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Spiritual Pathways

Our vision statement says:

Be great.

Alongside academic achievement, spiritual development is a key marker of our pupils 'being great'. 

What is Spirituality?

We define spirituality as feeling closer to God in the Christian sense and feeling closer to 'wholeness' in a truly inclusive sense. 

Spiritual Pathways

At St George's, we deliberately plan for pupils to encounter opportunities where they can feel closer to wholeness. We call these Spiritual Pathways. Each pathway draws from our Vision and Culture Statement in the following way:

Be brave: Be great: Be you: We are fun.  We are together:

Confrontation

Using the mind

Being outside

Simplicity & solitude

Adoration

Using our senses

Awe & mystery

Loving others

Ritual & symbols

Confrontation 

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through confronting and challenging unfairness. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Classes are named after famous courageous activists, both local and international, such as: Sancho-Thunberg and Best class.
  • History curriculum includes learning about inspirational figures from all communities, including: The Windrush generation; Martin Luther King; Mae Jemison.
  • Reading spine deliberately chooses books with social injustice and inspirational characters at their core, including: ‘Young, gifted and black’; ‘I am not a label’.
  • Opportunities for pupils’ voice to be heard and to make change through school council and faith group.
  • Opportunities to shape change around causes which are relevant locally and internationally to the children, such as: Lewisham’s Anti-Idling Campaign; raising money for Turkey following earthquakes; school and local foodbanks.
  • Behaviour blueprint has restorative conversations and taking responsibility at its heart.
  • Thinking Hard tasks across the curriculum and challenge tasks are inherent and encouraged so pupils can encounter failure and success.
  • Whole school worships challenge social injustices and confront causes which are relevant to the children.

Using the mind

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through learning; thinking deeply. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Thinking hard tasks across the curriculum encourage debate, discussion and thought.
  • The curriculum is unapologetically ambitious.
  • Topic enrichment home learning activities encourage a broadening of knowledge around subject matter.  

Being outside

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through engaging with nature and being outside. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Learning environment expectations reflect natural hues and tones.
  • Plants are included in all rooms.
  • EYFS use of natural objects for provision, such as maths counters.
  • Outdoor provision happens across all weather in EYFS.
  • Development of school outside spaces, including the KS1 playgrounds and EYFS outdoor area.
  • Class trips take place every half term.
  • Daily Mile takes place daily outside. 
  • A variety of sports tournaments are held, including inter and intra school events.

Simplicity & solitude

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through having moments of aloneness and quiet. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Fundraising events which encourage ‘abstinence’ such as sponsored silences during the Bishop's Lent Call.
  • Moments in the school day for silence and stillness, including during worship and RE sessions.
  • Areas of the school are set up for pupils and adults to experience solitude and reflect, such as: reflection areas and our Quad.

Adoration

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through worship or calming actions. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Pupils have space to write their own prayers and share on prayer trees or during worship.
  • RE curriculum provides space for pupils to represent their reflections through art and music.
  • Pupils have the chance to sing in school worships and praise through movement.

Using our senses

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through sensory stimulation. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Use of candles, chime bowls in worship and RE sessions.
  • Use of Understanding Christianity resources to focus breathing during mindfulness.
  • Practical resources are used during curriculum sessions
  • Music is used at specific times of the school day to evoke specific responses.

Awe and mystery

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through new experiences, dance and celebration. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Celebration worships let pupils dance and be joyous.
  • A range of music is used in worships, including gospel songs, traditional African music.
  • Music is played at lunchtimes and dancing and smiles are encouraged.
  • Whole school days, such as Diversity Day encourage togetherness with song and traditions.
  • Music opportunities in the community are seized, such as at Blackheath Halls.

Loving others

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through showing love and compassion to others. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Behaviour blueprint for children and adults outlines the need to be welcoming to each other and guests, including the use of sign language.
  • KS2 Lunchtime helpers support in the KS1 playground.
  • School foodbank gives to parents in need.

Rituals & symbols

Definition:

Feeling closer to wholeness through deliberate routines and rituals. 

How this pathway is developed:

  • Worships follow a liturgical structure and are binded to Christian traditions.
  • School life centres around whole school worship, providing a rhythm and routine to the school day.
  • ‘Routines’ are central to life at St George’s: Behaviour routines and phrases; timetables; learning routines and scaffolding routines.
  • Website news stories are used in class and as a whole school to remember and reinforce traditions.
  • The Christian calendar is referenced in worships and reflected in altar displays.
  • Parent workshops take place annually and form part of the rythmn of school life. 

How Spiritual Development is central to all learning at St George's

The diagram below shows how spiritual development is deliberately planned for at St George's and how our school's vision and culture statement drives this development. 

Please open the attachment below to read in more detail about spiritual development at St George's.