Questionnaire – Spiritual Development in the Primary setting.
Melinda Carpenter (Masters Student)
University of St Mark and St John
Please return completed questionnaire to 20035125@marjon.ac.uk by 27th March 2015. Thank you.
Many thanks for taking time to look at this questionnaire which is part of my Masters research into how
children’s Spiritual Development is carried out in Primary school settings. The person(s) best qualified to fill
out this questionnaire will be the person(s) most directly involved in overseeing the Spiritual Development
aspect of your school curriculum. It is recognised that whilst the questionnaire itself is relatively short, the
processes involved in answering these questions may take some time and for this I thank you in advance.
The information in the returned questionnaires will be kept strictly confidential, as required by our
Universities ethics policy. The information will only be used for the purposes of my Masters study, but may
inform work which is more widely disseminated.
There are seven questions in all, over four pages. Please note that the boxes which make up the form will
expand to contain the text added.
If you are interested in the results of this survey please fill in your contact details in the area provided at
the end of the form. This will then be electronically separated from the completed questionnaire before it
is analysed to maintain your anonymity. A copy of the results will then be forwarded to you on completion
of the study. Thank you once again for taking the time to complete this survey. Should you have any
queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Question one: Type of school – please tick (/) all that apply.
Community
Faith
Free
Academy
Primary
Middle
Infant
Other… (please state):
Other comments/information:
Question two: Position of person filling out questionnaire - please tick any that apply.
Head
Deputy head
Head of year
Subject co-ordinator/
specialist
Class teacher
Other comments/information:
Teaching assistant
Supply teacher
Governor
Other… (please state):
Question three
Please tick the statement(s) which most closely match your views. If choosing more than one statement
please rank your choices, with 1 being most important.
Spiritual Development is important in primary education because:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
It helps pupils to develop insights, principles, beliefs, attitudes and values to guide and
motivate them.
It helps pupils reflect and learn from their feelings and emotions.
It enables people to develop the characteristics to better face the sufferings, challenges
and opportunities of human life.
It helps children to find meaning and purpose in life and develop values to live by.
It promotes children’s self-understanding and helps them develop empathy and
understanding.
It encourages pupils to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and
tolerance.
It helps teachers to better understand and appreciate their pupils.
It enables children to make an informed and responsible contribution to their community
and society.
It helps children answer important questions such as ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Where do I fit in?’
It encourages development of the whole person across the whole curriculum.
Other(s): please state:
Other comments/information:
The next four questions apply specifically to children’s Spiritual Development, however this can be as
part of any area of the curriculum, such as SMSC, PSHE/PSME, citizenship or RE.
Question four
A) In what ways is children’s Spiritual
Development promoted in your school?
B) Which of these (if any) promotes
Spiritual Development distinctly,
rather than as part of another area of
the curriculum?
Please tick all that apply:
In school policy documents
Through Religious Education lessons
PSHE/PSME lessons/activities
Citizenship lessons/activities
Visits/visitors
Assemblies
Extra-curricular activities
CPD sessions for staff
Other(s)… please state:
Other comments/information:
Question five
A) In what ways is children’s Spiritual
Development planned for in your
school?
Please tick all that apply:
In long-term planning - annually
In medium-term planning
In short-term planning
In lesson plans
Other(s)… please state:
Other comments/information:
B) In which (if any) of these areas is
Spiritual Development planned for
distinctly, rather than as part of
another area of the curriculum?
Question six
A) In what ways is children’s Spiritual
Development monitored in your
school?
Please tick all that apply:
Observation/questioning in
lessons
Marking children’s work
Behaviour records
Communication with
parents/carers
Observation during activities
Other(s)… please state:
Other comments/information:
B) In which (if any) of these areas is
Spiritual Development monitored
distinctly, rather than as part of
another area of the curriculum?
Question seven:
A) Which of the following documents/
resources are used to support Spiritual
Development in your school?
Please tick all that apply.
Ofsted (2004) – Promoting and
evaluating
pupil’s
spiritual,
moral, social and cultural
development.
Ofsted (2013) School Inspection
Handbook & subsidiary guidance.
The National Curriculum (2013)
Local SACRE ‘Agreed Syllabus’.
RSA: Schools with Soul Report
(2014).
DfE
(2014)
Promoting
fundamental British values as
part of SMSC in schools.
SMSC Online (www.smsc.org.uk)
Other(s)… please state:
Other comments/information:
B) Please rank the usefulness of the
documents/resources you use, with ‘1’
being ‘most useful’.
Many thanks for your time in completing this questionnaire. Please return to Mrs Melinda
Carpenter at 20035125@marjon.ac.uk by 27th March 2015.
If you would like a copy of the results of this survey, please supply your contact details
below. This will not affect your anonymity.
Name/school:
Address/email:
Preferred method of contact: Post
Email
Sources for statements in question 3:
1 & 2) Ofsted (2004) Promoting and Evaluating Pupil’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural
Development. London: Office for Standards in Education. [Online] Available from
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/promoting-and-evaluating-pupils-spiritual-moral-socialand-cultural-development [accessed 8th January 2014].
3) Rivett (2014) What does Spiritual Mean? In Moss, Pett, Rivett and Blaylock (2014) RE Ideas:
Spiritual Development. Birmingham: Christian Education Services.
4) NCC (1993) Spiritual and Moral Development: A Discussion Paper. York: National Curriculum
Council.
5) Erricker (2000) A Collaborative Approach to Researching Teacher Work in Developing Spiritual and
Moral Education. In Best (2000) Education for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development.
London: Continuum.
6) DfE (2014) Promoting Fundamental British Values as Part of SMSC in Schools.
7) Smith (2000) Spirituality and Teaching Methods. In Education for Spiritual, Moral, Social and
Cultural Development. London: Continuum.
8) SCAA (1996) Education for Adult Life: The Spiritual and Moral Development of Young People.
London: School Curriculum Assessment Authority.
9) Eaude (2008) Children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development. (2nd Edition) Exeter:
Learning Matters.
10) Burns and Lamont (1995) Values and Visions: A Handbook for Spiritual Development and Global
Awareness. London: Hodder and Stoughton Educational.