Ows, Wows, Nows

Spirituality at Bisley Blue Coat

Our Vision: Love, Learn, Live as One

At Bisley Blue Coat Church of England Primary School, our Christian vision of ‘Love, Learn, Live as One’ shapes every aspect of school life. Rooted in our core values of 'Love, Respect, Community and Trust', we seek to ensure that every child and adult is known, valued and enabled to flourish as the unique person God created them to be.

We believe that spirituality underpins wellbeing, relationships, learning and personal growth. It supports children and adults to reflect, to ask big questions, to develop resilience and to recognise their place within the wider world and within God’s creation. Our vision calls us to live together in unity, to learn with curiosity and courage, and to act with love and compassion towards others.

Our Approach to Spirituality

Spirituality is often something that is difficult to define, as it goes beyond words. At Bisley Blue Coat, we understand spirituality as being about connection – connection with ourselves, with others, with the world around us and with God.

Our understanding is rooted in the Christian belief that everyone is uniquely created and deeply loved by God, like a pot carefully shaped by a potter (Isaiah 64:8). Throughout life, experiences can cause cracks in that pot. Christians believe that these cracks offer opportunities to glimpse something beyond the everyday and to grow through reflection and relationship with God.

We use the Diocese of Gloucester’s shared language of spirituality to help children and adults recognise and reflect on these moments:

  • Wows – moments of awe, wonder, joy and beauty

  • Ows – moments of challenge, pain, disappointment or sadness

  • Nows – moments of stillness, reflection, peace or prayer

Using the image of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, we help children understand that life’s wows, ows and nows can shape us, strengthen us and add value and meaning to our lives.

Spirituality at Bisley Blue Coat

Spirituality at Bisley Blue Coat is about nurturing curiosity, reflection, belonging and hope. It is not limited to Religious Education or Collective Worship, but is woven through the whole curriculum and the everyday life of the school.

Through our vision and values, we encourage children to:

  • love themselves and others

  • respect difference and diversity

  • live well together as a community

  • build trust in relationships and in themselves

Spiritual development is for everyone, regardless of faith or belief, and all are invited to take part in moments of reflection, stillness and celebration.

Our Definition of Spirituality

At Bisley Blue Coat, spirituality involves:

  • Exploring questions of meaning, purpose and identity

  • Developing awareness of something greater than ourselves

  • Experiencing awe, wonder and beauty in learning, relationships and the natural world

  • Reflecting on life’s challenges and joys with resilience, empathy and compassion

  • Growing in self-understanding and understanding of others

Spiritual development happens both through planned opportunities and through spontaneous moments that arise naturally throughout the school day.

Planned Opportunities for Spiritual Development

We intentionally create opportunities for spiritual growth through:

  • Collective Worship – daily opportunities for reflection, prayer, stillness and celebration, held in school and church and rooted in our Christian vision and values

  • Religious Education – encouraging thoughtful discussion, big questions and understanding of different worldviews and beliefs

  • Curriculum learning – taking the opportuntity and time for stillness to appreciate awe, curiosity, creativity and reflection across all subjects

  • Outdoor learning and Forest School – developing a deep connection with nature and appreciation of God’s creation

  • Visits and experiences – trips to places of worship, local environments and places of interest that inspire wonder and reflection

  • Quiet moments and mindfulness – opportunities for stillness, breathing and calm within classrooms

  • Celebration and recognition – celebrating achievements, effort and values through certificates, awards and shared moments

  • Music, art and performance – using creative expression as a pathway to reflection and emotional understanding

  • Charitable events and service – enabling children to live out our value of love by supporting others and making a positive difference

Spontaneous Opportunities for Spiritual Development

We recognise that some of the most meaningful spiritual moments cannot be planned. These may include:

  • A child’s awe at a scientific discovery or a moment in nature

  • Acts of kindness, forgiveness or support between children

  • Shared joy when singing or celebrating together

  • Reflection following a moment of silence or prayer

  • Conversations about feelings, memories or life experiences

  • Responding together to unexpected events, such as weather or world events

  • Remembering loved ones or welcoming new life into our community

Staff are attentive to these moments and respond with care, sensitivity and openness.

Embedding Spirituality in School Life

All members of staff play a role in nurturing spirituality at Bisley Blue Coat. Through our relationships, restorative approaches to behaviour and daily interactions, we seek to live out our vision of Love, Learn, Live as One.

Our environment, curriculum and worship provide space for reflection, questioning and growth, ensuring that spirituality is not an ‘add-on’ but an intrinsic part of who we are as a Church of England school community.

 

A copy of our Spirituality Policy can be found below:

Click to Download Spirituality Policy [pdf 222KB] Click to Download