At Deddington CE Primary School, the spirituality of everyone in the school community is important. Spirituality is not the same as religious faith, but it is the bedrock on which faith is founded.

What is Spirituality?

As a staff and governor team, we have agreed on the definition of spiritual development in our school community to support us as we talk about spirituality.

Spirituality is about how we experience life and therefore, how we live our own lives. It is also about our relationship with ourselves, others, the world and with faith. We believe it gives us the confidence to reflect, ask questions and challenge in many ways, searching for meaning. It reminds us that we are all valued and all unique.

Spiritual development is shown by our:

• Beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform our perspective on life and our interest in and respect for different people’s feelings and values.
• A sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about ourselves, others and the world around us, including the intangible.
• Use of imagination and creativity in our learning.
• Willingness to reflect on our experiences.

What does spirituality look like at Deddington CE Primary School?

Our staff provide opportunities for spiritual development in five main ways:

1. During Collective Worship
2. Religious Education Lessons
3. Across the wider curriculum
4. Pupil Leadership opportunities
5. Provision of spaces inside and outside of school (prayer spaces, visits to church, quiet garden)

To help the school community understand our developing spirituality, staff explain it using clear language and symbols supported by Liz Mills ‘Windows, Mirrors, Doors’. These symbols can be seen both inside and outside the school.

Windows - Look out and learn.

Like looking through a window out into the world in new ways, noticing the world around us with awe and wonder, asking questions. How does the world around us and other people around the world let their light shine?

Mirrors - Look in and reflect. 

Like looking in a mirror and reflecting, thinking about ourselves and how we, and those around us, feel about things. How can we be inspired by what we see? 

Doors - Step out and do.

Like opening the door and stepping out, responding to what you are becoming to believe, behave, value and think. Consider how you can let your light shine.

Let your light shine           Inspire           Believe           Achieve