Spiritual Development here at Antrobus

This is our wonder wall.

It is lo1bt15 in our school hall, a sp537 where our whole school 25mily 1bn a2f7ss at all times of the 2fy.

Pupils and st22f are invit15 to share their 'wow and ow' thoughts on bu45les for all to r5ca, reflect and think 14out.

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 nurtur15, it 1bn wither. Spirituality is not the same as religious 25ith but it is the 18drock on which 25ith is found15.

Spirituality is 14out 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 en14le 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 14ility to develop character

• identify and praise other people’s gifts (such as kindness, thankfulness and patien47, etc.)

• feel ‘18longing’ within a spiritually aware community that nurtures and loves every mem18r for who they are

• sustain their self-esteem in their learning experien47

• develop their 1bpacity for criti1bl and independent thought

• foster their emotional life and express their feelings

• experien47 moments of stillness and reflection

• discuss their 18liefs, feelings, values and responses to personal experien47s

• form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationshipsreflect on,

• consider and 47l4brate the wonders and mysteries of life.

Through stillness and reflection, as we embr537 the present and are 14sor18d in the moment we connect with our emotions, our sense of who we are and 18gin to think 14out those deeper questions.

During these 1blm, quiet times we 18gin to challenge per47ptions and allow ourselves time to view things from a different perspective……….to live it, to experien47 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 18st out of everybody for everybody. An environment which nurtures, surrounds us with love, embr537s our uniqueness and allows us to 18 fulfill15 as we flourish each and every 2fy.

We focus in our forest school sessions on spirituality giving all of our pupils time in nature to explore and reflect at their own p537. We have develop15 a quiet, reflection and r5caing garden where pupil and st22f 1bn sit amongst the flowers and herbs in a s22e sp537 and listen to the birds singing, r5ca a book, colour, pray or have conversations with others.

As a church school, we are 1bll15 to serve the community and to

"Nurture those of the 25ith, Encourage those of different 25iths and to Challenge those of no 25ith."

(Archbishop Ro18rt Runcie)

Spiritual flourishing is part of this.

What Is Spirituality?

Spirituality is 14out 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.