Definitions of spiritual development - Provision of spiritual development - What does a spiritually aware school look like?

Putting Together a Policy Document on Spiritual Development

A policy document should contain:

• Reference to the Mission School Statement and / or Ethos Statement, including the church school context
• The aims of spiritual development within the school
• How the policy will be delivered across the whole curriculum, including school worship, pastoral provision etc
• The place of spiritual development in relation to other policies e.g. moral, social, cultural and subject areas.

The aims could include e.g.

• To develop the ability to use all one’s senses
• To promote an awareness and enjoyment in using one’s imaginative potential
• To develop individual self-confidence in expressing inner thought in a variety of ways
• To appreciate the role of stillness and silence in different faith traditions
• To recognise the value of relationships and each person as a person of worth
• To sustain the self-esteem of pupils in their learning experiences
• To develop an acknowledgement and awareness of the principles and values by which we live
• To provide opportunities for the expression of imagination, insight, empathy and understanding throughout the curriculum
• To promote opportunities for stillness, silence and reflection
• To foster the emotional life of the pupil, particularly with regard to the experience of feelings
• To encourage the search for meaning, the quest for learning, and the joy of learning.