Definition of Spirituality in our schools: ‘Spirituality is the spiritual signature of your soul, the soul in others, which is as unique as your fingerprint and the understanding that there is something greater than ourselves’

Working definition for pupils: ‘Spirituality is as unique as your fingerprint. Those moments that make us go ‘ow’ and ‘wow’ and help us to grow as people.’

Our curriculum is designed to foster spiritual development in pupils by encouraging them to explore others’ perspectives (Windows), reflect on their own thoughts and feelings (Mirrors), and take action in their communities and the wider world (Doors). Reflection opportunities are embedded throughout the curriculum, providing pupils with a chance to express their understanding and emotional responses.

In a Compass school with a religious faith, spiritual development enables people to look within themselves, at their human relationships, at the wider world and, for many, at their vision of the divine or the ultimate reality with characteristics such as courage, hope, acceptance, strength and love, so that they can better face the sufferings, challenges and opportunities of human life in all its fullness. To talk about spirituality is, essentially, to talk about something, which is beyond words. This language of spirituality begins from a Christian understanding that everyone is a valued creation, individually and uniquely made by God, like pots made by a potter (Isaiah 64:8). Yet, in life things happen that impact on the physical ‘pot’ of life and create cracks that provide a glimpse of something ‘beyond’ the tangible. Christians would view this as an opportunity to relate to the Divine Creator God. Cracks may be caused when something so good and breath taking happens that the pot expands and cracks – the wows of life. Cracks may happen when something challenging happens and threatens the comfort of everyday – the 'ows' of life. Cracks can also happen in the stillness and ordinariness of everyday – the 'nows' of life, when a moment of stillness, a pause or prayer creates a crack in the normal, physical everyday.

In these special moments there is a spiritual opportunity. Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with golden joinery or glue, creates something that has been broken into something even more beautiful. Using this metaphor, the wows, ows and nows of life offer the possibility of cracks that are filled with gold and make the pot even more beautiful. The gold in the cracks reflect a little of the wonder of spirituality.
Beyond religion, a high proportion of young people, particularly, sign up to the idea of being spiritual but not religious, therefore the thinking around spirituality for the non-religious should be taken very seriously.