Spirituality

Our sense of co-humanity: utterly relational

At St John's, our understanding of spirituality is based on a relational model. We share a recognition that we are all inextricably connected to each other and that our connections are grounded in kindness, compassion and love, which can bring greater meaning to our lives, and help us all to ‘live life in all its fulness’. We also recognise that for some people, they also feel connected to a power greater than themselves. In all of these ways, our understanding of spirituality will support all members of our community to ‘Grow, Flourish and Fly’.

Our starting point is the Church of England Vision for Education, which states that:

‘We are only persons with each other; our humanity is ‘co humanity’, inextricably involved with others, utterly relational, both in our humanity and our shared life on a finite earth’.

The notion of how we are connected to one another through all our various and different relationships, is central to our understanding of Spirituality.

At St John’s we encourage everyone to reflect on how we are all connected through our different relationships, and how we can offer one another that devoted support as companions in all the various aspects of our lives. In this way, Spirituality at St John’s will provide a time and a space for us all to reflect on how our humanity is co-humanity, in any one of the following ways:

To Myself

As an individual: how do I relate to myself?

To Others

As a friend to another

As a member of a family

As a learner in a class

To the Community

As an ambassador for St John’s Academy

As a leader in the local community

As a citizen of the United Kingdom

To the World

As just one global citizen of almost 8 billion human beings

To that which is Beyond

As a human being connected to that which is beyond our finite earth

Through all of these relationships, we will encourage one another and our pupils to focus on how we can make a meaningful connection to something greater than our individual selves. We will consider how our connections can be shaped by righteousness and justice, which will be central to our understanding of Spirituality and our Collective Worship, as well as through our core values of Kindness, Courage and Respect.

The notion of Righteousness will help us to consider what are the right and most meaningful relationships and connections we can make and sustain

The notion of Justice will help us to consider how we can make the most of our relationships and connections. It will also help us all to challenge injustice and to become agents of change, supporting our vision for Courageous Advocacy.

This understanding of spirituality is important to us all, whatever our own faiths and beliefs, and is central to our shared commitment to Courageous Advocacy and Collective Worship.

Collective Worship

Collective Worship shapes the rhythm of school life through daily moments of stillness, reflection and shared gathering in assemblies, tutor time and the wider life of the school. Through these moments, our community is invited to share in, see and experience Christ’s promise of life in all its fullness. Our acts of worship are deliberately invitational and inclusive, enabling pupils of all faiths and none to engage meaningfully, and reflecting the needs of the children, families and community we serve.

We take seriously our commitment to the spiritual development of both pupils and staff, recognising the importance of the big questions that underpin the Church of England Vision for Education: Who am I? Why am I here? What do I desire? How then shall I live? Through these shared moments, and across the curriculum, pupils explore faith, moral purpose and spirituality by connecting with themselves, others and the wider world.