You want your school to be a place where pupils flourish
And not only flourish academically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The BeSpace framework gives churches a way to help you meet this need. To offer spaces for children to step away from the rush and get centred in stillness, a calm from which they can find personal resilience, and discover spiritual growth.
"This sort of experience within the prayer space promotes spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, collective worship and religious education."
Religious Education Advisor
Figuring out what spirituality means in your school?
Every headteacher carries the weight of children’s wellbeing. BeSpace makes that load a little lighter.
We enable churches to partner with schools to create opportunities for children to explore faith, spirituality and the big questions – as well as helping children to have the tools to live a more joyful life.
This will all help to support:
- Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC)
- Religious Education
- The requirements of SIAMS for church schools (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools)
"We thought it was a brilliant experience and managed so well from start to finish. The whole process was effortless from my side, and that is never the case with anything."
Headteacher feedback
How churches can support your school with the BeSpace framework :
Even though our spaces are run by local churches and draw on Christian contemplative practices, they are open to pupils of all faiths or none.
We link you with a church and offer them resources that are both professional and deeply meaningful. If a church hasn’t worked with your school before, we offer bespoke support, even visiting, where possible so we can model to them how to work in a school context and run a high quality session.
Some of what you can expect:
Every prayer space, retreat or pilgrimage includes:
Quick Look at Christian Prayer
A short introduction to what Christians believe about prayer and what reflection is.
Explore in your own way
Time for pupils to engage with interactive activities at their own pace.
Closing Thoughts Together
A chance to gather again at the end and reflect together.
Prayer and reflection spaces
A prayer and reflection space transforms a classroom, library or meeting room into a calm, creative environment for spiritual exploration.
"One student said this: 'This day made us speak to each other in a more meaningful way and we were able to understand each other more deeply, which means I feel closer to other students at the school and realise that they are going through the same things that I'm going through and we can now help each other.' This captures why retreats matter so much. They help young people connect with themselves and with others, offering them the tools to carry greater understanding, empathy and resilience back into everyday school life."
Subject Leader for Religious Studies
Talk to us about your school
Curious about how BeSpace could support children’s spiritual development? You might want to explore how contemplative practices can:
Deepen learning already happening in RE, SMSC, or collective worship
Be woven through your wider curriculum so spirituality is integrated with school life
Give staff as well as children a chance to pause, notice, and reconnect