Proud to be a Church of England School

Underwood Church of England Primary School 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, but the way in which the school works is different and distinctive, 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 Underwood Church of England Primary School:

• 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.

What is spirituality? 

Here at Underwood School, our Christian ethos sits at the heart of all that we do. As part of this ethos, we are keen for the children to understand and engage in spirituality. This can mean something different for everyone, regardless if they have faith. Spirituality can mean feeling a sense of 'awe and wonder' when looking at something amazing, for example: a sunrise, the Northern Lights or a new baby. It could also mean having a space that helps you to feel particularly connected to nature. So you may find yourself feeling more spiritual on a long walk or up a tree as opposed to sitting at home. 

How do we explore spirituality in school? 

In our school, we encourage both children and staff to engage with spirituality in ways that feel personal and meaningful to them. As part of our whole-school approach, we come together each day for Collective Worship. During this time, children have the opportunity to reflect on current events through Picture News, join in with worship songs, listen to stories from the Bible, or take part in our weekly Celebration Assembly. Each act of Collective Worship concludes with our school prayer, offering a moment of quiet reflection and connection for everyone.

How are the children involved? 

We are introducing 'Leading Lights' into our Collective Worship time. These are children in Upper Key Stage 2 who want to help in the leading of worship. This could be simple acts such as welcoming the school into assembly and holding doors; lighting the candle at the beginning of the assembly or taking a more 'front and centre' role and leading actions for a song or reading the Bible story.