Spirituality at St John's
"Spirituality is how my heart connects to God and the world through the Wows, the Ows, and the Nows"
At St John’s, our vision and Christian values shape everything we do. We believe that every member of our school community is unique, valued and created with purpose. Spiritual development is central to helping our children and adults grow and flourish.
As a Church school, our understanding of spirituality is rooted in the Christian belief that every person is uniquely created and deeply valued by God.
Isaiah reminds us:
"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64:8)
We describe spirituality as:
Our relationship with ourselves, with others, with the wider world and with God, explored through the “Wows, Ows and Nows” of life. This language helps our pupils talk about spiritual moments in ways that are simple, meaningful and accessible to everyone, whatever their faith or worldview.
This approach helps children and adults develop:
- self-awareness and reflection
- empathy and compassion for others
- appreciation for the beauty of the world
- curiosity about life’s big questions
- an openness to faith and belief
Spirituality is for everyone in our school community, regardless of faith background.
Wow Moments
These are moments of awe, wonder and joy.
They might be seeing something beautiful in nature, achieving something new, hearing inspiring music, or feeling amazed by learning something incredible.
Ow Moments
These are the difficult moments in life — when we experience sadness, disappointment, loss or challenge. These experiences can feel painful but they help us grow in empathy, resilience and compassion.
Now Moments
These are the quiet, reflective moments of everyday life.
They happen when we pause, notice the present moment, reflect, pray or simply become aware of the world around us.
The Golden Glue
In Japanese culture there In Japan there is a beautiful tradition called Kintsugi where broken pottery is repaired using golden glue. Instead of hiding the cracks, the gold highlights them and makes the bowl even more beautiful than before.
We use this image to help children understand that the wows, ows and nows of life shape who we are. The “golden glue” represents the wisdom, growth, love and understanding that come from reflecting on these experiences.
These moments help us grow spiritually and see the deeper meaning and beauty in life.
Spirituality in the Life of St John’s
Spiritual development happens throughout every aspect of school life. We intentionally create opportunities for pupils and adults to reflect, question and grow.
Collective Worship
Collective Worship is the heartbeat of our school community. It offers a special time to gather, reflect and explore faith and values together. Through prayer, music, Bible stories and reflection, pupils are invited to think about the WOWs, OWs and NOWs of life.
Our worship is invitational, inclusive and inspiring, giving everyone space to reflect in their own way.
Across the Curriculum
Spiritual opportunities are woven throughout learning. Children are encouraged to ask big questions, express curiosity and reflect on experiences in subjects such as RE, experience awe and wonder in science, nature and the arts, reflect on human experiences through stories and history and develop creativity through music, art and performance
Everyday Moments
Spiritual moments also occur naturally throughout the day:
Some of the most powerful spiritual moments happen unexpectedly — through acts of kindness, moments of wonder, times of challenge or quiet reflection. Staff recognise and nurture these moments so that children learn to reflect on their experiences and grow in understanding.
Our Relationships
We encourage pupils to explore spirituality through their relationships with:
- Themselves – understanding feelings, identity and purpose
- Others – developing empathy, kindness and forgiveness
- The world – appreciating nature, beauty and creativity
- God – being open to faith, prayer and deeper meaning
A Journey We Share
At St John’s we recognise that everyone’s spiritual journey is unique. Our aim is to create a school community where pupils and adults feel safe to reflect, ask questions and grow.
At St John’s we believe that nurturing spirituality helps children and adults to:
- understand themselves better
- build meaningful relationships
- develop resilience in difficult times
- appreciate the beauty and diversity of the world
- explore questions of faith, meaning and purpose
Through the wows, ows and nows of life, we support every member of our school to flourish, recognising that each moment — joyful, challenging or quiet — can help shape who we are becoming.