Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education and Fundamental British Values

OUR VISION FOR SMSC

At Invested Education, we value and celebrate the unique qualities of all our students. We recognise that the personal development of students spiritually, morally, socially and culturally plays a vital part in their ability to engage, learn and enjoy success now and in the future. We therefore aim to deliver a broad range of educational experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore and develop their own beliefs and spiritual awareness, demonstrate high standards of personal behaviour and mutual respect for others. Develop an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the rich diversity of other cultures.

Invested Education has a whole-school approach to SMSC. All curriculum areas are underpinned by a child’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The directors and SLT will ensure that SMSC education is embedded across the school’s activities to ensure that the potential of each pupil is developed in accordance with their individual needs and capabilities. 

The headteacher and SLT will facilitate and encourage a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and safe for all pupils and members of the school community, irrespective of their protected characteristics and/or background. Staff will be expected to model high standards of discipline, courtesy, respect and acceptance of others, and to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own actions.

The school’s spiritual development provision enables pupils to:

• Be reflective about their beliefs, religious or otherwise, and their perspective on life.

• Have knowledge of, and respect for, different people’s faiths, feelings and values.

• Develop a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.

• Use imagination and creativity in their learning.

• Develop willingness to reflect on their experiences.

The school’s moral development provision enables pupils to:

• Recognise the difference between right and wrong, readily apply this understanding in their own lives and, in doing so, respect the civil and criminal law of England. 

• Understand the consequences of their behaviour and actions. 

• Develop an interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues, and an ability to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.

The school’s social development provision enables pupils to:

• Use a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

• Participate in a variety of community and social settings, including by volunteering, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively. 

• Accept and engage with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and acceptance of those with different faiths and beliefs. 

• Develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in, and contribute positively to, life in modern Britain.

The school’s cultural development provision enables pupils to:

• Understand and appreciate the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others. 

• Understand and appreciate the range of different cultures within the school, and further afield, as an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain.

• Develop knowledge of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain. 

• Participate in, and respond positively to, artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities. 

• Develop an interest in exploring, improving their understanding of, and showing respect for, different faiths and cultures.

• Understand, accept, respect, and celebrate diversity, as shown by their tolerance and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities. 

Fundamental British Values

The headteacher and SENCO will ensure that lessons and activities, and expectations of pupils in relation to those lessons and activities, are appropriately adjusted to accommodate the needs of pupils with SEND. 

The school will use SMSC education to promote fundamental British values by:

·      Including, in suitable parts of the curriculum, age-appropriate material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain compared to other countries. 

·      Teaching pupils a broad and balanced international history.

·      Representing the cultures of all our pupils within the curriculum.

·      Teaching a wide range of English and non-English literature.

·      Listening to the voices of all pupils and promoting active participation in democratic processes, e.g., through a school council.

·      Using democratic opportunities in the wider community, e.g., general and local elections, to provide pupils with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view.

·      Using teaching resources from a wide variety of sources to help pupils learn about and understand a range of faiths.

·      Using extra-curricular activities to promote fundamental British values.

By promoting fundamental British values through SMSC education, we will provide pupils with:

·      An understanding of how they can influence decision making through the democratic process.

·      An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects them and is essential for their wellbeing and safety.

·      An understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and while some public bodies, for example the police, can be held to account by parliament, others maintain independence, for example, the court system. 

·      An understanding that their freedom to choose and hold faiths and beliefs is protected by law.

·      An acceptance that people of different faiths and beliefs to themselves (and those with no faiths or beliefs) should be accepted and tolerated and should not be subject to prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

An understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination. 

 SMSC Quality Mark has been developed by a working group comprised of educational consultants, headteachers and teachers, as well as staff from Young Citizens.

It has been adopted by a range of schools who found the experience very useful.

Empowering young people for a stronger society

We work to ensure that children and young people can make a positive difference to the society in which they live – locally, nationally, and globally.

We do this by helping them develop knowledge, skills, and confidence.  It’s good for them, and essential for strengthening and safeguarding our society and democratic way of life.

Invested Education are hoping to secure the quality mark in the coming months. We are currently working through a self-assessment tool, and we are looking forward to welcoming an assessor for the quality mark into the school to review and evaluate our approach to SMSC. Please keep checking our website for further updates.