The spiritual aspect of education in John Scottus includes philosophy, scripture and a deliberate pause between every activity in the school day.

Philosophy teaches enquiry. Who am I? What is this creation? How do I have an honest, true and meaningful relationship with my family, my school and the wider community? How am I to lead a full and satisfying life? What sort of man or woman am I going to be? What is the purpose of my life? Philosophy draws on the great scriptures and literature from both eastern and western traditions to help answer these questions and to provide strong and unambiguous guidance in ethics and morals.

Philosophy pervades the ethos of the school and regular philosophy classes provide opportunities for focussed conversation on these great questions.

School assembly each morning has prayers from different traditions, a philosophical reading, singing and an address from the Principal or other member of staff.

The Pause: All activities begin and end with a few moments of quiet. The “pause” composes the mind and allows the whole being to come to rest so that the mind may then attend fully to what is to come. After the pause, the activity is dedicated to the Self within, with words in Sanskrit that mean ‘To the highest Self, bow’.

Meditation is offered to the children once they go to the Senior School when they are aged ten. It brings deep rest to the mind and heart.