Spirituality at Great Harwood St Bartholomew’s Parish CE VA Primary School
What is Spirituality?
At St Bartholomew’s, spirituality is at the heart of who we are. It is an important part of what it means to be human and helps us to make sense of ourselves, our relationships and the world around us.
Spirituality is not something we can see or measure, but it is something we experience. It may be a sense of awe and wonder when we encounter something beautiful or inspiring. It may be found in moments of joy, reflection, creativity, prayer or stillness. It may be seen in acts of kindness, compassion and forgiveness, or in the questions we ask about life, purpose and meaning.
Spirituality is for everyone. It does not depend on a particular religious belief. People of faith and people of no faith can experience a deep sense of spirituality. At St Bart’s, we believe spirituality helps us to grow as individuals and to understand our place within God’s world.
Our Christian vision, “Follow Jesus in all we do,” provides the foundation for our understanding of spirituality. Through our values of Courage, Friendship, Service, Forgiveness, Justice and Love, we encourage every child and adult to flourish spiritually, academically and personally.
How We Understand Spirituality
At St Bart’s, we believe spirituality is nurtured through four key relationships:
Relationship with Ourselves
Understanding who we are, recognising our strengths, reflecting on our thoughts and feelings, and developing confidence, resilience and self-worth.
Relationship with Others
Building positive relationships, showing empathy, kindness and respect, and understanding that our actions affect those around us.
Relationship with the World
Developing a sense of awe and wonder about creation, appreciating beauty, caring for the environment and recognising our responsibility to make a positive difference.
Relationship with God
Providing opportunities to explore faith, prayer, worship and big questions about life and belief while respecting the views and experiences of others.
Living Spirituality at St Bart’s
We help children recognise spiritual growth through our Wows, Ows and Nows:
- Wows – moments of awe, wonder and inspiration.
- Ows – moments of challenge, reflection and growth.
- Nows – moments that inspire action, kindness and service.
Spirituality is woven throughout daily life at St Bart’s through collective worship, prayer and reflection, inspiring curriculum experiences, caring relationships, pupil leadership, service to others and opportunities to care for God’s world. We encourage everyone in our school community, pupils, staff, governors, families and our wider community, to live out our vision of “Follow Jesus in all we do” and to flourish together.
At St Bart’s, spirituality is the journey of discovering who we are, understanding our place in God’s world, building meaningful relationships and responding to life with wonder, reflection and action.