Chaplaincy, Spirituality and Worship

OUR CHAPLAINCY

At The Archbishop's School, we have a team of volunteer chaplains who work alongside our full-time School Chaplain.

The Chaplaincy Team offer pastoral and spiritual support to our school community. They offer small group work around building confidence, mental health first aid and dealing with emotions. Our Chaplaincy Team also offer one to one mentoring for students who need a listening ear. Our daily worship is the beating heart of our school community. Our worship is designed for students of all faiths and none. It is inclusive and invitational and enables students to reflect on themselves, our school community and the wider world. BLAST – our exploring Christian faith group meets weekly at lunchtime and is open to any student who wishes to attend. Students have the opportunity to join the Student Chaplaincy Team and be more involved in the spiritual life of the school.

OUR SPIRITUALITY

Our spirituality is our individual sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves; be it our God, our universe, or our values. Spirituality gives us a sense of meaning and purpose in life. 

There are four elements of spirituality that we experience through life at The Archbishop’s School; that which is within us (self), beside us (others), above us, (transcendence), and around us (The World).

"Within us" - SELF

·         Our awareness of our uniqueness and worthiness 

·         Our ability to reflect 

·         Our exploration of personal faith 

·         Finding our own values by which to live  

·         Developing our imagination and creativity 

"Beside us" - OTHERS

·         Showing empathy and understanding  

·         Displaying respect and tolerance 

·         Knowing what it is to love and be loved

·         Making a difference

·         Being 'Courageous Advocates'

"Above us" - TRANSCENDENCE

·         Having awareness of something greater than ourselves 

·         Encountering and experiencing God (including through prayer)

·         Learning how to be comfortable with silence and reflection

·         Ability to think and discuss the ‘Big Questions’

"Around us" – THE WORLD

·         Developing a sense of awe and wonder 

·         Enjoying the miracles of everyday life 

·         Appreciating beauty in art, music, and nature 

·         Taking time for what really matters

In each subject area and year group there are countless opportunities, both planned and spontaneous for our community to grow spiritually. Some are distinct and others are shared, but all are acknowledged and valued.

Art & Design

Within the Art and Design curriculum, we strive to support our students' greater understanding of the world around us and how their lives and life experiences are apart of what is considered their spirituality. Our creativity as individuals, and together, is a valued part of what makes us who we are.

Through topics and themes studied from KS3-KS5, we aim for students to deepen their understanding of wider concepts within Art and Design and to know how spirituality is a fundamental part of us all. We guide them to understand how the meanings within artworks can show deeper spiritual connections that go beyond the surface detail.

Through discussion of artists and creators' works, we help students to make connections between the artworks and their own creativity. These discussions are aimed to support students to recognise that creativity and our spiritual selves go hand in hand.

Business & Computing

The Business and Computing curriculum nurtures spirituality by encouraging students to reflect on their own lives and the lives of others as they look at various business case studies and computing activities such as e-Safety and artificial intelligence. Through these lessons students are encouraged to be motivated, confident and resilient. Computing in particular can nurture a sense of awe and wonder through considering the technological advancements that have taken place in recent times and throughout business we can explore how enterprises can use this technology to grow and become a more community involved business. Possibilities for the future are explored. To promote students’ spiritual development, their sense of self and their will to achieve, the Business and Computing department take every opportunity to praise students for their great work and lesson contributions

English

Throughout the English curriculum, and at the heart of English lessons at The Archbishop's School, is developing an understanding of the world around us and other’s feelings. Through the study of novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction texts, students are able to explore their spirituality and develop compassion and understanding of others. Students develop the skills of understanding emotions through written words and are able to visit other worlds creating an idea of awe and wonder through literature. Students in English lessons are encouraged to become life-long learners and to understand the role in which the written word can have in developing our personal sense of spirituality.

Food Technology

Food technology introducing students to a variety of cuisines from around the world. By preparing and tasting foods from different cultures, students gain insight into diverse traditions, ingredients, and cooking methods. This hands-on experience fosters cultural awareness and appreciation.

Students learn about balanced nutrition and the importance of making informed food choices. This knowledge extends beyond the classroom, equipping students with practical skills for maintaining their health throughout life. It includes understanding nutritional needs, portion control, and the impact of different foods on overall well-being.

By giving students constructive feedback and meaningful assessment helps build confidence and skills. By recognizing both effort and achievement, teachers can motivate students to improve and take pride in their work. This approach supports not just culinary skills development, but also personal attributes like perseverance and self-improvement.

Food studies offer unique opportunities for creativity, both in theoretical lessons and practical cooking sessions. Students can experiment with flavours, presentation techniques, and recipe modifications. This creative aspect allows for personal expression and innovation, encouraging students to think outside the box and develop their unique culinary style.

These elements combined contribute to a holistic approach in food education, addressing not only practical cooking skills but also personal development, cultural understanding, and health awareness. This comprehensive approach aims to prepare students for making informed decisions about food in their personal lives and potentially in future careers.

Geography

Our geography curriculum has enquiry at its heart, with the aim of creating inquisitive students who ask big questions and are curious about people, cultures, religion and the many moral issues we face in our ever-changing world. When learning about ecosystems we ask the question, who is responsible to care for nature? When learning about natural resources, we ask, is it fair that a handful of people benefit from the resources mined in a country? And when we learn about food insecurity we ask, who is responsible for ensuring others have enough to eat? People and place feature as a prominent theme in our curriculum, as students develop through the key stages, they begin to understand that spiritual decisions play a significant role in shaping places and influencing people.

Health and Social Care

In BTEC Health and Social Care education, spirituality is recognized as an important aspect of holistic care. It involves understanding and addressing the needs of individuals, which can significantly impact their overall well-being and health outcomes. Health and social care education helps prepare students to provide comprehensive, person-centred care that respects and values the whole person. Students develop skills to identify needs of others and how best to respond to them, whilst cultivating and understanding for the needs for empathy and understanding.

History

The History curriculum at The Archbishop’s School encourages students to be curious about the world they live in and to reflect on how our society has developed over time. The diverse curriculum teaches them about the experiences of many different groups of people throughout History, highlighting examples of moral courage and inspirational leadership where individuals have demonstrated the values of perseverance and hope. By studying both the best and the worst that humans are capable of, it provides students with the opportunity for self-reflection and an understanding of how forgiveness can heal the deepest wounds. It helps them to consider how to successfully apply their beliefs and morals to their lives with wisdom and compassion.

Mathematics

Our aim in the Mathematics Department is to encourage students to think deeply and profoundly about the concepts involved. While an entirely rational pursuit, introspection to interrogate and extend accepted truths is an enriching process. This is especially the case when the resulting understanding is surprising or wondrous, and opportunities for students to experience the awesome power of Mathematics are taken whenever possible. We also enable students to access spirituality around the world by providing them with the opportunity and skillset essential to travel such as currency conversions, understanding of time and measures. By encouraging our students to become proficient in these areas we allow them to experience the spiritual wonders of the world.

PE

Students are encouraged to develop a sense of enjoyment and interest in learning about themselves and others when participating in a range of sports and physical activities. Students learn a lot about themselves when exposed to challenging and competitive situations. These situations occur in lessons and in both intra-school and inter school competitions.

By undertaking a variety of roles including performer, coach and official, students develop their compassion and empathy for others. At KS4 this is developed further through providing opportunities for students to coach and officiate activities for younger students.

Students are provided with ample opportunity during their lessons to be imaginative and creative and reflect upon their experiences.

Performing Arts

In Music and Drama Spirituality is lived and breathed all the time. From the first lesson in the day when a student walks into a room and begins to sing a song rooted in cultural meaning, whether from an understanding of human suffering or love, or playing music from a range of cultures and countries like African Drumming, students are taken on a journey of creativity and ‘wow’ moments. Students experience live performance through trips where they get to boo at the panto villain or laugh at slapstick moments in comedy or even fill the Cathedral with sound singing. They then get to put it all into practice at lunchtime in a band or after school in rehearsals leading to a once in a lifetime opportunity of performing at The Marlowe. Our students are encouraged to develop creativity, teamwork, leadership, and communication skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

PSHE

PSHE promotes the British Values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Tolerance, Individual Liberty, and Mutual Respect, ensuring a nurturing and inclusive environment. Our school values—Forgiveness, Perseverance, Hope, Compassion, and Wisdom—form the foundation of character development, instilling a sense of belonging and purpose. Our values, alongside our ethos, ‘Enter to Learn – Go Forth to Serve,’ shape the spiritual, emotional, and personal growth of our community.

PSHE plays a vital role in this journey, providing students with opportunities to reflect on their own identity, develop empathy, and gain a broader perspective on life. Each year, the group’s focus is tailored to meet their unique needs, creating a more holistic learning experience. Together, our shared values are the glue that unites us, fostering an environment where all are encouraged to grow in wisdom, integrity, and respect for others.

PSHE inspires an understanding of spirituality, this happens within the curriculum. For example, within the PSHE lessons, we support students in developing spirituality, such as through reflection, discussions on personal identity, or fostering empathy and respect for others.

PSHE also covers a wide range of, secular topics, such as health, relationships, and citizenship. A more balanced view that acknowledges both faith-based and secular aspects, therefore PSHE provides clear areas that cater to the diverse needs of all students.

RE

In Religious Studies, we seek to enable students to develop their spirituality by asking questions about the importance of our human identity. We consider questions of meaning and purpose using ideas and beliefs from different religions and world views. Students are encouraged to think critically about their place in our local community, our nation and the world. We look at how people express meaning through art and actions, whilst providing space to reflect and think about what matters to us. We question our relationship with the natural world and the importance of stewardship.

As a school we seek to work with God and follow the example of Jesus to support all our students in developing a sense of meaning for their lives that is personal and relevant to them. We question how we make decisions about ethics and morality by discussing how people come to the conclusion about what is right and wrong. We ask if a person’s beliefs about the afterlife can influence the choices they make? We also look at examples of inspiring individuals who have had a strong personal conviction to live a life that has changed people’s attitudes and lives.

Science

In Science, we encourage students to develop a sense of awe and wonder in the natural world and to reflect on our origins and our place in the universe. We learn about human impact on our natural environment and consider how our personal and collective choices can make a difference. We marvel in the beauty and complexity of the universe from the microscopic to the macroscopic, and we celebrate human achievement and endeavour in all areas of life, including technology, medicine, engineering, pharmaceuticals and sport. We help students to develop the skills to evaluate their choices and make ethical decisions.

Social Sciences

The Social Science department offers sixth formers a range of subjects which demand students to reflect on their own experiences and develop a wise understanding of how individuals are stratified in all societies, and how this can be resolved. In depth study of human rights in both the UK and across the world brings students a great awareness of current affairs and inspires hope. Students must persevere and show great resilience when embarking on A Level examinations bringing together their learning and investigation in a supportive and compassionate environment. Social Sciences subjects cover a wide range of stimulating content but ultimately provide students skills which are indefinitely transferable in an ever-changing world. The key skill being an informed ability to emphasise whilst also respectfully challenging opinions with agape love.

Travel and Tourism

Within BTEC Travel and Tourism the exploration of spirituality can enhance students understanding of how travel experiences go beyond mere sightseeing. The subject provides cultural immersion, developing students’ awareness of places with deep historical, cultural, or spiritual significance. These locations can evoke a sense of awe and connection. Students develop a fascination with the world understanding our responsibility to care for it; BTEC modules discuss sustainable travel practices, emphasizing the importance of respecting local cultures and ecosystems. Spirituality can intersect with ethical considerations. For instance, responsible tourism involves understanding the impact of our actions on local communities and ecosystems. Travel and Tourism addresses how ethical choices align with travellers’ spiritual values.