Spirituality

Barnet Hill Academy is an Islamic faith designated school; as such it seeks to promote a values focused approach driven by strong morals and ethics, with a central focus on developing resilience and character building traits in our students.

Islam doesn’t view ‘spirituality’ separately from everyday activities. In Islam everything is ‘spiritual’ because all actions must be in accordance with God’s pleasure. This conviction creates a world view, a perspective and a unique behaviour in the individual. This means that all actions – from having a shower to picking up litter from the floor, should be referred to the Creator thereby establishing a constant awareness and consciousness of God in everything that one says or does.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was the perfect human being who reached the peak of spiritual success such that his legacy is the best of examples for reaching spiritual awareness and an example for us in our daily lives. This spirituality connects the soul to its creator and purifies the human soul of vices such as arrogance, anger, hatred, greed, envy to name some and replaces it with compassion, mercy, love, humility, patience, gratitude and generosity. 

One key aspect of Barnet Hill's approach to ensure the school day is spiritually uplifting is via the congregational prayer, Salah, which is an uplifting, spiritually purifying and self-reflective habit for life. Students from year three on offer the daily congregational prayer of Dhuhr in the specialist prayer hall. In the winter months, the afternoon ‘Asr prayer is offered at the end of the school day. The parents of children who are not Muslims have the right to be withdrawn from daily prayer.

It is through the constant remembrance of God that the heart reaches a state of spiritual tranquility and it is one of the goals of Barnet Hill Academy that we encourage our students to behave in accordance with a worldview that respects tolerance, is empathetic, humble, generous and aware of God, at all times in our daily routines, in our work, study, rest and play and thereby a loving human being to all of mankind and God's creation.

Shuayb Patel, , Headteacher, Head of Islamic Studies & Pastoral Care