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Living Out Our Distinctive Christian Ethos

At Spetisbury, our Christian foundation actively shapes who we are and how we live together as a community. It informs our relationships, guides our decisions and underpins our shared commitment to helping every child flourish.

We believe deeply in the dignity and limitless potential of every child, recognising each one as uniquely created and unconditionally valued.

This belief calls us to create a school where kindness is evident, respect is mutual and every individual feels a strong sense of belonging.

Our ethos is not confined to moments of worship; it is lived out daily in classrooms, conversations and the way we care for one another. We respond to pupils as individuals, encouraging confidence, resilience and a willingness to learn from mistakes without fear of failure.

We work in close partnership with families, recognising parents as the first educators of their children and honouring the trust they place in us. Together, we support each child’s journey with openness and compassion.

Our curriculum reflects both ambition and wonder. Alongside strong academic foundations, we nurture curiosity, creativity and an appreciation of God’s world, creating space for reflection and spiritual growth.

We also look beyond ourselves. Through service, community engagement and global awareness, pupils learn that their actions can make a meaningful difference.

Growing in Wisdom and Hope

We want our pupils to grow not only in knowledge, but in wisdom, compassion and understanding.

Through our Christian vision, children are supported to:

  • reflect on their beliefs and develop a personal sense of meaning

  • explore life’s big questions with curiosity and openness

  • grow in moral awareness and empathy

  • respect difference and value diversity

  • think deeply, act kindly and live with integrity

Our aim is simple yet profound: that children leave Spetisbury well educated, spiritually aware and ready to contribute positively to the world around them.

Collective Worship

Collective worship is the heartbeat of our school; a time when we gather as a community to reflect, to give thanks and to grow together.

Rooted in Christian tradition and shaped by the rhythm of the Church year, worship provides space for stillness, story, prayer and song. It invites us to consider life’s deeper questions and supports the spiritual development of every member of our community.

Our close partnership with St John the Baptist Church enriches this experience, and our vicar plays an active and valued role in the worshipping life of the school.

We use the A Fresh Approach framework from the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester to support thoughtful planning while allowing worship to remain responsive, creative and meaningful.

🔄 A Typical Week of Worship

Our Collective Worship includes a variety of voices, themes and formats to ensure it is engaging, relevant and reflective for all:

  • Monday – Whole school worship led by the Headteacher

  • Tuesday – Whole school worship led by the Headteacher or a visiting speaker

  • Wednesday – Worship led by our Vicar or the Bible Story Team

  • Thursday – Singing and Praise Worship led by teaching staff

  • Friday – Celebration Worship led by senior leaders, with an open invitation for families and the wider school community

🌿 Worship in the Hands of Children

Worship at Spetisbury is both shared and participatory. Pupils are actively involved in planning, leading and evaluating worship through our Collective Worship Team, developing confidence as reflective and spiritually aware leaders.

Their voice helps ensure worship remains authentic and relevant to the life of the school.

🌍 Our Worship Ethos: Inclusive · Invitational · Inspiring

Inclusive

Worship is a space where all are welcome. Every child is encouraged to engage in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful; whether through active participation or quiet reflection. We honour the diverse beliefs within our community while remaining confidently rooted in the Christian faith.

Invitational

We invite, rather than expect. Prayer is offered with openness and sensitivity, allowing each individual to respond in their own way. This approach nurtures respect, openness and genuine spiritual exploration.

Inspiring

We want worship to leave a lasting impression. Through reflection and shared experience, children are encouraged to grow in wisdom, compassion and courage; becoming thoughtful individuals who understand their capacity to make a difference.

 

Spirituality at Spetisbury

🌿 What is Spirituality?

At Spetisbury, spirituality is about how we come to understand ourselves, our relationships and our place in the world.

We believe every child is created with inherent worth and purpose, and that education should nurture the spirit as well as the mind.

We often reflect on spirituality through the image of a growing tree; rooted in community, reaching outward with curiosity and upward with hope.

“A tree is known by its fruit.” — Matthew 12:33
 

Just as a tree is recognised by what it produces, we believe our school is known by its children; their kindness, their character and the way they live out our shared values.

Spirituality is woven through daily life at Spetisbury. It brings depth to learning, strengthens relationships and supports children in becoming thoughtful, compassionate and reflective individuals.

✨ How We Nurture Spiritual Development

Spiritual growth happens both intentionally and naturally; in planned moments and in the small, often unexpected experiences that shape who we are.

Grounded in our Christian vision and open to all, we create opportunities for pupils and adults alike to pause, reflect and wonder.

You will see spirituality lived through:

  • collective worship

  • meaningful classroom dialogue

  • creative expression

  • moments of stillness

  • encounters with beauty, challenge and difference

  • spontaneous acts of empathy and kindness

We follow the Windows, Mirrors, Doors model, which supports children in exploring the world, reflecting on themselves, and responding with action:

Windows “Looking out”

Children are encouraged to notice the world with openness; discovering beauty, complexity and diversity while developing awe and wonder.

Mirrors “Looking in”

Pupils reflect on their thoughts, beliefs and experiences, growing in self-awareness and empathy.

Doors “Going forward”

Reflection leads to action. Children are supported to live out their values; making positive choices and responding to the world with courage and compassion.

Growing Spiritually Together

Spirituality at Spetisbury is not an added extra; it is part of how we grow as a community.

As a Church of England school, we are committed to nurturing the whole child; supporting each individual to flourish academically, socially and spiritually.

Our hope is that every pupil leaves us not only well-educated, but grounded, reflective and ready to engage with the world with wisdom and hope.

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