Spirituality at Baldwins Gate

Spiritual Development at Baldwins Gate

Spirituality is a broad and deeply personal concept that can mean different things to different people. At its core, it is a human search for meaning, purpose, and a sense of connection to something larger than oneself. This "something bigger" can be a higher power, a cosmic or divine force, nature, humanity, or one's own inner self. Unlike religion, which often involves a specific set of beliefs, rituals, and a community, spirituality is a more individual journey.

Spirituality in primary school isn't about promoting a particular religion, but about helping children explore their inner world and connect with something bigger than themselves. It's about nurturing their sense of wonder, curiosity, and empathy, and helping them understand their place in the world. By teaching spirituality, we can help children develop a strong moral compass, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for themselves and others. It encourages them to ask big questions, to be present in the moment, and to find peace and meaning in their lives. This can be achieved through activities like mindfulness exercises, storytelling, art, and exploring nature. Ultimately, teaching spirituality helps to create well-rounded individuals who are not only academically successful, but also emotionally and socially intelligent.

At Baldwins Gate we use an approach called ‘In, Out, Up’ to develop children’s spirituality.

Firstly, the children look in towards themselves, what do they think, feel, believe etc about a particular topic.

Next, the children look out, what might others think, feel believe etc about the same thing, why might this be different to their own views.

Finally, the children look up, to the divine or other, asking questions that might not have an answer, learning to live. By putting into action what they think and believe.

We believe that spirituality is a fundamental part of a child's development, and we are committed to providing a variety of opportunities for children to explore and nurture their inner selves. Our curriculum is designed to inspire a sense of awe, wonder, and curiosity in our students. For example, in English, we use a wide range of texts that encourage children to reflect on big questions about life, identity, and the world around them. In art, students are exposed to the work of diverse artists, prompting them to consider different perspectives and interpretations of beauty. Geography lessons delve into the breath-taking landscapes and cultures of our world, fostering an appreciation for the planet and a sense of responsibility for its care. History encourages children to understand past events and question how they could have been different, developing their moral compass and critical thinking. Our Forest School program provides a unique opportunity for children to connect with nature, fostering a sense of wonder and encouraging them to become stewards of our environment. Furthermore, our collective worship sessions provide a space for quiet reflection, communal singing, and shared values, helping children to connect with something larger than themselves. Finally, our school trips and residential visits are carefully planned to create "wow" moments that ignite a sense of adventure and broaden their horizons.

The role of RE in Spiritual development

The Church of England’s ‘Statement for Entitlement’ outlines the aims and expectations for Religious Education in CE schools and guides this school’s approach to RE and spirituality. The role of RE is neither to promote nor undermine organised religion. But part of its purpose is to provide structured opportunity for consideration of the non-material aspects of life. RE can contribute dynamically to children and young people’s education by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It can support their own discovery of their personal spiritual journeys of meaning, purpose and value.

RE allows children to reflect upon and share their own knowledge and lived experiences, plus find out about the experiences, beliefs and traditions of other people. Through this process, children expand their knowledge, begin to shape their own beliefs form opinions and add breadth to their world view.

High quality RE lessons at Baldwins Gate offer children opportunities that challenges their thinking through Big Questions. They critically reflect on their own religious, spiritual and/or philosophical convictions and are equipped with the skills to confidently discuss religious, spiritual and philosophical ideas.