Our Approach to Spirituality

To talk about spirituality can be challenging. Essentially, it is to talk about something which is beyond words. 

Spirituality at Long Marston School is about fostering curiosity, reflection, and a deep sense of belonging. We use the WOW, OW, NOW framework from the Diocese of Gloucester to guide spiritual development.

Our language of spirituality begins from the Christian understanding that everyone is a valued creation, individually and uniquely made by God, like pots made by a potter (Isaiah 64:8). Yet in life things happen that impact on the physical ‘pot’ of life and create cracks that provide a glimpse of ‘something’ beyond the tangible. Christians would view this as an opportunity to relate to God.

• Cracks may happen when something challenging happens and threatens the comforts of everyday – the ‘ows’ of life.
• Cracks may be caused when something so good and breath-taking happens that the pot expands causing cracks – the ‘wows’ of life.
• Cracks can also occur in the stillness and ordinariness of everyday – the ‘nows’ of life, when a moment of stillness, a pause or prayer can create a crack in the normal, physical every day.

Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with golden joinery, makes something broken into something differently beautiful and even more valuable. Using this metaphor, the ows, wows and nows of life offer the possibility of becoming cracks that are filled with gold, adding significance and value to life.

We believe spirituality is for all, not just within religious education, but across the curriculum and school life. We provide opportunities for children to reflect, question, and grow in their understanding of themselves, others, and the wider world.