In our changing world and local communities, it is important to promote Modern British Values as part of SMSC. This includes:
- Celebrating our strong vision and ethos.
- Encouraging and supporting students to develop effective relationships.
- Providing a broad and balanced curriculum.
- Offering activities beyond the classroom.
- Helping every young person understand the society we live in and the joy of diversity and difference.
What is Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural?
- Spiritual – Exploring beliefs and experiences, respecting values, discovering yourself and the surrounding world and your place within it, using imagination and creativity, being able to reflect as an individual.
- Moral – Recognising right and wrong, understanding choices and consequences, investigating moral and ethical issues, being able to offer a reasoned viewpoint.
- Social – Using social skills appropriately in different contexts, understanding how different groups and communities function, being tolerant of others.
- Cultural – Understanding, accepting, respecting and celebrating diversity, participating in cultural opportunities, understanding and appreciating cultural influences.
How do we promote SMSC development in our students?
As well as a formal SMSC audit, where we map where our students experience these influences in school, we have a number of SMSC activities which further promote the fundamental British values:
Developing self-esteem and confidence.
Understanding right from wrong.
Working with our local community.
Helping students to understand that they have three rights and responsibilities in this school:
- The right to learn.
- The right to be safe.
- The right to respect.
- The responsibility to let others learn.
- The responsibility to make sure others are safe.
- The responsibility to respect others.
Encouraging respect for democracy through elections for School Council members.
What do we expect from our students?
An understanding of how they as citizens can bring about influence through a democratic process.
An understanding of the rule of law and how it aims to protect individuals and ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone.
An understanding of the freedom of choice and how these choices are protected in law.
An acceptance of others who hold different beliefs, faiths and opinions.
An understanding that tolerance is required and that discrimination not only goes against our values and ethos, but also against the law.
An understanding that action needs to be taken to combat discriminatory behaviour.