Spirituality

At St Barnabas, we are proud to be an open, inclusive and diverse Church of England school, where every child is encouraged to shine brightly and grow in confidence, character and love. We nurture and celebrate each person within our school family; individuals are respected and valued equally, regardless of ability, gender, faith, heritage or race. For us, spirituality is about “growing the soul”. It is woven through the life of our school, enriching who we are and how we live together.

We believe that spiritual development is not limited to Religious Education or Collective Worship, but can be experienced across the whole curriculum and school day. By creating meaningful moments, we encourage pupils to pause, reflect and ask deep questions about themselves, others, the wider world and beyond. Through an engaging and thought-provoking curriculum, we help children to explore, reflect and grow as unique individuals, preparing them to make a positive difference in their communities.

At St Barnabas, we use the Church of England’s Windows, Mirrors and Doors model:

• Windows – offering opportunities to look out at the world with awe, curiosity and questioning.

• Mirrors – creating space to reflect on their own thoughts, beliefs and values.

• Doors – encouraging children to put into action what they have discovered, shaping how they live and respond to others.

We have developed our own working definition of spirituality to support the whole school community in understanding how our vision, values and curriculum nurture children spiritually, helping them to flourish and shine.

How we teach and nurture spirituality in St Barnabas:

Spirituality is about creating opportunities for children and adults to reflect deeply, to develop a sense of awe and wonder, and to consider their place in the world in relation to God, themselves, others, and creation. At St Barnabas, spirituality is not a separate subject but something woven into the fabric of school life.

1. Through Collective Worship

• Daily worship provides time for stillness, reflection, and prayer.

• Children are encouraged to respond personally — through silence, song, prayer, or creative expression.

• Bible stories and Christian teaching are linked to real life, helping children see how faith guides values and actions.

2. Across the Curriculum

• Awe and wonder are developed in subjects like science, art, and RE, where children encounter beauty, creativity, and big questions about life.

• Opportunities for reflection are built into lessons (e.g. “windows, mirrors, doors” model: seeing the world, reflecting on self, making choices for action).

3. In Relationships and Community

• Spirituality is nurtured through the way we live out our vision “Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

• Children are encouraged to see the worth of every person and to reflect on how they can show love and respect in daily life.

4. Through Nature and the Environment

• Outdoor learning, prayer spaces, and reflection gardens help children connect with creation and recognise their responsibility for the world.

5. By Valuing Response and Expression

• Children are given space to ask “big questions” and explore ideas safely.

•  Creative responses (art, drama, poetry, music) allow pupils to express spirituality in ways beyond words.

In our children's words:

At St Barnabas we believe spirituality is about growing on the inside as well as on the outside. It’s about thinking big thoughts, asking questions, noticing the world around us, and learning how to live with kindness and love.

We say spirituality is about:

• Ourselves – knowing who we are and what makes us special.

• Others – caring for friends, family and everyone in our community.

• The World – looking after the wonderful world God has given us.

• Beyond – wondering about life’s big questions and where God is at work.

We use Windows, Mirrors and Doors to help us think about spirituality and reflect:

• Windows – looking out and noticing amazing things in the world.

• Mirrors – looking inside and reflecting on our thoughts and feelings.

• Doors – stepping out and putting our ideas and values into action.

At St Barnabas we want everyone to shine brightly – to be curious, caring and confident, ready to make a difference in the world.