Spirituality Statement

The Church of England Vision for Education is rooted in Jesus’ desire that we should have ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10). As our spiritual nature is such a fundamental part of our humanity, spiritual development is a key part of this holistic view of education. 

“Our vision embraces the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and social development of children and young people. We offer a vision of human flourishing for all, one that embraces excellence and academic rigour, but sets them in a wider framework.” 1 

We believe that spiritual development is a core thread that runs through our schools, and we see it as vital for the flourishing of all within our school community. In Acts 17:28, the Apostle Paul says that in God “we live and move and have our being”; becoming more aware of our innate spirituality is a life-long journey and it is our desire that all at our Church Schools in Frays Academy Trust move forward on that journey during their time here. 

At LDBS Frays Academy Trust, we believe that nurturing the whole child—academically, emotionally, morally, and spiritually—is a sacred responsibility. Rooted in the message of Proverbs 22:6, we are committed to guiding each child on a lifelong journey of growth, faith, and purpose. As a family of Church of England schools supported by the London Diocesan Board for Schools and Oxford Diocesan Board of Education , we view spiritual development not as an add-on, but as foundational to shaping resilient, reflective, and compassionate young people. 

What is spirituality? 
Spirituality is the deep, inner life that connects us to ourselves, to others, to the world around us, and to God. It is expressed through wonder, joy, stillness, empathy, imagination, and the courage to ask life’s big questions. While grounded in our Christian faith, we honour the spiritual journey of every member of our diverse school communities. 

What do we do? 
Our approach to spirituality is fully aligned with the Trust’s core vision: 

• Strength in Partnership: We create nurturing communities where all are encouraged to grow spiritually in partnership with families, churches, and local networks and in partnerships across the Trust 

• Investment in Character: We instill Christian values—such as love, perseverance, forgiveness, and hope—that guide our pupils toward becoming compassionate and principled individuals. 

• Excellence in Learning: We embed opportunities for spiritual reflection across the curriculum and in daily worship, enabling children to explore meaning, identity, and purpose with depth and honesty. 

By living out the wisdom of Proverbs 22:6, we aim to “train up” each child in the way they should go—through an education that honours their full humanity and prepares them for a lifetime of service, faith, and flourishing. 

Aims 
Our aim is to establish the right learning environment to enable the spiritual flourishing of all pupils through the following objectives: 

• Develop an appreciation of their uniqueness and value as a child made in the image of God. 

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the school’s Christian values and the Biblical teaching that underpins them, as well as the context, language and symbolism of the Christian faith. 

• Develop an awareness of and respect for other people’s beliefs and faiths and the ability to articulate their own. 

• Foster self-awareness and encourage pupils to make informed decisions. 

• Develop an appreciation of what it means to be a part of a community (e.g. using their gifts in the service of others), understanding the value of difference and diversity through involvement with others. 

• Develop the skills and language required to enable them to reflect upon the big questions and mysteries of life, and upon experiences of awe, compassion, beauty etc.  

• Begin to understand and make sense of their own feelings and emotions around certain encounters and events that occur in their life, including an awareness that experiences of disappointment, failure and loss may be occasions for spiritual growth. 

• Encourage curiosity, creativity and imagination. 

These objectives will enable the pupils to have a quality of life that encompasses respect, awareness, compassion, curiosity, and understanding, and relationships that reflect order, reason, balance, and integrity within the context of Christian faith. 

As over-arching aims, our approach to spiritual development will: 

• Reflect the school’s Church of England status. 

• Reflect and strengthen the school’s Christian vision and ethos. 

• Take place within a school environment which enables pupils and adults to flourish.