Our Church
The Church of England parish that the school is situated in, and supported by, is Blurton & Dresden Parish. In 1834 a school was built by the church in Blurton, on School Lane, close to St Bartholomew’s church building. Through several buildings and locations, the school retained its identity as a church school, and enjoy a close relationship with the parish today. Worship is led in school weekly by the parish Vicar and the church provide two Foundation Governors to the school’s Local Governing Body. Pupils have the opportunity to visit St Bartholomew’s in each school year, for something different each time, and visits are sometimes arranged to The Hive to see some of the church’s community work, like foodbank.
Reverend Angela Bryan
Each year, our school community joins with the church congregation to take part in the Carols by Candlelight service, a special moment of collective worship that celebrates the joy, peace, and hope of the Christmas.
Church Visits Timetable
Collective Worship
At our school, collective worship is a cherished and integral part of our daily life. Rooted in an ethos that is inclusive, inspirational, and invitational, our worship offers every child the opportunity to explore and reflect on their place in the world, nurturing their spiritual, moral, and cultural understanding in a safe and welcoming environment.
We believe that collective worship should be a time of gathering, reflection, and growth, where children of all backgrounds feel valued and inspired. Through stories, music, prayer, and celebration, we encourage children to think deeply, ask questions, and develop a sense of wonder and respect for the diverse world around them.
To support spiritual development, we use the imagery of windows, mirrors, and doors in our collective worship:
- Windows offer children a view into the lives, beliefs, and experiences of others, helping them to understand and appreciate diversity.
- Mirrors provide opportunities for self-reflection, allowing children to consider their own thoughts, values, and responses.
- Doors invite children to take action, step into new experiences, and make positive contributions to their community and the wider world.
- Open the Book worship led by Reverend Angela Bryan and church members from St Bartholomew’s Church, fostering a strong link with our local faith community.
- Class worship, where children engage in thoughtful discussions and reflections on high quality texts link to national events and celebrations.
- Collective worship through song
- Values worship exploring big questions and sharing stories of inspirational people
- Friday celebration worship, where we come together to recognise achievements, share joy, and celebrate our school values in action.
We also hold regular family worship for key events in the calendar such as Harvest, Remembrance, and Easter, inviting parents and carers to join us in marking these meaningful occasions.
Through collective worship, we aim to develop children who embody our core values of courage, compassion, and respect, equipping them with the strength to face challenges, the kindness to care for others, and the understanding to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.
Spiritual Development
At Belgrave at Bartholomew’s Academy, we believe that spirituality is a core component of ‘living life in all its fullness’, where the mind, body, and soul are nurtured equally. Spiritual development is not confined to religious belief, it is a universal human experience that relates to the fundamental questions of meaning, purpose, and identity that affect us all. It is about the search for understanding, the desire to make sense of life, and the journey of discovering who we are, and it is relevant to every child, regardless of their faith.
- Self – developing self-awareness, inner peace, and personal values.
- Others – fostering empathy, kindness, and a sense of community.
- Beauty – appreciating the wonder of the natural world, creativity, and human achievement.
- Beyond – exploring awe, mystery, and the deeper questions of existence.
To support this journey, we have worked in collaboration with our pupils to develop a Reflection Grid, which helps children engage with spiritual experiences in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.
Reflection GridWe also recognise that children experience and express spirituality in different ways. We acknowledge the concept of Spiritual Pathways, the idea that each child may connect spiritually through different routes, such as nature, service, contemplation, or celebration. This understanding helps us to create opportunities that are inclusive and diverse, allowing every child to flourish.
Spiritual development is woven throughout our academic curriculum, wider personal development offer, and collective worship, and is central to our ethos. It supports children in becoming courageous in character, compassionate in action, and respectful in relationships, in line with our core school values.
