Proud to be a Church of England School
Elveden Church of England Primary Academy is a caring and Christian community. Our whole school community of children, parents, staff and governors have contributed to articulating our vision for the education we aim to provide and as a parent, pupil, visitor or member of staff you will find that our school aims to offer the best education, as other schools would, but the way in which the school works is different and distinctive. This distinctive difference is rooted in our Christian values that affect the way in which everyone behaves and the way in which everyone is respected. In order to nurture children’s spirituality, we ensure that Elveden C of E Primary Academy:
- Is led by a Headteacher who is committed, with the help of staff, to maintain the Christian character of the school.
- Enables children to engage meaningfully in a daily act of Christian worship.
- Offers school life that incorporates the values of the Christian faith.
- Observes the major Christian festivals.
- Ensure those children of other faiths are able to and encouraged to mark their major festivals with integrity.
- Maintains and develops an active and affirming relationship with the local Church Community.
More information on how RE is taught at Elveden C of E Primary Academy can be found under the curriculum tab
Spirituality influences all we do at Elveden C of E primary Academy: it is what breathes life into
our whole school community and enables us to live life in all its fullness. Here, spirituality is who
we are at our deepest level. It is about our relationships with ourselves, our family, friends, those
around us, with God and all of creation.
At Elveden Academy, living out our school vision statement; Letting your light shine, means
we are always giving children opportunities to grow spiritually and become aware of the world in
new ways; to wonder about life in all its different facets by incorporating WOW moments of
wonder in to our learning experiences.
We also give children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life's big
questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring
their own insights and perspectives and those of others.
Our ways in to Spiritual Development
Liz Mills from The Stapleford Centre, a Christian charity fostering Christian engagement in
education, has identified 3 ways that schools can provide opportunities for spiritual
development:
WINDOWS: giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways;
to wonder about life's 'Wow!s' (things that are amazing) and 'Oh!s' (things that bring us up
short). In this children are learning about life in all its fullness.
MIRRORS: giving children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life's big
questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring
their own insights and perspectives and those of others.
DOORS: giving children opportunities to respond to all of this; to do something creative as a
means of expressing, applying and further developing their thoughts and convictions. In this
they are learning to live by putting into action what they are coming to believe and value
We provide WINDOWS throughout our curriculum.by ensuring lessons include an awe and
wonder focus by using various stimuli: artefacts, images, videos, music, documentary, stories
and real experiences.
We understand that school life can be extremely busy and that it is important for children to
have time and space to reflect on life, their own beliefs and values and the world. This is how
we incorporate MIRRORS into our curriculum. There are also times when we need to
approach someone who is infinitely wiser and bigger than we are, and our reflective areas are
an area where children can do this if they choose to. It allows them to ask and discuss bigger
questions and consider their own ideas and beliefs. Through high-quality lessons, children are
consistently challenged to reflect on their learning about religion to help them learn from religion,
regardless of whether they have a specific faith.
We take care of ourselves, each other, our work and the world we live in, our children
identify DOORS for themselves. They are great courageous advocates and actively seek out
opportunities to take action by either serving our local community such as helping to pack
donations to take to Ukraine, through fund raising for local and national charities, or raising
awareness through theme days.
Spirituality enables our children to experience life in all it fullness (John 10:10) and ‘Let their
Light Shine to bring glory to the heavenly father’.
our whole school community and enables us to live life in all its fullness. Here, spirituality is who
we are at our deepest level. It is about our relationships with ourselves, our family, friends, those
around us, with God and all of creation.
At Elveden Academy, living out our school vision statement; Letting your light shine, means
we are always giving children opportunities to grow spiritually and become aware of the world in
new ways; to wonder about life in all its different facets by incorporating WOW moments of
wonder in to our learning experiences.
We also give children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life's big
questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring
their own insights and perspectives and those of others.
Our ways in to Spiritual Development
Liz Mills from The Stapleford Centre, a Christian charity fostering Christian engagement in
education, has identified 3 ways that schools can provide opportunities for spiritual
development:
WINDOWS: giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways;
to wonder about life's 'Wow!s' (things that are amazing) and 'Oh!s' (things that bring us up
short). In this children are learning about life in all its fullness.
MIRRORS: giving children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life's big
questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring
their own insights and perspectives and those of others.
DOORS: giving children opportunities to respond to all of this; to do something creative as a
means of expressing, applying and further developing their thoughts and convictions. In this
they are learning to live by putting into action what they are coming to believe and value
We provide WINDOWS throughout our curriculum.by ensuring lessons include an awe and
wonder focus by using various stimuli: artefacts, images, videos, music, documentary, stories
and real experiences.
We understand that school life can be extremely busy and that it is important for children to
have time and space to reflect on life, their own beliefs and values and the world. This is how
we incorporate MIRRORS into our curriculum. There are also times when we need to
approach someone who is infinitely wiser and bigger than we are, and our reflective areas are
an area where children can do this if they choose to. It allows them to ask and discuss bigger
questions and consider their own ideas and beliefs. Through high-quality lessons, children are
consistently challenged to reflect on their learning about religion to help them learn from religion,
regardless of whether they have a specific faith.
We take care of ourselves, each other, our work and the world we live in, our children
identify DOORS for themselves. They are great courageous advocates and actively seek out
opportunities to take action by either serving our local community such as helping to pack
donations to take to Ukraine, through fund raising for local and national charities, or raising
awareness through theme days.
Spirituality enables our children to experience life in all it fullness (John 10:10) and ‘Let their
Light Shine to bring glory to the heavenly father’.