article 'Exploring Spirituality in the Primary school' suggests the main elements of spirituality as:

The concept of spirituality can be found in all faiths and cultures.

It is the essence of life that lies within all people.

It is a fundamental divine power woven into the values and beliefs of a faith.

It is a focus on ourselves and the world in which we live.

It is a way of giving meaning to life.

Spirituality is an understanding that ‘there is more to life than this’.

It affects the way in which we think about, understand and respond to what we experience. 

And what does Spirituality look like at NCS?

We believe that Children’s spirituality needs nurturing and that we need to support and help children’s spirituality develop.  In order to help our children to understand the concept of Spirituality we take appropriate opportunities to capture a moment of spirituality to 'Just Be'.  By this, the children and staff understand that we mean 'BEING' as ...

          B = Being here, Being now, Being aware  

          E = Exploring and Enjoying the wonders of the world around me

          I = Investigating what it is to be me - my thoughts, my feelings, who I am

         N = Nurturing and cherishing my own faith and the beliefs of those around me

         G = Giving time to 'Just Be.'

The 'Appropriate Opportunities' to capture a moment of spirituality can be encouraged and nurtured, but often the best experiences come from incidental moments of clarity or vision.  We follow up moments such as this, that might be in lessons, but also can be at breaktimes, special events, conversations from external experiences and very often from and in places that are the most unexpected.  Our staff try to be aware of and use every opportunity that arises to cultivate spiritual development. 

What is the impact for our children at NCS of having a healthy sense of Spirituality? 

At NCS we believe that by giving the children regular opportunities to develop their sense of spirituality leads to the children becoming more -

                 creative                    patient                     persistent                     honest

                              kind                     compassionate                      wise

                                         calm                                  hopeful                           joyful

Moments of 'Being' at NCS.......

Updated October 2024